6-6-07
A 5-year-old girl from Grand Junction, Colorado, was killed on Wednesday, while she was sitting unrestrained on the lap of the front seat passenger of a car driven by her father. He made a left turn into oncoming traffic on U.S. 50, colliding with a van, according to the Colorado state patrol.

The child, Elizabeth Hatch, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The passenger, 24 year old Jennifer Scarbrough, also of Grand Junction, later died from her injuries at St. Mary’s hospital. The girls father, Denny Hatch, was wearing a seatbelt, but was still hospitalized with serious injuries. Jennifer Scarbrough’s 18-month-old son, Trevor Scarbrough, was properly restrained in a child car seat in the back of the vehicle and escaped with only moderate injuries.

The driver of the van which struck Elizabeth’s car, 48 year old Gary Hastings, of Telluride, was wearing his seatbelt and was not injured. The accident, which occurred late Wednesday morning, is under investigation.