Crash claims life of local man, young boy spared

An automobile crash on the Lisbon Valley Mine road claimed the life of a 29-year-old man on March 4.
Anastacio Lopez, Jr. (Junior Lopez), of La Sal, was killed when he lost control of the Chevy Cobalt he was driving, went off the roadway and rolled several times. Lopez was thrown from the vehicle and was killed instantly, according to law enforcement officials.
The vehicle was discovered at 1:30 a.m., approximately three hours after Lopez left La Sal, apparently on his way to Monticello. When he did not arrive in Monticello, friends began a search.
The crash site was discovered on the Lisbon Valley Mine road, approximately four miles from the Highway 191 junction.
Deputies and EMS crews responded after the accident was reported to San Juan County Sheriff’s Office.
A two-year-old boy who was in the car survived after suffering only minor cuts. The two-year-old male was transported to San Juan Hospital and was later released.
Officials said that “divine intervention” may have been the only thing that saved the life of the child, who was found inside the vehicle with a car seat on top of him. Weather conditions were deteriorating when the crash site was located and the boy was discovered.
Officials report that the cause of the accident is still under investigation.
Funeral services for Lopez were held on Tuesday, March 8 in Monticello. He is the son of Anastacio and Yolanda Lopez.
A fund has been created at the Monticello branch of Wells Fargo Bank to help defer the costs of the funeral.