An Ault woman who was found dead in a vehicle in a rural Weld County ditch was found to have been speeding and using her phone at the time of the crash. Toxicology results also indicated she had used marijuana before the crash.
A Colorado State Patrol investigation shows that Kaylee Russell, 20, was going northbound on Larimer County Road 1 in a Volkswagen Tiguan and was approaching a left curve, according to a Colorado State Parol news release.
Russell, who was found dead on Dec. 4, was reportedly traveling at 60 mph, over the advised speed limit of 25 mph for the curve, where she failed to get the car to turn. She then drove off the right side of the road, over an embankment and collided with a utility marker before rolling into the canal. The Tiguan landed on its roof, partially submerged in water in the canal, according to the release.
Marijuana use was also confirmed, and the release states that impaired driving is a suspected contributing factor to the crash. Russell was also reportedly actively sending text messages at the time of the crash, according to the release.
Russell was last seen Nov. 30 and family and friends joined the search for her on several days.