Slippery slope mars weekend

While there were plenty of slips and crashes over the weekend that are expected to be part of Saratoga Skijoring, one team was unfortunately unable to make it due to a slip and crash of their own. On Friday evening, a team from Colorado was involved in a one vehicle wreck at 1st and Maple in Saratoga.

According to an incident report filed by Officer Kyle Murphy of the Saratoga Police Department, a Dodge 2500 and a gooseneck horse trailer driven by John Sanders of Pagosa Springs, Colorado was heading north down the 1st Street hill when the truck lost traction. After losing traction, both the truck and trailer spun until they were facing south.

The truck and trailer came to a stop due, in part, to a tree on property next to the highway. Upon arriving at the scene, Murphy observed that both were being held up by the tree and that the passenger side of the vehicle had been crushed. The passenger side tires had fallen off the side of the embankment.

In the passenger seat of the truck was Eagle, Colorado resident Delbert Birk, who indicated to Murphy that he was stuck and was experiencing pain in his hip. In the back seat was Amanda Sanders, also of Pagosa Springs. Due to A. Sanders stating that she was not stuck nor experiencing any pain, Murphy helped her out of the vehicle through the back driver side window.

With the aid of Officer Robert Bifano, Murphy closed 1st Street and traffic was redirected along River Street. Murphy stated in his report that he had requested dispatch contact the Department of Public Works about putting salt and sand on the road. Trucks from the streets department did not begin sanding and salting until approximately 8:15 p.m.

Shortly after Murphy arrived on scene, the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department arrived to extricate Birk from the truck. It wasn't until 8:30 p.m. that Birk and the Sanders were taken by ambulance to Rawlins. During the Saturday night calcutta, event organizers announced that Birk had suffered three broken ribs and a broken pelvis from the wreck.

In addition to first responders, this reporter observed organizers of the event coming to the aid of the Sanders and Birk. The horses in the gooseneck trailer were safely transferred to a different horse trailer and Sanders' and Birk's belongings were transferred into the back of a truck.

Over the weekend, several "pass the hat" fundraisers were held to raise money for Birk. According to event organizers, the amount raised by the end of the event was approximately $1,500.