5-Year-Old Girl Found Alive After 30 Hours Trapped in Wrecked Vehicle With Parents' Bodies

Troopers did not find the wreckage until about 12:35 p.m. on May 2, more than 30 hours after the crash.

Published: 5/8/2026, 6:01:03 PM EDT

5-Year-Old Girl Found Alive After 30 Hours Trapped in Wrecked Vehicle With Parents' Bodies — Colorado State Patrol Trooper Josh Lewis races at Bandimere Speedway west of Denver on Wednesday, May 5, 2021. (Thomas Peipert/AP Photo)

A 5-year-old girl survived nearly 30 hours trapped inside an overturned vehicle alongside the bodies of her parents after their truck rolled over on a rural Colorado highway, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

The crash occurred around 6 a.m. on May 1, on Highway 160 near milepost 104, just east of Bayfield, Colorado, State Patrol said in a press release shared with NTD News. The blue Chevrolet S10 was traveling eastbound when it veered off the road's south shoulder and rolled an unknown number of times before coming to rest on its roof. It was not visible from the road.

Troopers did not find the wreckage until about 12:35 p.m. on May 2, more than 30 hours after the crash. The truck was described as severely damaged.

The driver, Devante Griffin, 25, of Farmington, New Mexico, and his passenger, Klariza Tarango, 24, also of Farmington, New Mexico, were both pronounced dead at the scene. The young girl was taken to a nearby hospital and has since been released. Colorado State Patrol said impairment and excessive speed are not being investigated as contributing factors, and no charges are expected.

The crash has devastated two families. A GoFundMe campaign launched to cover Griffin's funeral expenses described him as a son taken far too soon. "My son Devante Griffin was in a tragic car accident outside of Mayfield," his mother wrote in the fundraiser. "His truck rolled over, and the accident took both his life and his girlfriend's. Miraculously, my grandbaby survived, but our family has been left heartbroken and overwhelmed by this sudden loss." As of Friday morning, the campaign had raised $165 of its $1,100 goal.

A separate GoFundMe for Tarango described her as "a loving mother, daughter, and friend whose kindness and light touched so many lives.” She is survived by a 2-year-old daughter. That campaign had raised nearly $3,000 toward a $4,500 goal as of Friday morning.

Griffin's aunt, Nycole Carter, shared a fundraising link on Facebook on May 4, asking for community support. "My nephew and his beautiful other half was taken from us too soon," Carter wrote. "Please wrap your thoughts and prayers around both immediate family and friends especially the parents and children."

Upper Pine River Fire Protection posted on Facebook on May 4 that the crash weighed heavily on their crews and the broader public. The department noted that a previously scheduled car and booster seat safety class is now at risk of being canceled due to low enrollment, with only four people signed up.

"It just so happens a car and booster seat class was already scheduled," the department wrote. "Often people are well aware of the car seat requirements but often are unaware of the booster seat needs. There are clips and proper installation requirements — it is a lot more than you think to understand how the system works to protect children in a vehicle."

The department called the child's survival both a tragedy and a miracle, and urged community members—including churches, schools, and civic groups—to consider attending the class.

Colorado State Patrol said it remains the lead investigating agency for the crash and will issue an updated press release if new information becomes available.