Las Animas County deputy killed in crash

A Las Animas County Sheriff’s Deputy was killed in a crash in Trinidad Tuesday morning.

The crash happened at 11:47 a.m. on Stonewall Avenue near Prospect Street.

Deputy Travis Russell, 44, was driving his sheriff’s office vehicle, a 2009 Ford Expedition, eastbound on Stonewall when the vehicle veered across the westbound lanes of traffic and crashed into the front of a 1990 Toyota 4-Runner. There wasn’t anyone in the 4-Runner.

Russell’s vehicle then continued eastbound before rolling onto its passenger side.

Russell was on-duty, but was not responding to a call when the crash happened. He was wearing his seat belt.

The Las Animas County Coroner will conduct an autopsy to confirm how Russell died.