‘A Tragedy & a Miracle’: 5-Year-Old Girl Survives 30HRS After Parents Die in Crash

The crash: A hidden scene on Highway 160

According to the Colorado State Patrol, the crash occurred around 6:00 AM on Friday, May 1, 2026, on U.S. Highway 160 near milepost 104, just east of Bayfield in southern Colorado. The vehicle, a blue Chevrolet S-10 pickup, was traveling eastbound when it went off the south shoulder of the road, rolled an unknown number of times, and came to rest on its roof.

The truck was not visible from the roadway. For more than 30 hours, it sat undetected.

On Saturday, May 2, at approximately 12:35 PM, troopers responded to a report of a rollover crash at that location and found the truck on its roof. Inside were three occupants.

The driver, Devante Griffin, 25, of Farmington, New Mexico, was pronounced dead at the scene. The front passenger, Klariza Tarango, 24, also of Farmington, was pronounced dead at the scene. Their 5-year-old daughter was found alive in the wreckage. She was transported to an area hospital and has since been released into the care of her family.

No impairment, no speeding

The Colorado State Patrol is continuing its investigation, but officials have already stated that impairment and excessive speed are not being investigated as factors. No charges are expected to be filed.

That leaves the cause of the crash unresolved. Possibilities include driver fatigue, a mechanical issue, an animal or debris in the roadway, or a momentary loss of attention. Unless the truck's data recorder survived the rollover intact, a definitive answer may never emerge.

What is clear is that the vehicle came to rest in a location not visible from the road, which is why nearly a day and a half passed before anyone found them.

A family shattered

Devante Griffin and Klariza Tarango were young parents from Farmington, New Mexico, just across the Colorado border. Their daughter now faces a future without them.

The Upper Pine River Fire Protection District, which responded to the scene, described the weight of the discovery on its crews: "It weighs heavily not only on our crews but for the family and the public who have suffered a loss, expressed their condolences and offered their prayers."

What this means for drivers on rural roads

This case, while extraordinary, carries real lessons for anyone who travels rural highways.

1. Crashes can go unseen: On remote roads, a vehicle that leaves the pavement can disappear from view entirely. If you drive off the road in a rural area, it may be hours or days before anyone finds you. Telling someone your route and expected arrival time before any long drive is always a wise precaution
2. The investigation may not provide closure: With impairment and speed ruled out, the cause may ultimately remain unknown, leaving the surviving family with questions that may never be fully answered
3. The legal aftermath is uncertain but worth understanding: Even without criminal charges, the child's family may have legal options. A wrongful death claim could potentially be brought against a vehicle manufacturer if a defect is identified, or against a government entity if road conditions were a contributing factor. Without a clear established cause, however, such claims are difficult to pursue
4. The emotional toll is immense: For the first responders who discovered the scene, the trauma will linger. For the extended family now raising a child who lost both parents, the grief is immense

A family of three set out on a rural Colorado highway. Only one came home alive. A 5-year-old girl survived more than a day in an overturned truck, her parents gone, before anyone knew to look for her. She is now recovering with family.

The Upper Pine River Fire Protection District called it "both a tragedy and a miracle." That is the only way to describe it. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of Devante Griffin and Klariza Tarango.

If you or a loved one has been affected by a catastrophic crash, the independent attorneys we connect you with have the experience to investigate the cause, navigate insurance claims, and help families pursue the compensation they need to rebuild.

For more articles like this, visit our News Page.