Mourning the Death of Liz Birt

[Guest guest]

I just received this news report from Jim Donnelley of Autism One. Liz Birt, a

tireless

advocate in our struggle, has died in a car crash in Colorado.

While I didn't know her personally, I've had the pleasure of speaking with her

on the phone

on a few occasions, and got the chance to meet her in October.

Reading this has knocked the wind out of me on more than one level. Not only

have we

lost a great friend and advocate in our community, but her death underscores a

fear that I

think we all share: How will our ASD children be provided for in the event they

lose a

parent?

Anyway, the report is attached, below.

Nanstiel

FAIR Autism Media

---------------------------

Crash on 82 kills woman

?A two-car collision at Brush Creek Road and Highway 82 Wednesday killed one

woman,

injured two other people and backed up traffic for hours.

The Aspen Times/Mark Fox

Colson

Aspen Correspondent

December 29, 2005

?

An Illinois woman died after two cars collided Wednesday at Highway 82 and Brush

Creek

Road. Two others were injured, and the wreck snarled traffic in the upper valley

for hours,

according to the Colorado State Patrol.

Birt, 49, of Wilmette, Ill., who reportedly was visiting Aspen with

friends, died of

injuries she suffered in the crash, according to Pitkin County's chief deputy

coroner,

.

Birt was a passenger in a westbound 2006 Ford Taurus, which D. Felt, 52,

also of

Wilmette, was driving, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Felt's son,

, 13, was

also in the car.

About 9:30 a.m. Felt turned left off Highway 82 to head south on Brush

Creek

Road.

A pickup truck carrying driver Blake , 31, and passenger ,

31, both

of Snowmass, reportedly was heading upvalley on Highway 82 and slammed into the

Taurus between the front and back doors on the passenger side.

The impact spun the sedan into the northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road. The

truck kept

going on the highway for another 44 feet, coming to a stop blocking both

upvalley lanes

of the highway, according to the State Patrol.

Birt had stopped breathing by the time emergency personnel had pulled her from

the car,

but she was resuscitated by rescuers at the scene, said. She died in

the

emergency room at Aspen Valley Hospital at 1:26 p.m.

The es both were wearing seat belts and received only minor injuries. A

State

Patrol report did not indicate whether they were taken to Aspen Valley Hospital.

Felt was wearing a seat belt, but the State Patrol said it did not know

whether Birt

and the younger Felt were wearing seat belts. Felt was ticketed for

careless driving

causing serious bodily injury, careless driving causing death and no proof of

insurance.

Rescuers had to cut the roof off the sedan to get the occupants out, and Ayers

said all

three were taken to Aspen Valley Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Felt

later was airlifted to The Children's Hospital in Denver, according to the State

Patrol,

although officials at that hospital said Wednesday evening they had no patient

by that

name.

The wreck drew most of Pitkin County's on-duty deputy sheriffs into action for

much of

the morning, as well as officers from the Aspen and Snowmass Village police

departments

and the Colorado State Patrol.

Because the truck was blocking the upvalley lanes of Highway 82, deputies

diverted

eastbound highway traffic down Hill Way and over McLain Flats Road into

town for

five and a half hours, according to the State Patrol.

The sedan was blocking both northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road just before the

intersection. Snowmass Village police Sgt. Olson said his department

diverted traffic

onto Highline and Owl Creek roads from 10 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m., when Highway

82

was reopened to traffic.

[Guest guest]

This is TERRIBLE news!!

s

persistentC@...

President and Executive Director

The Mariposa School

for Children with Autism

203 Gregson Drive

Cary, NC 27511

919-461-0600

www.MariposaSchool.org

"Most of the important things in all the world have been accomplished by people who kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." Dale Carnegie

From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On Behalf Of NanstielSent: Thursday, December 29, 2005 7:33 AMEOHarm Subject: Mourning the Death of Liz Birt

I just received this news report from Jim Donnelley of Autism One. Liz Birt, a tireless advocate in our struggle, has died in a car crash in Colorado.While I didn't know her personally, I've had the pleasure of speaking with her on the phone on a few occasions, and got the chance to meet her in October.Reading this has knocked the wind out of me on more than one level. Not only have we lost a great friend and advocate in our community, but her death underscores a fear that I think we all share: How will our ASD children be provided for in the event they lose a parent? Anyway, the report is attached, below. NanstielFAIR Autism Media---------------------------Crash on 82 kills woman?A two-car collision at Brush Creek Road and Highway 82 Wednesday killed one woman, injured two other people and backed up traffic for hours.The Aspen Times/Mark Fox ColsonAspen CorrespondentDecember 29, 2005?An Illinois woman died after two cars collided Wednesday at Highway 82 and Brush Creek Road. Two others were injured, and the wreck snarled traffic in the upper valley for hours, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Birt, 49, of Wilmette, Ill., who reportedly was visiting Aspen with friends, died of injuries she suffered in the crash, according to Pitkin County's chief deputy coroner, .Birt was a passenger in a westbound 2006 Ford Taurus, which D. Felt, 52, also of Wilmette, was driving, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Felt's son, , 13, was also in the car.About 9:30 a.m. Felt turned left off Highway 82 to head south on Brush Creek Road.A pickup truck carrying driver Blake , 31, and passenger , 31, both of Snowmass, reportedly was heading upvalley on Highway 82 and slammed into the Taurus between the front and back doors on the passenger side.The impact spun the sedan into the northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road. The truck kept going on the highway for another 44 feet, coming to a stop blocking both upvalley lanes of the highway, according to the State Patrol.Birt had stopped breathing by the time emergency personnel had pulled her from the car, but she was resuscitated by rescuers at the scene, said. She died in the emergency room at Aspen Valley Hospital at 1:26 p.m.The es both were wearing seat belts and received only minor injuries. A State Patrol report did not indicate whether they were taken to Aspen Valley Hospital. Felt was wearing a seat belt, but the State Patrol said it did not know whether Birt and the younger Felt were wearing seat belts. Felt was ticketed for careless driving causing serious bodily injury, careless driving causing death and no proof of insurance.Rescuers had to cut the roof off the sedan to get the occupants out, and Ayers said all three were taken to Aspen Valley Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. Felt later was airlifted to The Children's Hospital in Denver, according to the State Patrol, although officials at that hospital said Wednesday evening they had no patient by that name.The wreck drew most of Pitkin County's on-duty deputy sheriffs into action for much of the morning, as well as officers from the Aspen and Snowmass Village police departments and the Colorado State Patrol.Because the truck was blocking the upvalley lanes of Highway 82, deputies diverted eastbound highway traffic down Hill Way and over McLain Flats Road into town for five and a half hours, according to the State Patrol.The sedan was blocking both northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road just before the intersection. Snowmass Village police Sgt. Olson said his department diverted traffic onto Highline and Owl Creek roads from 10 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m., when Highway 82 was reopened to traffic.

[Guest guest]

, Liz was a tireless advocate of estate planning for minor children with

ASD to make sure they were taken care of. She was working with me to

complete my son's plan as well. This news is so devastating to our

community and to everyone who knew her. It's just heartbreaking.

Holly

Mourning the Death of Liz Birt

I just received this news report from Jim Donnelley of Autism One. Liz Birt,

a tireless

advocate in our struggle, has died in a car crash in Colorado.

While I didn't know her personally, I've had the pleasure of speaking with

her on the phone

on a few occasions, and got the chance to meet her in October.

Reading this has knocked the wind out of me on more than one level. Not only

have we

lost a great friend and advocate in our community, but her death underscores

a fear that I

think we all share: How will our ASD children be provided for in the event

they lose a

parent?

Anyway, the report is attached, below.

Nanstiel

FAIR Autism Media

---------------------------

Crash on 82 kills woman

?A two-car collision at Brush Creek Road and Highway 82 Wednesday killed

one woman,

injured two other people and backed up traffic for hours.

The Aspen Times/Mark Fox

Colson

Aspen Correspondent

December 29, 2005

?

An Illinois woman died after two cars collided Wednesday at Highway 82 and

Brush Creek

Road. Two others were injured, and the wreck snarled traffic in the upper

valley for hours,

according to the Colorado State Patrol.

Birt, 49, of Wilmette, Ill., who reportedly was visiting Aspen

with friends, died of

injuries she suffered in the crash, according to Pitkin County's chief

deputy coroner,

.

Birt was a passenger in a westbound 2006 Ford Taurus, which D. Felt,

52, also of

Wilmette, was driving, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Felt's son,

, 13, was

also in the car.

About 9:30 a.m. Felt turned left off Highway 82 to head south on

Brush Creek

Road.

A pickup truck carrying driver Blake , 31, and passenger

, 31, both

of Snowmass, reportedly was heading upvalley on Highway 82 and slammed into

the

Taurus between the front and back doors on the passenger side.

The impact spun the sedan into the northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road. The

truck kept

going on the highway for another 44 feet, coming to a stop blocking both

upvalley lanes

of the highway, according to the State Patrol.

Birt had stopped breathing by the time emergency personnel had pulled her

from the car,

but she was resuscitated by rescuers at the scene, said. She died

in the

emergency room at Aspen Valley Hospital at 1:26 p.m.

The es both were wearing seat belts and received only minor

injuries. A State

Patrol report did not indicate whether they were taken to Aspen Valley

Hospital.

Felt was wearing a seat belt, but the State Patrol said it did not

know whether Birt

and the younger Felt were wearing seat belts. Felt was ticketed for

careless driving

causing serious bodily injury, careless driving causing death and no proof

of insurance.

Rescuers had to cut the roof off the sedan to get the occupants out, and

Ayers said all

three were taken to Aspen Valley Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Felt

later was airlifted to The Children's Hospital in Denver, according to the

State Patrol,

although officials at that hospital said Wednesday evening they had no

patient by that

name.

The wreck drew most of Pitkin County's on-duty deputy sheriffs into action

for much of

the morning, as well as officers from the Aspen and Snowmass Village police

departments

and the Colorado State Patrol.

Because the truck was blocking the upvalley lanes of Highway 82, deputies

diverted

eastbound highway traffic down Hill Way and over McLain Flats Road

into town for

five and a half hours, according to the State Patrol.

The sedan was blocking both northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road just before

the

intersection. Snowmass Village police Sgt. Olson said his department

diverted traffic

onto Highline and Owl Creek roads from 10 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m., when

Highway 82

was reopened to traffic.

[Guest guest]

This is heartbreaking! Our prayers go out to her family! This has really got me

thinking and I need to have a will drawn up for my husband and me. I just really

need to think who would be the best person to care for my children in the event

that they lost their parents. I can't imagine what an autistic child goes

through when this happens to them. Their whole world is changed and we all know

how they hate change. The world has truly lost an angel!

>

> From: " Nanstiel " <erik@...>

> Date: 2005/12/29 Thu AM 07:33:15 EST

> EOHarm

> Subject: Mourning the Death of Liz Birt

>

> I just received this news report from Jim Donnelley of Autism One. Liz Birt, a

tireless

> advocate in our struggle, has died in a car crash in Colorado.

>

> While I didn't know her personally, I've had the pleasure of speaking with her

on the phone

> on a few occasions, and got the chance to meet her in October.

>

> Reading this has knocked the wind out of me on more than one level. Not only

have we

> lost a great friend and advocate in our community, but her death underscores a

fear that I

> think we all share: How will our ASD children be provided for in the event

they lose a

> parent?

>

> Anyway, the report is attached, below.

>

> Nanstiel

> FAIR Autism Media

> ---------------------------

>

> Crash on 82 kills woman

>

> ?A two-car collision at Brush Creek Road and Highway 82 Wednesday killed one

woman,

> injured two other people and backed up traffic for hours.

> The Aspen Times/Mark Fox

>

> Colson

> Aspen Correspondent

> December 29, 2005

> ?

> An Illinois woman died after two cars collided Wednesday at Highway 82 and

Brush Creek

> Road. Two others were injured, and the wreck snarled traffic in the upper

valley for hours,

> according to the Colorado State Patrol.

>

>

> Birt, 49, of Wilmette, Ill., who reportedly was visiting Aspen with

friends, died of

> injuries she suffered in the crash, according to Pitkin County's chief deputy

coroner,

> .

>

>

> Birt was a passenger in a westbound 2006 Ford Taurus, which D. Felt,

52, also of

> Wilmette, was driving, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Felt's son,

, 13, was

> also in the car.

>

>

> About 9:30 a.m. Felt turned left off Highway 82 to head south on Brush

Creek

> Road.

>

>

> A pickup truck carrying driver Blake , 31, and passenger

, 31, both

> of Snowmass, reportedly was heading upvalley on Highway 82 and slammed into

the

> Taurus between the front and back doors on the passenger side.

>

>

> The impact spun the sedan into the northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road. The

truck kept

> going on the highway for another 44 feet, coming to a stop blocking both

upvalley lanes

> of the highway, according to the State Patrol.

>

>

> Birt had stopped breathing by the time emergency personnel had pulled her from

the car,

> but she was resuscitated by rescuers at the scene, said. She died in

the

> emergency room at Aspen Valley Hospital at 1:26 p.m.

>

>

> The es both were wearing seat belts and received only minor injuries.

A State

> Patrol report did not indicate whether they were taken to Aspen Valley

Hospital.

>

>

> Felt was wearing a seat belt, but the State Patrol said it did not know

whether Birt

> and the younger Felt were wearing seat belts. Felt was ticketed for

careless driving

> causing serious bodily injury, careless driving causing death and no proof of

insurance.

>

>

> Rescuers had to cut the roof off the sedan to get the occupants out, and Ayers

said all

> three were taken to Aspen Valley Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Felt

> later was airlifted to The Children's Hospital in Denver, according to the

State Patrol,

> although officials at that hospital said Wednesday evening they had no patient

by that

> name.

>

> The wreck drew most of Pitkin County's on-duty deputy sheriffs into action for

much of

> the morning, as well as officers from the Aspen and Snowmass Village police

departments

> and the Colorado State Patrol.

>

> Because the truck was blocking the upvalley lanes of Highway 82, deputies

diverted

> eastbound highway traffic down Hill Way and over McLain Flats Road into

town for

> five and a half hours, according to the State Patrol.

>

> The sedan was blocking both northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road just before

the

> intersection. Snowmass Village police Sgt. Olson said his department

diverted traffic

> onto Highline and Owl Creek roads from 10 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m., when

Highway 82

> was reopened to traffic.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Here's the link to that story:

http://tinyurl.com/8cm2n

Seeing the photo of her vehicle, it's a miracle that the other two passengers

survived.

>

> This is heartbreaking! Our prayers go out to her family! This has really got

me thinking

and I need to have a will drawn up for my husband and me. I just really need to

think who

would be the best person to care for my children in the event that they lost

their parents. I

can't imagine what an autistic child goes through when this happens to them.

Their whole

world is changed and we all know how they hate change. The world has truly lost

an angel!

> >

> > From: " Nanstiel " <erik@a...>

> > Date: 2005/12/29 Thu AM 07:33:15 EST

> > EOHarm

> > Subject: Mourning the Death of Liz Birt

> >

> > I just received this news report from Jim Donnelley of Autism One. Liz Birt,

a tireless

> > advocate in our struggle, has died in a car crash in Colorado.

> >

> > While I didn't know her personally, I've had the pleasure of speaking with

her on the

phone

> > on a few occasions, and got the chance to meet her in October.

> >

> > Reading this has knocked the wind out of me on more than one level. Not only

have

we

> > lost a great friend and advocate in our community, but her death underscores

a fear

that I

> > think we all share: How will our ASD children be provided for in the event

they lose a

> > parent?

> >

> > Anyway, the report is attached, below.

> >

> > Nanstiel

> > FAIR Autism Media

> > ---------------------------

> >

> > Crash on 82 kills woman

> >

> > ?A two-car collision at Brush Creek Road and Highway 82 Wednesday killed

one

woman,

> > injured two other people and backed up traffic for hours.

> > The Aspen Times/Mark Fox

> >

> > Colson

> > Aspen Correspondent

> > December 29, 2005

> > ?

> > An Illinois woman died after two cars collided Wednesday at Highway 82 and

Brush

Creek

> > Road. Two others were injured, and the wreck snarled traffic in the upper

valley for

hours,

> > according to the Colorado State Patrol.

> >

> >

> > Birt, 49, of Wilmette, Ill., who reportedly was visiting Aspen

with friends,

died of

> > injuries she suffered in the crash, according to Pitkin County's chief

deputy coroner,

> > .

> >

> >

> > Birt was a passenger in a westbound 2006 Ford Taurus, which D. Felt,

52, also

of

> > Wilmette, was driving, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Felt's son,

, 13,

was

> > also in the car.

> >

> >

> > About 9:30 a.m. Felt turned left off Highway 82 to head south on

Brush Creek

> > Road.

> >

> >

> > A pickup truck carrying driver Blake , 31, and passenger

, 31,

both

> > of Snowmass, reportedly was heading upvalley on Highway 82 and slammed into

the

> > Taurus between the front and back doors on the passenger side.

> >

> >

> > The impact spun the sedan into the northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road. The

truck

kept

> > going on the highway for another 44 feet, coming to a stop blocking both

upvalley

lanes

> > of the highway, according to the State Patrol.

> >

> >

> > Birt had stopped breathing by the time emergency personnel had pulled her

from the

car,

> > but she was resuscitated by rescuers at the scene, said. She died

in the

> > emergency room at Aspen Valley Hospital at 1:26 p.m.

> >

> >

> > The es both were wearing seat belts and received only minor

injuries. A State

> > Patrol report did not indicate whether they were taken to Aspen Valley

Hospital.

> >

> >

> > Felt was wearing a seat belt, but the State Patrol said it did not

know whether

Birt

> > and the younger Felt were wearing seat belts. Felt was ticketed for

careless

driving

> > causing serious bodily injury, careless driving causing death and no proof

of

insurance.

> >

> >

> > Rescuers had to cut the roof off the sedan to get the occupants out, and

Ayers said all

> > three were taken to Aspen Valley Hospital for treatment of serious injuries.

Felt

> > later was airlifted to The Children's Hospital in Denver, according to the

State Patrol,

> > although officials at that hospital said Wednesday evening they had no

patient by that

> > name.

> >

> > The wreck drew most of Pitkin County's on-duty deputy sheriffs into action

for much

of

> > the morning, as well as officers from the Aspen and Snowmass Village police

departments

> > and the Colorado State Patrol.

> >

> > Because the truck was blocking the upvalley lanes of Highway 82, deputies

diverted

> > eastbound highway traffic down Hill Way and over McLain Flats Road

into town

for

> > five and a half hours, according to the State Patrol.

> >

> > The sedan was blocking both northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road just before

the

> > intersection. Snowmass Village police Sgt. Olson said his department

diverted

traffic

> > onto Highline and Owl Creek roads from 10 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m., when

Highway

82

> > was reopened to traffic.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Very sad news... It looks like it was time to get the angels

involved from above. You go girl...

-Sue M.

>

> I just received this news report from Jim Donnelley of Autism One.

Liz Birt, a tireless

> advocate in our struggle, has died in a car crash in Colorado.

>

> While I didn't know her personally, I've had the pleasure of

speaking with her on the phone

> on a few occasions, and got the chance to meet her in October.

>

> Reading this has knocked the wind out of me on more than one

level. Not only have we

> lost a great friend and advocate in our community, but her death

underscores a fear that I

> think we all share: How will our ASD children be provided for in

the event they lose a

> parent?

>

> Anyway, the report is attached, below.

>

> Nanstiel

> FAIR Autism Media

> ---------------------------

>

> Crash on 82 kills woman

>

> ?A two-car collision at Brush Creek Road and Highway 82 Wednesday

killed one woman,

> injured two other people and backed up traffic for hours.

> The Aspen Times/Mark Fox

>

> Colson

> Aspen Correspondent

> December 29, 2005

> ?

> An Illinois woman died after two cars collided Wednesday at

Highway 82 and Brush Creek

> Road. Two others were injured, and the wreck snarled traffic in

the upper valley for hours,

> according to the Colorado State Patrol.

>

>

> Birt, 49, of Wilmette, Ill., who reportedly was visiting

Aspen with friends, died of

> injuries she suffered in the crash, according to Pitkin County's

chief deputy coroner,

> .

>

>

> Birt was a passenger in a westbound 2006 Ford Taurus, which

D. Felt, 52, also of

> Wilmette, was driving, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

Felt's son, , 13, was

> also in the car.

>

>

> About 9:30 a.m. Felt turned left off Highway 82 to head

south on Brush Creek

> Road.

>

>

> A pickup truck carrying driver Blake , 31, and passenger

, 31, both

> of Snowmass, reportedly was heading upvalley on Highway 82 and

slammed into the

> Taurus between the front and back doors on the passenger side.

>

>

> The impact spun the sedan into the northbound lanes of Brush Creek

Road. The truck kept

> going on the highway for another 44 feet, coming to a stop

blocking both upvalley lanes

> of the highway, according to the State Patrol.

>

>

> Birt had stopped breathing by the time emergency personnel had

pulled her from the car,

> but she was resuscitated by rescuers at the scene, said.

She died in the

> emergency room at Aspen Valley Hospital at 1:26 p.m.

>

>

> The es both were wearing seat belts and received only

minor injuries. A State

> Patrol report did not indicate whether they were taken to Aspen

Valley Hospital.

>

>

> Felt was wearing a seat belt, but the State Patrol said it

did not know whether Birt

> and the younger Felt were wearing seat belts. Felt was

ticketed for careless driving

> causing serious bodily injury, careless driving causing death and

no proof of insurance.

>

>

> Rescuers had to cut the roof off the sedan to get the occupants

out, and Ayers said all

> three were taken to Aspen Valley Hospital for treatment of serious

injuries. Felt

> later was airlifted to The Children's Hospital in Denver,

according to the State Patrol,

> although officials at that hospital said Wednesday evening they

had no patient by that

> name.

>

> The wreck drew most of Pitkin County's on-duty deputy sheriffs

into action for much of

> the morning, as well as officers from the Aspen and Snowmass

Village police departments

> and the Colorado State Patrol.

>

> Because the truck was blocking the upvalley lanes of Highway 82,

deputies diverted

> eastbound highway traffic down Hill Way and over McLain

Flats Road into town for

> five and a half hours, according to the State Patrol.

>

> The sedan was blocking both northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road

just before the

> intersection. Snowmass Village police Sgt. Olson said his

department diverted traffic

> onto Highline and Owl Creek roads from 10 a.m. to about 2:30 p.m.,

when Highway 82

> was reopened to traffic.

>

[Guest guest]

After re-reading my post... I feel the need to clarify. Most

importantly, my thoughts and prayers go out to Liz's family and

friends. That is by far the most important. My comments below are

just trying to make the best out of a horrible situation. I hope

everyone understands...

-Sue M.

> >

> > I just received this news report from Jim Donnelley of Autism

One.

> Liz Birt, a tireless

> > advocate in our struggle, has died in a car crash in Colorado.

> >

> > While I didn't know her personally, I've had the pleasure of

> speaking with her on the phone

> > on a few occasions, and got the chance to meet her in October.

> >

> > Reading this has knocked the wind out of me on more than one

> level. Not only have we

> > lost a great friend and advocate in our community, but her death

> underscores a fear that I

> > think we all share: How will our ASD children be provided for in

> the event they lose a

> > parent?

> >

> > Anyway, the report is attached, below.

> >

> > Nanstiel

> > FAIR Autism Media

> > ---------------------------

> >

> > Crash on 82 kills woman

> >

> > ?A two-car collision at Brush Creek Road and Highway 82

Wednesday

> killed one woman,

> > injured two other people and backed up traffic for hours.

> > The Aspen Times/Mark Fox

> >

> > Colson

> > Aspen Correspondent

> > December 29, 2005

> > ?

> > An Illinois woman died after two cars collided Wednesday at

> Highway 82 and Brush Creek

> > Road. Two others were injured, and the wreck snarled traffic in

> the upper valley for hours,

> > according to the Colorado State Patrol.

> >

> >

> > Birt, 49, of Wilmette, Ill., who reportedly was

visiting

> Aspen with friends, died of

> > injuries she suffered in the crash, according to Pitkin County's

> chief deputy coroner,

> > .

> >

> >

> > Birt was a passenger in a westbound 2006 Ford Taurus, which

> D. Felt, 52, also of

> > Wilmette, was driving, according to the Colorado State Patrol.

> Felt's son, , 13, was

> > also in the car.

> >

> >

> > About 9:30 a.m. Felt turned left off Highway 82 to head

> south on Brush Creek

> > Road.

> >

> >

> > A pickup truck carrying driver Blake , 31, and passenger

> , 31, both

> > of Snowmass, reportedly was heading upvalley on Highway 82 and

> slammed into the

> > Taurus between the front and back doors on the passenger side.

> >

> >

> > The impact spun the sedan into the northbound lanes of Brush

Creek

> Road. The truck kept

> > going on the highway for another 44 feet, coming to a stop

> blocking both upvalley lanes

> > of the highway, according to the State Patrol.

> >

> >

> > Birt had stopped breathing by the time emergency personnel had

> pulled her from the car,

> > but she was resuscitated by rescuers at the scene,

said.

> She died in the

> > emergency room at Aspen Valley Hospital at 1:26 p.m.

> >

> >

> > The es both were wearing seat belts and received only

> minor injuries. A State

> > Patrol report did not indicate whether they were taken to Aspen

> Valley Hospital.

> >

> >

> > Felt was wearing a seat belt, but the State Patrol said

it

> did not know whether Birt

> > and the younger Felt were wearing seat belts. Felt was

> ticketed for careless driving

> > causing serious bodily injury, careless driving causing death

and

> no proof of insurance.

> >

> >

> > Rescuers had to cut the roof off the sedan to get the occupants

> out, and Ayers said all

> > three were taken to Aspen Valley Hospital for treatment of

serious

> injuries. Felt

> > later was airlifted to The Children's Hospital in Denver,

> according to the State Patrol,

> > although officials at that hospital said Wednesday evening they

> had no patient by that

> > name.

> >

> > The wreck drew most of Pitkin County's on-duty deputy sheriffs

> into action for much of

> > the morning, as well as officers from the Aspen and Snowmass

> Village police departments

> > and the Colorado State Patrol.

> >

> > Because the truck was blocking the upvalley lanes of Highway 82,

> deputies diverted

> > eastbound highway traffic down Hill Way and over McLain

> Flats Road into town for

> > five and a half hours, according to the State Patrol.

> >

> > The sedan was blocking both northbound lanes of Brush Creek Road

> just before the

> > intersection. Snowmass Village police Sgt. Olson said his

> department diverted traffic

> > onto Highline and Owl Creek roads from 10 a.m. to about 2:30

p.m.,

> when Highway 82

> > was reopened to traffic.

> >

>