Four tribal members killed when car plunges into creek
Story-Date: 05:17 a.m. PST Saturday , November 15, 1997

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Four tribal members killed when car plunges into creek



IGNACIO, Colo. (AP) -- Four members of the Southern Ute tribe died in a car
crash that happened one day after the tribe held a religious ceremony
against the spread of drunken-driving fatalities.

The accident Friday was believed to be alcohol-related, as were most of the
eight other traffic fatalities on or near the reservation in the last seven
months.

Police said the car was speeding when it left the road and plunged into a
creek. The car was submerged for nearly 30 minutes before rescue officials
reached it.

The victims were identified as brothers Randy and Ricky Baker, 22 and 19;
their cousin Clayton Baker, 17; and friend Randall Ben Velasquez, 19. An
unidentified fifth occupant escaped from the submerged car.

Ignacio is the hometown of U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, who was in
town for the ceremony Thursday and who visited the accident site.

"It's almost like an epidemic," he said. "I don't have the answers to all
that has happened, but I do know that personal responsibility has to play a
part."



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