Man who drove into Seeley Lake facing several traffice violations

Mike Peters, (Bio) mpeters@greeleytribune.com
March 16, 2007

A man who escaped injury early Friday when he drove a car through a cable fence and into Seeley Lake is now in jail and stands to face several traffic charges.

Daniel Munoz-Diaz, 22, was taken to Weld County Jail on suspicion of of drunken driving, careless driving, driving without insurance, having no driver's license and failure to report an accident.

He is also being held for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under suspicion of being an illegal alien.

Passers-by saw the car in the lake about 6:30 a.m. and called 9-1-1.

Although no one was injured, The Colorado State Patrol, Eaton firefighters and Weld County Sheriff's deputies checked the car about 50 feet out into Seeley Lake, north of Greeley.

An Eaton firefighter in an ice suit checked the partially submerged car to make certain no one was inside.

Sheriff's deputies stopped Munoz-Diaz, walking south on 35th Avenue, about a half-mile from the lake. He was dressed only in a T-shirt and jeans, and his clothing was wet, in temperatures that hit the mid-20s Friday morning. He spoke little English, and only complained that he didn't want to receive a ticket.

Trooper Bob Roberts placed Munoz-Diaz in handcuffs and took him to jail after paramedics made certain he was not injured.

The 1994 Jeep Laredo sustained moderate damage when it apparently came straight off County Road 66, where the road curves around the lake. The car left the road on the west side of the lake, ran through a fence of steel cable and heavy posts, and then hit the lake.

A large 12-by-12 post was sheared off, but the cable didn't break. Eaton firefighters said the cable apparently stretched, then sprung back over the top of the car, ripping off the hood and part of the engine.

Pieces of the car, including the front bumper and muffler, were scattered along the car's path between the fence and the lake.

Trooper Roberts said the Jeep was owned by a friend of Munoz-Diaz.

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