Two injured in serious crash

Longmont police are investigating a serious car crash late Friday night that sent two people to the hospital and may have involved drugs and alcohol.

Longmont police Sgt. Mike Bell said the crash occurred just a few minutes before midnight Friday in the 2300 block of Main Street in Longmont.

Billy Steven Romo, 37, a transient, was driving his step-father’s 2001 Pontiac Trans Am south on Highway 287, police said. A Colorado State Patrol trooper stopped Romo for speeding about a mile and a half north of Longmont. When the trooper got out of his car to approach Romo’s vehicle, Romo sped off, police said.

The crash occurred shortly after. When Romo entered Longmont on Highway 287, which becomes Main Street, he was driving about 90 miles per hour in the inside lane, police said.

Elizabeth Burns, 49, of Longmont, had been driving west on Highway 66 and had just turned south on Main Street. She was driving in the inside lane and was struck from behind by Romo, police said. The impact pushed her car off the road and into the bushes in front of Liquors 66, 2441 Main St. Romo’s vehicle continued southbound into the left turn lane, just south of 23rd Avenue, police said.

Both cars suffered severe damage but remained upright, police said. Both drivers were taken to Longmont United Hospital. Neither had life-threatening injuries.

The investigation is ongoing, Bell said, but police suspect drugs and alcohol played a role. Charges are expected to be filed against Romo, police said.