Speeding, texting, marijuana tied to fatal Larimer crash

LARIMER COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) - The Colorado State Patrol has identified 20-year-old Kaylee Russell as the driver in a fatal single-vehicle crash that occurred in November 2025. Investigators found that 20-year-old Kaylee Russell was speeding, texting and using marijuana at the time her vehicle left the road, CSP announced on Wednesday. Russell, a resident of Ault, was traveling northbound in a Volkswagen Tiguan when she failed to negotiate a curve south of Larimer County Road 44, according to CSP. The Larimer County Coroner's Office identified the driver on Dec. 8, 2025, after her vehicle rolled into a canal. Investigation details revealed that Russell was traveling 60 mph while approaching the curve. The advised speed for that section of Larimer County Road 1 is 25 mph. Investigators also determined that she was actively using a mobile device to send text messages at the time of the crash. Following the receipt of a toxicology report, state police confirmed the presence of marijuana. Impairment is currently suspected as a contributing factor in the collision, according to state patrol. She drove off the right side of the road and up a steep embankment for a canal. The vehicle collided with a utility marker and continued up the embankment before rolling into the water. The car came to rest on its roof and was partially submerged in the canal. The Colorado State Patrol's Vehicular Crimes Unit is the lead agency in the ongoing investigation. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by WesternSlopeNow.com. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat information into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by WesternSlopeNow.com staff before being published.