- Kayce Griffin, 5, was the sole survivor of a car crash in Bayfield, Colorado, on May 1.
- She remained in the wrecked vehicle for over 30 hours before rescuers discovered her.
- Her parents, Devante Griffin, 25, and Klariza Tarango, 24, did not survive the crash.
- No one in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt, and Kayce was not in a car seat or booster seat.
BAYFIELD, Colorado — A 5-year-old girl spent more than 30 hours trapped in a wrecked pickup truck, next to the bodies of her parents, before first responders finally found her.
Kayce Griffin survived. Her parents did not.
The crash happened around 6 a.m. on May 1, when a Chevrolet S10 carrying Kayce, her father Devante Griffin, 25, and her mother Klariza Tarango, 24, drove off Highway 160 and rolled over near Bayfield, Colorado.
Because the vehicle was not visible from the road, no one knew the crash had happened.
It was not until around 12:30 p.m. on May 2 — more than 30 hours later — that the wreck was finally discovered.
No One in the Vehicle Was Buckled In
Colorado State Police confirmed that no one in the truck was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
Kayce was also not in a car seat or a booster seat.
La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith and Upper Pine Chief Bruce Evans both confirmed these details to local outlets.
Evans said the safety lapse was a reminder every parent needs to hear.
“It’s absolutely critical that people understand that your kid might get big enough to be out of a car seat, but there’s still height and weight requirements for them to be in a booster seat,” Evans said. “A lot of parents are not familiar with the requirements.”
‘You’d Be Surprised How Resilient Children Are’
When first responders finally reached the scene, Kayce did something that stunned them.
She walked up the hill on her own.
Colorado State Patrol spokesperson Hunter Matthews said she had stayed inside the vehicle the entire time. “We assumed that she was comfortable being around her parents,” Matthews told CPR News.
Kayce sustained only minor injuries. She was transported to Mercy Hospital in Durango, Colorado, treated, and has since been released.
She is now in the custody of her grandfather.
A Community Rallying Around a Little Girl
Devante’s mother and Tarango’s cousins each created separate GoFundMe pages to help cover funeral expenses for the two young parents.
“Klariza was a loving mother, daughter, and friend whose kindness and light touched so many lives,” her cousins wrote.
Upper Pine River Fire Protection described the crash as “both a tragedy and a miracle” for Kayce in a statement released on May 4.
The department also shared information on how community members can sign up for a child passenger safety technician certification course.
What Parents Need to Know Right Now
Evans urged parents not to assume their child has outgrown the need for a booster seat just because they look big enough.
In Colorado, children are required to be in a booster seat until they are 8 years old or reach 4 feet 9 inches in height.
A properly installed booster seat and seat belt could be the difference between a tragedy and a miracle.
Kayce Griffin is proof of how strong a child can be. She is also a reminder of what is at stake every time a family gets in the car without buckling up.
This story is still developing. What are your thoughts on child passenger safety laws in your community? Share them in the comments below.
