Kremmling, Colorado — A Colorado man is facing five counts of criminally negligent homicide after investigators alleged that he drove a Ford F-150 into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a family’s SUV, killing two parents and their three children.
The crash happened in August 2025 on Highway 9, south of Kremmling. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, witnesses reported that the pickup truck traveled in the opposing lane for hundreds of feet before striking the family’s vehicle.
The victims were identified as Manuel Cabral-Torres, 34; Andrea Banuelos-Salazar, 30; and their children, Maria Cabral-Banuelos, 12, Manuel Cabral-Banuelos, 5, and Andres Cabral-Banuelos, 2.
Samuel Conger, 26, has been charged in connection with the deaths. The allegations are based on investigative findings and witness accounts outlined in the affidavit.
What Happened on Highway 9?
According to investigators, Conger was driving a 2024 Ford F-150 when the truck crossed into the southbound lane near milepost 135.9 and struck the family’s maroon 2010 GMC Yukon.
The collision caused both vehicles to spin around the impact site and catch fire, according to the affidavit.
A motorist who saw the pickup approaching in the opposite lane told Colorado State Patrol that Conger’s head appeared to be down, making him look “asleep or passed out,” the affidavit states.
Another witness reported seeing the truck drift into their lane while traveling south and said they had to swerve to avoid a collision.
The witness later saw the truck strike the family’s SUV head-on through the rearview mirror. Other witnesses reportedly described similar observations of the Ford F-150 crossing into the opposing lane before the impact.
Investigators Estimate Truck Was Traveling Up to 86 MPH
Investigators examined the crash scene, vehicle damage, drone images, witness statements and a momentum reconstruction to estimate the pickup’s speed at the time of the collision.
According to the affidavit, the analysis placed the truck’s speed between 78 and 86 mph in a posted 65 mph zone. The affidavit also alleges that the truck remained in the oncoming lane for “hundreds of feet” before the crash.
Investigators reported finding no evidence at the scene and no witness accounts indicating that Conger attempted to brake or take evasive action to avoid hitting the Yukon.
The affidavit described the alleged driving behavior as a “gross deviation from the standard of care that a reasonable person would exercise.” These findings form part of the evidence cited in the case against Conger.
Fire Prevented Investigators From Recovering Vehicle Data
Investigators also attempted to examine the electronic data recorders from both vehicles.
These devices can capture information about a vehicle’s operation before a collision, potentially helping investigators understand its speed and other driving conditions.
However, the affidavit states that extensive fire damage prevented investigators from completing their inspections or retrieving usable data. Investigators located what they believed were the recorders from both vehicles, but those components were also badly damaged.
As a result, the investigation relied on other evidence, including witness accounts, physical damage and reconstruction analysis, to estimate what happened before impact.
Three Children and Their Parents Died in the Crash
The crash claimed the lives of all five members of the Cabral-Banuelos family.
According to the affidavit, Manuel Cabral-Torres was extricated from the SUV by police officers. The other four occupants could not be removed because the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames.
Conger survived the collision. The affidavit states that bystanders helped him climb out of the pickup truck. He was transported by ambulance to Kremmling McElroy Airport and then flown to St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood with serious injuries.
The incident left investigators examining both the circumstances leading to the collision and the evidence surrounding the alleged failure to avoid the oncoming SUV.
What Charges Does Samuel Conger Face?
Conger faces five counts of criminally negligent homicide, one count for each person killed in the crash.
The charges stem from investigators’ allegations about his driving before the collision, including the truck’s estimated speed, its movement into the opposing lane and the reported absence of braking or evasive action.
Criminal charges are allegations, and the case must proceed through the legal system before guilt can be determined.
The investigation details outlined in the affidavit provide the basis for the charges, while the court proceedings will determine how the evidence is considered.
Investigation Details Shed Light on the Fatal Collision
The August 2025 crash on Highway 9 involved a head-on collision, two vehicles that caught fire and the deaths of a family traveling together.
Witness accounts and the reconstruction analysis described in the affidavit suggest that the Ford F-150 crossed into the opposing lane before impact. However, investigators were unable to retrieve usable electronic data from either vehicle because of the fire damage.
Conger now faces five homicide counts in connection with the deaths of Manuel Cabral-Torres, Andrea Banuelos-Salazar and their three children.
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