Former Galeton Teacher Killed in Colorado

Mrs. Wentz killed while crossing Main St. in Cortez

A Pennsylvania woman was struck by a car and killed Wednesday night while crossing in the 1100 block of East Main Street in Cortez.

Her 12-year-old grandson, also of Pennsylvania, was injured in the same accident, but was treated and released.

Mae Wentz, 76, of Ulysses, Pa., had finished dinner at J Fargo’s Grill and Bar, 1209 E. Main, and was crossing about 9:29 p.m. with her daughter and grandson north to the Rodeway Inn, 1120 E. Main, where they were staying, said Angela Herrmann, Public Information Officer with the Cortez Police Department.

Kelly Wood, 35, was driving a 1994 Saturn coupe west on Main Street when she struck Wentz and her grandson, Herrmann said.

Wood told police she could not see the pedestrians, Herrmann said. There are two street lights in the vicinity, but it was “still pretty low light,” Herrmann said, adding that alcohol, drugs, cell phone usage or speed were not factors in the accident.

Wentz, her grandson and daughter, Molly Bovard, 47, of Pennsylvania were crossing in an area where there are no crosswalks, Herrmann said. Bovard was not hit in the accident, which happened 12 feet from the north curb and 389 feet west of Roger Smith Avenue. The grandson’s name was not released because he is a juvenile, she said.

There are no charges pending at this time because “that will be determined as the investigation progresses,” Herrmann said.