An 18-year-old Colorado woman has been arrested in Baxter County after reportedly meeting with a 17-year-old girl and crashing into the girl’s parents' vehicle in a confrontation that also left the girl’s mother injured.
According to a probable cause affidavit from the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched to Salesville on Sunday evening to respond to a two-vehicle rollover accident with injuries. The incident began when the parents of the underage girl discovered she was in the passenger seat of a car driven by 18-year-old Serenedy Faith Nieto of Grand Junction, Colorado.
The parents had reportedly told their daughter earlier this year to stop communicating with Nieto after discovering they were in contact. On Sunday, the father said he was informed his daughter had gone on a walk and was possibly being followed by a car. He and his wife located the vehicle, approached it, and found their daughter inside with Nieto.
The mother reportedly demanded her daughter exit the vehicle, but the car doors were locked. The affidavit states that Nieto then started the car, prompting the mother to jump onto the hood in an effort to stop the vehicle. Nieto allegedly drove away with the girl still inside, swerving along the roadway until the mother fell off.
The father pursued the car in his truck and attempted to block it from entering the highway. Nieto’s vehicle struck the father’s truck, veered into a ditch, struck an embankment, became airborne, and overturned. The crash occurred at the intersection of Schwartz and Wilson in Salesville.
Both Nieto and the girl were transported to Baxter Health for treatment of injuries. The parents declined medical treatment at the scene.
An investigation revealed that Nieto and the teen had been communicating through various means, including computer games and apps. The girl stated they were in a relationship but indicated it had not become sexual. According to the affidavit, Nieto had traveled to the area on Friday with her grandmother and had met with the girl on at least two occasions. Nieto reportedly provided her with a burner phone to maintain communication.
The parents told investigators that earlier communications between Nieto and their daughter hinted at plans for Nieto to take the girl to Colorado.
Nieto was arrested and charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault, one felony count of first-degree criminal mischief, and a misdemeanor count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. She was booked into the Baxter County Jail and released Monday evening after posting a $10,000 bond.