Carlos Alberto Retana, an 18-year-old from Hudson, Colorado, was found deceased in a field near Keenesburg after a tragic single-car accident. The discovery was made two days after Retana was reported missing following the crash early Saturday morning. His family and the Weld County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the heartbreaking news on Tuesday.
Retana’s family filed a missing persons report after he failed to return home from a friend’s house late Friday night. According to the sheriff’s office, Retana was involved in a single-vehicle crash near the intersection of Weld County Road 59 and Weld County Road 8. The authorities stated that he either walked away or was ejected from the crash site, leaving his car behind. Despite an immediate drone search of the area, initial efforts to locate Retana were unsuccessful.
It wasn’t until Sunday evening that Retana’s body was discovered approximately one mile north of the crash scene. The Weld County Coroner’s Office responded to the location, but the final cause and manner of death have yet to be determined.
The death of Carlos Alberto Retana has deeply affected the local community. Family and friends, devastated by the loss, have expressed their grief and support for the family. Many took to Facebook to share their condolences. Araceli Vargas wrote, "Ay Dios mio dales fortaleza a esos padres que han de estar sufriendo mucho Y a el su descanso eterno." Similarly, Elizabeth Cortez posted, "Q.E.P.D y que Dios le brinde fortaleza a su familia."
In response to the tragic incident, the family organized a balloon release on Monday to honor Carlos’s memory. The event brought together friends and community members who shared in the family’s sorrow and offered their support during this difficult time.
The Weld County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, with many questions remaining about the circumstances surrounding Carlos’s death. The community continues to rally around the family, hoping that they will soon find the answers they desperately seek. Carlos Alberto Retana’s untimely passing has left a profound void in the lives of those who knew and loved him.