2 PERSONS DIE;
DEADLY CRASH CLOSES INTERSTATE 25 SOUTH OF COLORADO SPRINGS. A 2001 FORD MUSTANG LOST CONTROL ON THE ICY ROADWAYS, CROSSED THE
MEDIAN AND COLLIDED WITH A SOUTHBOUND SEMI TRUCK CARRYING 8,000 GALLONS OF
DIESEL FUEL. THEY WERE NOT WEARING SEAT
BELTS.
By Debbie Kelley
Published: January 12, 2015
A man and woman died Monday in a two-vehicle wreck on
Interstate 25 south of Colorado Springs on Monday morning, according to the
Colorado State Patrol.
State troopers said a 2001 Ford Mustang was northbound
on the interstate, near mile marker 125, when it lost control on the icy
roadways, crossed the median and collided with a southbound 2013 Kenworth semi
truck carrying 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel.
Crash investigators said the Mustang struck the left
side of the semi, traveled under the trailer, and collided with the trailer's
rear axles before being pushed backwards, spinning out and coming to rest near
the center of the median.
The Mustang's driver, identified as 27-year-old Joshua
Martinez of Pueblo, was not wearing his seatbelt. He was thrown from the car
and died on scene. His passenger, 22-year-old Amber Pacino of Colorado Springs,
was also not wearing her seatbelt and thrown from the car, troopers said.
The driver of the semi, identified as 55-year-old Paul
Hamelin of Pueblo West, was not injured. Troopers said he was wearing his seatbelt.
Investigators believe the Mustang was driving too fast
for the road conditions; however the cause of the crash is still under
investigation.
The crash shut down Southbound I-25 was shut down for
several hours.
According to Twitter reports, southbound traffic was
backed up 4 miles at mile marker 128 at about noon Monday because of the wreck
and detour.
The fuel on the semi was off-loaded at the site, near
the Ray Nixon Power Plant south of Fountain, according to the State Patrol.