Tragic Day On I-25: 1 Killed, 3 Hurt In Fiery Crash May 25, 2017 2:22 PM
DENVER (CBS4) – One person was killed and three others were hurt on Thursday morning in a fiery crash on Interstate 25.
(credit: Tim Meehan)
ADVERTISING
A dump truck and a Jeep collided while they were heading north at approximately 10:15 a.m. near the intersection with 53rd Avenue.
“It’s unclear at this point who left which lane, but the vehicles did come into contact, then pulled to the right across the shoulder and struck the jersey barrier,” said Denver Police Department traffic investigator Sgt. Mike Farr. “The Jeep as a result of that did climb on top of the jersey barrier.”
(credit: CBS)
Both vehicles burst into flames, and the smoke poured from the scene for several minutes after the crash. A grassy area next to the highway also caught fire.
Workers at a nearby business rushed to the scene and had to scale a fence with barbed wire on it in the process. They pulled the victims out from the burning SUV.
(credit: Tim Meehan)
“As soon as it hit, there was the explosion, and then there were three more after that. And it was intense with fire,” said Michael Coleman, who heard the collision and saw the flames.
The person who died and the three who were hurt were all in the Jeep. The driver of the truck escaped unharmed.
Farr said he thinks the deceased person was in the back seat of the Jeep. He said two of the people who were taken to the hospital were described as being in critical condition.
None of the victims’ names have been released.
(credit: CBS)
Officials closed all of the northbound lanes of the highway for a short time afterwards, and several lanes remained closed at noon. All lanes reopened about 3:40 p.m.
The dump truck was loaded at the time of the crash.