Three people, including a 9-year-old girl, died after a semi-truck overturned and caught fire on a Colorado highway, authorities reported.
The crash occurred early Sunday, Oct. 12, at around 5:42 a.m. local time, when state troopers responded to a single-vehicle accident on the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 near milepost 208, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
A preliminary investigation revealed that a Freightliner Cascadia semi-truck with a trailer was traveling westbound downhill on a straight stretch of road when it veered off the right side of the highway as it approached a curve. The truck then returned to the roadway, struck the center concrete barrier, and rolled over—blocking traffic lanes before becoming fully engulfed in flames, officials said.
The fire and damage were so severe that first responders were initially unable to determine the number of people inside the vehicle.
Investigators later identified the driver as a 37-year-old woman from Deming, New Mexico, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers were also found: a 39-year-old man from Deming and a 9-year-old girl from Jacksonville, Florida. Both were pronounced dead at the scene, according to authorities.
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The crash forced the closure of Interstate 70 for nearly 12 hours while investigators and emergency crews worked to process the wreckage. State Patrol Trooper Gabriel Moltrer told The Summit Daily that the road remained closed throughout Sunday due to the agency’s extensive investigation process for fatal crashes.
Summit County Coroner Amber Flenniken confirmed that three people died in the collision and said their identities are “presumed” but awaiting confirmation through scientific identification procedures. Once verified, their names will be released publicly. Flenniken added that the victims are believed to be members of the same family.
The Colorado State Patrol continues to investigate the cause of the crash and has asked anyone who witnessed the incident to contact their dispatch center at (970) 249-4392, referencing VC250372.
