A tragic incident unfolded on Interstate 70 near the Eisenhower Tunnel as three individuals lost their lives in a fiery semitrailer collision early Sunday morning. As reported by The Denver Post, the westbound lanes of I-70 were sealed off to traffic following the accident, which occurred around 5:45 a.m., between exit 216 for Loveland Pass and exit 205 near Silverthorne. The shutdown persisted until just before 6 p.m., significantly disrupting travel for many.
The Colorado State Patrol detailed the sequence of events, indicating that the semi went off the road initially and re-entered, making contact with the central concrete barrier. "The semi went off the road, then went back onto the road, hit the center concrete barrier, rolled across the road and caught fire," as obtained by 9News. The incident led to the deaths of all passengers aboard: a 37-year-old woman, a 39-year-old man, and a 9-year-old girl.
Investigations into the crash have been diligent, with authorities working to untangle the chain of events leading to the catastrophe. The Summit County Coroner's Office is tasked with the identification of the deceased, which will occur after the next of kin have been properly notified, according to statements made by the CSP in coverage by both CBS News Colorado and The Denver Post.
