JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. – A semi-truck went off the edge of the C-470 highway in Jefferson County on Thursday morning, crashing into another vehicle, bursting into flames and killing both drivers, Colorado State Patrol officials said.
The crash happened about 11 a.m. between West Bowles Avenue and West Ken Caryl Avenue. Trooper Gary Cutler expected the westbound lanes to remain closed between U.S. 285 and Kipling Street through rush hour, but crews re-opened the eastbound lanes shortly after 2 p.m.
Both directions of the highway were back open just before 7 p.m. Thursday.
The semi-truck, which was hauling sand, was driving in the eastbound lanes of the highway when it crossed the center median, crashed through a guardrail and went into the westbound lanes. The truck crashed into the westbound vehicle and went through the concrete barrier on the side of the highway and off a 30-foot embankment, Cutler said. The other vehicle ended up beneath the cab of the semi-truck, at the bottom of the embankment.
"It was loaded with sand, so there was a lot of force and impact going through there," Cutler said.
Three other vehicles were struck by debris but no one else was injured.
Heavy smoke and flames could be seen at the scene of the crash. The semi-truck's trailer was dangling on the edge of the elevated roadway.
West Metro Fire also responded to the crash, where a grass fire broke out near the wreckage.
Video from Denver7's Tom Mustin showed the semi-truck hanging over the edge of an overpass on the highway and heavy plumes of smoke coming from the side of the roadway.
Video from @TomMustin shows the immediate aftermath of the crash and fire on C-470. He says he was behind the semi when it crashed.https://t.co/EcovxyvaBD pic.twitter.com/aKf2J0c07f
— Denver7 News (@DenverChannel) August 29, 2019
CDOT crews will be back Friday morning to continue repairs and clean-up, Golden CSP officials said in a tweet Thursday evening.