Both directions of Interstate 70 near the Eisenhower-Johnson Tunnels and Silverthorne had reopened by 3:45 p.m. after a fatal crash Tuesday evening closed the westbound lanes for most of the day Wednesday.
Trooper Josh Lewis with Colorado State Patrol said CSP received a call at 10:47 p.m. about a multi-vehicle crash and fire in the westbound lanes.
He said at last count, at least five vehicles were involved, including a semi. Lewis said late Wednesday morning the crash involved two semi-trucks and three passenger vehicles.
He said the initial investigation into the crash shows a semi was westbound on I-70 in the left lane — the center and right lanes were closed for construction — when it lost control and hit the four other vehicles that were in the construction zones. One passenger vehicle was struck and nobody was injured. The other three were parked construction vehicles, according to Summit Fire & EMS.
The semi overturned and burst into flames with the driver trapped in the cab.
Lewis said the driver of the semi that hit the other vehicles and who died was a 43-year-old man from California. One construction worker who had to jump out of the way of the semi was injured and transported to a hospital for treatment, according to Summit Fire & EMS.
A CDOT official said no CDOT personnel were involved in the crash. CSP said speed "is being considered as a possible factor" in the crash.
The family of Timofey Malyshkin told Denver7 he was among the people injured in the crash. His family said he was thrown into a ditch and suffered a concussion, a broken spine and broken ribs. A GoFundMe page has been created to help raise money for his recovery and medical bills.
"Tim is a God fearing man, a loving father, husband, grandfather, brother, uncle and a true friend," said Tatyana Krivtsova, the organizer of the GoFundMe. "He is a very active member of his church and loves to help others whenever he can. He is a very social man and loved to host parties in his home where he welcomed all his family and friends."
Amy Malyshka, Tim Malyshkin's daughter, said despite all of the pain her father is in he's already making progress.
"He took a couple of steps today; he’s totally recovering a lot better than we all expected," Amy Malyshka said.
Tim Malyshkin has been a construction worker for 25 years. He is the breadwinner in the family, and as the medical bills begin to pile up, Malyshka admits they're worried about daily expenses and the long road to recovery that lies ahead for her dad.
According to CDOT cameras, crews were still cleaning the scene in the westbound lanes on Wednesday morning. Eastbound was closed as a safety precaution "due to the visibility and sensitivity of crash clean-up on the westbound side," CDOT said.
The eastbound lanes opened back up just before 11 a.m. Wednesday. CDOT said just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday the westbound lanes would stay closed at Loveland Pass through at least the evening rush hour.
CDOT said just after 3:30 p.m. that the westbound lanes were back open.
EB 70 is now OPEN from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower/Johnson tunnel. WB remains closed for now. pic.twitter.com/BrUgSXkwr7
— Jayson Luber (@Denver7Traffic) October 6, 2021
US 6 up Loveland Pass is the alternate route.
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