AURORA, Colo. — One person died Thursday morning after a Prius and semi truck crashed on westbound Interstate 70 at the Interstate 225 exit, according to the Aurora Police Department.
"The initial investigation shows the Prius was lodged under the back of the semi," Aurora police said.
The driver of the Prius, only identified as a man, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Aurora police. No one else was in the car. The Adams County Corner's Office will release his identity after family has been notified.
The crash first happened around 5 a.m. Thursday, closing westbound I-70 at the I-225 exit, west of the Chambers bridge. The road has since reopened, police said.
"We ask people to avoid the area and take an alternate route if possible," Aurora police said.
Traffic backed up to Tower Road, Denver7 Traffic Expert Jayson Luber said. Drivers on southbound Peña Boulevard experienced major slowing from Green Valley Ranch Boulevard.
An alternate route for morning commuters at Peña is to exit at 56th Avenue, go west to Peoria Street, then down to I-70, Luber advised. He also recommended drivers not exit at Chambers because there's a long backup forming there.
However if you do, Luber said, go north up to Gateway Street, then left through Montbello to Peoria.
The way the APD are set up it appears they are going to keep WB 70 closed at 225 and wait for the investigators to do their work which will take a while. No ETA when WB 70 will reopen.
— Jayson Luber (@Denver7Traffic) May 9, 2024
Traffic is backed up to Tower Rd and SB Pena is slow from GVR. Pena drivers, exit 56th, go… pic.twitter.com/PhRNqqZ5gv
"There is very little left to that car that is involved in this crash on WB 70 at 225. It appears this will be a crash investigation that will last for a long time. We can expect to have WB 70 closed at 225 fro the better part of the morning," Luber said looking at traffic cameras and AirTracker7 flying over the crash.
