One person rescued from South Platte River Tuesday morning after three-car crash

DENVER — One person was rescued from the South Platte River Tuesday morning after three cars crashed on southbound Interstate 25 north of Alameda Avenue just before 6 a.m., the Denver Police Department said.

The driver of a red car collided with another vehicle while he was making a lane change on the highway, then both of those vehicles collided with a third car, DPD said. The third car struck the barrier on the right side of the highway, going over the barrier and landing in the South Platte River, according to Denver police.

The driver of the first vehicle was determined to be at fault, DPD said. He was cited for careless driving and driving without a license.

This is not the first time this has happened, according to Denver7 Traffic Expert Jayson Luber.

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The wall on the side of the roadway is a temporary barrier. It's not solid, so instead of kicking the car back into the lanes as it's designed to do, it gave way allowing the car to get airborne and crash into the river, Luber said.

The driver was able to get out of the car on her own, according to Denver police.

Denver fire found the driver sitting on top of the car. The water rescue team was able to walk to her and help her get out of the South Platte River.

Denver Health Paramedics then took her to the hospital, but Denver police did not know if the driver's injuries are serious, as of 6:40 a.m. Tuesday.

What caused the crash is under investigation, the Denver Police Department said.

"Alternate routes advised," DPD said.

The tow truck arrived around 7:45 a.m. Tuesday.

"The vehicle was removed by two tow trucks from the west side of the river so traffic was not impacted on the highway," DPD said.

However as the Colorado Department of Transportation was fixing the barrier, the right lane of southbound I-25 between 6th Ave. and Alameda remained blocked, causing delays across downtown Denver on southbound I-25.