ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO — A 19-year-old passenger died and an 18-year-old driver was seriously injured Wednesday morning after a Ford F-150 lost control on westbound Interstate 70 near milepost 321 east of Byers, sideswiping a Colorado State Patrol vehicle and then striking a semi-trailer that was being towed from the center median — all while troopers were actively working an earlier crash scene.
The crash occurred around 6:45 a.m. A trooper had been investigating a single-vehicle, property-damage-only semi crash and had a patrol car partially blocking the left lane to protect tow truck operators removing the semi from the median. The westbound F-150 lost control, sideswiped the passenger side of the patrol car, entered the center median, struck the guardrail, and then hit the rear driver’s side of the semi-trailer.
The 19-year-old passenger was transported to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died. The 18-year-old driver was transported with serious injuries. The trooper was taken to a hospital for a precautionary evaluation and reported no injuries.
The name of the 19-year-old will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner after family notification. The Colorado State Patrol Vehicular Crimes Unit is investigating.
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