Four men died in separate crashes throughout Colorado on Tuesday and Wednesday, with authorities blaming a variety of factors including excessive speed, heavy rain, street racing and alcohol.
Colorado State Patrol troopers were trying to determine the cause of a crash Wednesday that killed the driver of a semi-truck that collided with a freight train near Gilcrest in Weld County.
The semi, an empty cattle hauler, was heading west on Weld County Road 40 at U.S. 85 just after 10 a.m. when it collided with a Union Pacific train with 107 empty coal cars, said Trooper Ryan Sullivan.
Rescuers worked into the afternoon to cut the semi driver out of the truck, Sullivan said. His name was withheld pending notification of his family.
Elsewhere:
The truck driven by John Gagon, 29, of Aurora, was headed west on East Peakview Avenue and had stopped at a stop sign. Gagon then started to turn south on Buckley when Hornbeck accelerated his Suzuki motorcycle and struck Gagon’s truck, Sullivan said. Hornbeck was thrown from the bike.
The Explorer traveled into the median and rolled before coming to rest on its top, Watkins said. Ebbs and his passenger, Bonnie Ebbs, 64, had to be cut out of the vehicle.
Both were taken to Summit Medical Center, where Clyde Ebbs died. Bonnie Ebbs was treated for moderate injuries.
Jerry Duran, 54, of Bailey, who had been racing with Sandoval, turned himself in Tuesday after authorities say he fled the scene. He was arrested on suspicion of leaving the scene of an accident involving injuries and other violations, Watkins said.
He said all three are suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. None was wearing a helmet or eye protection, he said.
