A 17-year-old Standley Lake High School student was killed this morning when she rear-ended a tractor-trailer truck in Westminster, police said.
The truck was stopped at a red light at 120th Avenue and Bradburn Boulevard when car driven by Carissa Lynn Thompson ran into it, authorities said.
The incident happened just after 8 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of 120th Avenue.
Thompson was taken to St. Anthony Central Hospital, where she died of her injuries.
The teenager was the only person inside the 1999 Hyundai sedan. Police said she was not wearing her seat belt.
The right lane of eastbound 120th was closed and caused substantial delays between Sheridan and Federal boulevards for two hours.
A second accident with minor injuries occurred on the westbound side of 120th as distracted drivers turned to look at the scene.
The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured in the crash.
There are no indications that drugs or alcohol were factors in the accident. Investigators are looking at the possibility that there was sun glare or a distraction inside Thompson’s car.
