A father from Wichita, Kan., and two of his children died early Saturday after a van he was driving slammed into the back of a pickup truck being towed by another pickup.
The man’s wife and the couple’s twin daughters survived the collision — as did the drivers of the other vehicles involved in the accident along Interstate 70 — which occurred as the family was making their way to Colorado for a weekend ski trip.
Killed were Alan “Ken” Schoenwald, 46, a structural engineer from Wichita, his daughter Jennalea, 18, and his son, Jace, 13.
Injured were Alan’s wife, Janelle Schoenwald, 46, a registered nurse who was thrown from the van; and their twin daughters, Alyssa and Avery, 15.
After colliding with the towed vehicle, the family’s westbound van veered across the median and into the eastbound lanes, where it was struck by a tractor-trailer.
The accident happened about 6 a.m. on I-70 just east of Deer Trail. Eastbound lanes of I-70 and one westbound lane were closed for much of the morning.
Avery was flown to Medical Center of Aurora South, and Alyssa and their mother were airlifted to Swedish Medical Center. Hospital officials said both girls were in critical condition, and their mother was in fair condition.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, none of the six family members in the van was wearing a seat belt.
The drivers of the semi and pickup weren’t hurt, the Patrol said. The semi driver’s wife was treated for injuries and released.
David Schindler, 47, of Eldon, Mo., was driving the tractor-trailer, and Marsden Thomas, 73, of Pittsburg, Kan., was driving the pickup.
The cause of the crash is under investigation, the Patrol said. Kenneth Schoenwald may have fallen asleep or been distracted, the Patrol said.
I-70 reopened to traffic at 12:40 p.m.
Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com
