Two women and a man were killed and a fourth person was seriously injured early this morning in a high-speed crash in which their car struck a median, flew off the ground and smashed through a highway sign.
James Thomas, 22, of Westminster, was pronounced dead at the scene. Melissa Burns, 18, and Daniella Devores, 20, both from Broomfield, also died in the crash that happened at 1:32 a.m. on the northbound Interstate 25 offramp at 58th Avenue.
Nicholas Palmer, 19, of Broomfield was taken to Denver Health Medical Center with serious injuries, said Gilbert Mares, spokesman for the Colorado State Patrol.
Thomas sped his blue 2004 Subaru Impreza onto the I-25 ramp, struck an island on the southeast side of the intersection, and the car flew into the air.
It struck the raised center median that separates the east and westbound lanes of 58th Avenue just east of I-25 and became airborne again for a short distance. The Impreza then hit a concrete barrier on the north side of 58th Avenue and became airborne a third time, traveling over the barrier, Mares said.
The Subaru rolled while it was in the air and struck a highway sign. The car smashed into the ground, hit a wood fence while rolling and landed on its top, Mares said.
Investigators believe alcohol was a contributing factor, he said.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
