One man was killed and five people, four of them children, were hospitalized when two SUVs collided while changing lanes in Aurora.
The collision happened around 12:30 p.m. today about a quarter-mile from the Interstate 225-Interstate 70 interchange, Aurora police said.
Witnesses told police that a 1996 Nissan Pathfinder, which was driven by Johnnie Hines, 42, of Denver, attempted to change from a right lane to the middle lane while a 2007 Toyota RAV4 driven by Lauren Rand, 23, of Fort Collins was changing from the left lane to the middle lane.
Both SUVs spun after the collision. The Toyota came to a controlled stop but the Nissan became airborne after hitting a concrete barrier and rolled one and one-half times.
Two 8-year-old children were ejected from the Nissan when it rolled. Two other children in the Nissan, ages 16 and 4, and an adult woman were not ejected.
Hines was pronounced dead at the scene. The children were taken to Children’s Hospital and the University of Colorado Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Lt. Jim Steciuk, spokesman for the Aurora Police Department, said no fines or charges have been issued while the accident continues to be investigated, he said. Alcohol and drugs are not considered to be factors and both vehicles were travelling about 65 mph in a 55 mph zone.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com
