Two people were taken to the hospital with serious injuries this morning after an SUV traveling the wrong way on Interstate 70 collided head-on with a minivan.
Taylor Payne, 64 of Blanding, Utah, was driving a yellow Nissan Xterra the wrong way on Peña Boulevard from near E-470, according to a news release from the Aurora Police Department.
Denver police received reports of the Xterra and attempted to locate the SUV before the accident.
Payne, the only passenger in the Xterra, was traveling an estimated 80 mph before starting westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-70, police said.
Near the Chambers Road overpass the Xterra smashed into a green Dodge Caravan traveling eastbound on the highway.
The driver, Steven Jones, 49 of Denver, was the only person in the van.
Both drivers were taken to local hospitals.
Jones had a fractured sternum, wrist and ankle, and Payne fractured his leg and had possible internal injuries, police said.
Police initially suspected Payne of drinking and driving. After further investigation, police say he likely suffered from some type of medical issue.
The accident is still under investigation. No charges have been filed.
