A tire blew out on a semitrailer involved in a fatal crash on C-470 in Jefferson County Thursday before the driver of the truck lost control and careened into westbound lanes of traffic, Colorado State Patrol said Friday.
The driver of the semitrailer — 37-year-old Samuel Molina of Commerce City — and the driver of the westbound vehicle the semitrailer crashed into — 52-year-old Brenda Montague of Lakewood — were both pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that happened around 11 a.m, CSP said.
Fatal crash Hwy 470 just east of Bowles ave. multiple cars involved. both directions shutdown for unknown amount of time
— Colorado State Patrol (@CSP_News)
Molina was traveling east on C-470 in the left lane when his front tire failed, state patrol said. Molina lost control of the truck, ran off the left side of the road, crashed through the guardrail and into the westbound lanes.
Molina then crashed into the driver’s side of Montague’s car.
Both vehicles traveled east, crashing through a concrete barrier and falling onto a bike path below, state patrol said.
The semi’s cab burst into flames. The truck dragged the Pathfinder with it, and that SUV was pinned under the truck’s cab, officials said.
Drivers of three other cars were injured by flying debris, CSP said. The semi’s trailer separated from the cab at the barrier. It was hauling sand that spilled on the road.
The crash prompted traffic closures that lasted through rush hour Thursday evening.
