Two people have died and four others, including children, were injured in a three-vehicle crash Thursday in the Black Forest area involving a stolen bus, authorities said.
The crash happened at about 11 a.m. on Colorado 83 at Old Stagecoach Road, said Master Trooper Gary Cutler of the Colorado State Patrol.
About 9:30 a.m. Thursday a Ford transport bus was stolen in Aurora, said Sgt. Blake White, of the CSP. About 30 minutes later Aurora police spotted the van and attempted to stop it but the driver fled at a high speed. Police didn’t pursue the bus because of traffic safety concerns.
About 10:20 a.m., police in Parker spotted the bus, White said. A stop was attempted but the driver once again fled, including driving through private property and hitting an unoccupied vehicle. Parker police did not pursue.
About 11 a.m. the bus was southbound on 83 when the driver crossed over into the oncoming northbound lane and hit two SUVs, White said.
The driver of one SUV, the only person in the vehicle, was killed in the crash. The other SUV was carrying five people. One adult in the second SUV also died. Four others, including children, were taken to local hospitals with serious injuries, White said.
The crash, near the Westcott Fire Station 2, shut down the busy intersection for most of the afternoon.
The driver of the bus, a 20-year-old man, was also taken to a local hospital where investigators were questioning him, White said.
An investigation is ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the crash, or who saw the bus in traffic prior to the crash, is asked to call the CSP at 719-544-2424.
