The fiery multi-car crash that killed four people in Thornton on Saturday was caused by a rear-end collision at a red light, police said.
A Ford SUV carrying a family of four was traveling northbound on Washington Street when the driver stopped at a red light at Thornton Parkway, according to a Tuesday from the Thornton Police Department.
Police said the driver of the second car, a Subaru sedan, was speeding down northbound Washington Street when it crashed into the back of the stopped SUV around 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The crash caused the gas tank to rupture, lighting the SUV on fire.
A third car, a Chrysler van, was also struck in the crash, police said. The driver was not injured.
The crash and fire killed 49-year-old Francisco Díaz Garcia, 49-year-old Gregoria Núñez Rocha, 16-year-old Paola Stephany Díaz Núñez and 10-year-old Nataly Díaz Núñez, according to the Adams and Broomfield County Coroner’s Office said.
Paramedics took the driver of the speeding Subaru, identified by coroner officials as 27-year-old Salas Galindo, to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.
Updated at 9:40 a.m. Nov. 25, 2024: This story was updated to include the identities of the people killed in the crash.
