One person was killed and two more were injured in two crashes that happened minutes apart on southbound Interstate 25 near Walsenburg on Friday morning, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
The first crash happened at 7:32 a.m. about 10 miles south of Walsenburg in Huerfano County when a box truck rear-ended a semitruck as traffic slowed down because of sun glare. The box truck driver was airlifted to the hospital with moderate injuries, state officials said.
Minutes later, the driver of a Ford F250 rear-ended a Hyundai Elantra and then rolled and slid into the rear of Hyundai Sonata. The Elantra was pushed across the highway into northbound lanes during the crash.
The F250 driver, a 46-year-old man, died at the scene. The Elantra driver was taken to the hospital with unknown injuries, the state patrol said.
I-25 was closed in both directions until 9:12 a.m. because of the crashes, and southbound I-25 will be closed at exit 41 for Rugby Road for several hours for the investigation, officials said. Traffic was being detoured at exit 41.
