Three Dead in Fiery I-70 Crash Near Eisenhower Tunnel
A fiery crash at the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel on Interstate 70 claimed the lives of three individuals early Sunday morning, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
The incident occurred at approximately 5:45 a.m. when a semitrailer went off the right side of westbound I-70, west of the tunnel. The vehicle swerved back onto the roadway, struck the center concrete barrier, rolled over, and became fully engulfed in flames.
Authorities identified the victims as a 37-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man from Deming, New Mexico, and a 9-year-old girl from Jacksonville, Florida. All three were pronounced dead at the scene. The Summit County Coroner's Office will release the official identifications at a later date.
Due to the extensive damage and fire, investigators faced delays in confirming the number of fatalities. The incident prompted a shutdown of westbound I-70 between Exit 216 for Loveland Pass and Exit 205 near Silverthorne for over 12 hours, with the roadway reopening shortly before 6 p.m.
Anyone with additional information about the crash is urged to contact Colorado State Patrol dispatch at 970-249-4392, referencing case VC250372.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.