DENVER (KDVR) — A driver is facing a charge of careless driving after a crash involving two semi trucks sparked a fire and closed down the roadway on Friday morning.
Around 8:26 a.m., the Colorado State Patrol said it responded to a crash involving two semi trucks, with one “fully engulfed in flames,” on I-70 near milepost 289, west of E-470. This was east of Aurora and south of the Denver International Airport.
The state patrol said initial reports found that a 2020 Volvo hauling a trailer was traveling westbound when it rear-ended a 2026 Peterbilt hauling a trailer. The Volvo and trailer landed in the median, where it caught fire and was engulfed in flames. The trailer tipped over onto the left lane of the westbound I-70, and its plastic cargo spilled and spread the fire onto the roadway and in the median.
SkyFOX flew over the scene, where firefighters appeared to be putting out the flames. Smoke was rising, and a black cloud of smoke could be seen from afar.
The fire shut down the roadway in both directions for the entire morning as the South Metro Fire Department, Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado State Patrol HAZMAT and other law enforcement agencies helped clear the scene.
The fire was put out around 9:25 a.m. The Aurora Fire Department said it helped contain the spilled diesel fuel, and there was no other hazardous material involved. Then, two tow trucks helped recover the semi. CDOT said there is heavy equipment in place for the cleanup and detour.
Around 1 p.m., I-70 is almost completely reopened, with all the eastbound lanes and one westbound lane reopened.
The drivers were uninjured.
A semi truck driver, Kris Hamlet, spoke to FOX31’s Courtney Fromm about sitting in traffic as the roadway was closed. Hamlet said he wonders if speed could be a possible factor in the crash.
“We work a lot of long hours out here and sometimes drivers push the limit you just got to wonder what is going on,” Hamlet said.
Now, Colorado State Patrol is investigating the crash, and said the driver of the Volvo is facing a charge of careless driving.
FOX31’s Courtney Fromm contributed to this report.
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