Deputy Injured In Crash, Pulls Driver From Burning Car
BENNETT, Colo. (CBS4)- An Adams County Sheriff's deputy who was injured in a crash on Interstate 70 pulled a driver from a burning car. Both men involved in the crash are facing charges.
The crash between an Adams County Sheriff's Office cruiser and a Ford Focus happened just before 6 a.m. in the westbound lanes of I-70 about a half-mile east of the Bennett exit.
Adams County Deputy Jeremy Selvidge, 25, is being charged with failure to yield the right of way and the man he pulled from the burning car, Andrew Benoit, 34, is facing charges because he couldn't produce a drivers license or proof of insurance.
The Colorado State Patrol says the deputy caused the crash when he failed to yield as he was merging onto the interstate. The driver of the Ford Focus rear ended the deputy's cruiser, veered into the median and burst into flames.
Selvidge, already injured in the crash, managed to pull Benoit from the burning car to safety. Then he attempted to direct traffic while waiting for more assistance.
Copter4 flew over the crash where a large patch of burned grass could be seen in the median surrounding the charred vehicle.
Both directions of I-70 reopened about an hour after the crash.
Both the deputy and the driver were injured with non-life threatening injuries. The deputy received some stitches at the hospital.