I-70 Back Open In Lakewood After Deadly Wrong-Way Crash
LAKEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4)- Eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 were closed for four-and-a-half hours after a deadly wrong-way crash.
The crash happened just after 10 a.m. at Denver West Marriott Boulevard when a Lexus traveling westbound went through the grassy median and into the opposite lanes, striking a semi-truck.
"I thought we were being bombed. I was getting ready to duck for cover," said Shawn Barton, who was working nearby when he heard the crash.
The driver of the Lexus died at the scene. That driver has not been identified but police in Lakewood did confirm the driver was in their 50s.
"It wasn't a head-on direct collision, just kind of drove under the rear duals and that's where the impact took place," said Lakewood Police Detective Ty Countryman.
The driver of the semi was rushed to the hospital with minor injuries.
"I heard this big impact, it was like, 'Bam!'" said Brain Wellman who was working nearby when he heard the crash.
The truck appears to be owned by a company in Brighton.
When asked if the driver of the semi was shaken up, Countryman replied, "Oh, absolutely. You look at the marks on the roadway and it shows that his ride became very disrupted when that Lexus came over him, just by the way that trailer bounced around."
Eastbound lanes of I-70 were closed for several hours during the crash cleanup and investigation. All lanes reopened at 2:30 p.m.
What caused that crash is being investigated.