Van Gets Sandwiched Between Bus, Semi In Fiery Crash, Witnesses Pray With Driver
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - Several people were injured after a crash in Boulder between a Regional Transportation District bus, a semi-trailer and a van, described as a box truck.
The crash happened just before 10 a.m. near the intersection of 65th Street and Arapahoe Road. The van got sandwiched in between the bus and the semi.
"The RTD bus for some reason rear-ended the van, pushing (the) van into rear end of the semi, immediately causing a fireball, put out quickly by the fire department," Nate Reid with the Colorado State Patrol said.
The driver of the van had to be extricated from the vehicle. Witnesses told CBS4 they saw the driver's arm flailing out of the window and screaming for help.
Two witnesses of the crash came to the aid of the van driver to keep him calm.
"We came up on the accident and we could hear the guy in the van -- the driver -- asking for help, telling us he couldn't breathe," said one good Samaritan."(We) prayed with the guy, encouraged him and told him that help was on the way … it's surreal. There's nothing left of the van and the guy was fairly mobile inside the cab, reaching his arm out just asking for any help that we could provide to him."
A Chevy Malibu sedan also was involved after striking the rear of the bus. The driver was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. A passenger in the Malibu suffered "moderate" injuries, according to Reid.
The RTD bus involved is from the JUMP route and three passengers were on board it at the time. One passenger was transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. The two others were treated and released at the scene.
So far no citations have been issued connected with the crash.