Colorado highway closed for hours after vehicles flee collision, fuel spill

All westbound lanes of U.S. 36 in Denver were closed Saturday morning after a collision caused a diesel fuel spill. The wreck reportedly involved a vehicle which struck a freight truck and drove away. 

The fuel spill was located in several Boulder-bound lanes of the Boulder Turnpike just west of the Pecos Street interchange. 

Firefighters and hazardous materials teams cleaned up the 50-60 gallons of diesel fuel from the roadway. The cleanup concluded and the highway was re-opened at 2:25 p.m.

Westminster Fire Department first reported the closure and cleanup just after 7:30 a.m.  

CSP Trooper Sherri Mendez said troopers are investigating the incident as a hit-and-run crash. Mendez said the incident involves a Dodge Challenger, a Ford F-150 pickup, and a tractor-trailer. The Challenger traveled out of the HOV lane, crossing two solid white dividing lines, and cut off both the pick and the semi. The pickup swerved to the right and hit the semi's left-side fuel tank, causing the leak. The pickup driver lost control and the bed of the pickup was run over by the semi trailer's wheels. 

The Challenger left the scene without hitting the other vehicles, according to CSP's Mendez. The pickup left as well after the driver was able to free his damaged vehicle from the semi trailer's wheels. That black pickup reportedly bears Colorado vanity plate reading "CHILANG," a stick on the door that says "You can't fix stupid," and damage to both the right front and right rear sections of its body.  

The semi driver was able to pull over to the right shoulder, and was not injured in the incident. 

CSP also said it cited eight drivers during the highway's closure for trying to get through the scene in the HOV lane.