Colorado vehicle chase ends in deadly head-on collision, fire

A police chase in Colorado came to a tragic end Wednesday when the suspect's vehicle crashed head-on with another driver, killing everyone in both vehicles.

According to Colorado State Patrol, "The Weld County Sheriff's Office was in pursuit of the GMC Yukon on northbound Highway 85. At the intersection of Highway 85 and Highway 60, the GMC Yukon went across the median into the southbound lanes, heading toward oncoming traffic."

The Yukon reportedly crashed head-on into a Toyota 4Runner, causing a gas leak that caught both vehicles on fire, trapping the occupants inside.

CSP said troopers arrived on the scene shortly after the crash. They tried to put out the fire with extinguishers and attempted to separate the vehicles using a push bumper on one of their cruisers. However, they were unable to save the people trapped in the vehicles.

Officials said the driver and passenger in the Yukon, as well as the 57-year-old woman driving the 4Runner, died at the scene. The Weld County Coroner will release the identity of those involved pending notification of next of kin.

Authorities said one Weld County deputy suffered minor injuries while attempting life-saving measures and was treated at the scene. One CSP vehicle was damaged while trying to separate the burning vehicles.

The crash is under investigation by the CSP Vehicular Crimes Unit.

In a later update on Thursday, the sheriff's office said the incident began when a patrol deputy conducted a traffic stop on the Yukon and claimed there was no pursuit.

A release from the office said, "The vehicle was not being pursued before the deputy initiated the traffic stop. As the deputy approached the vehicle on foot, the suspect vehicle drove away at a high rate of speed. Details are limited at this time, but as the deputy was trying to relocate and contact the vehicle, the suspect vehicle attempted to evade the deputy and crossed into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into a motorist that was not involved in the traffic stop."

When asked if the deputy trying to relocate the suspect's vehicle was driving with lights and sirens on toward the direction in which the car was last seen, the department responded that the investigation is ongoing and they are not able to release more details at this time.

The sheriff's office said they're conducting their own internal investigation of the crash.