Highway 285 reopens after deadly crash west of Denver

U.S. Highway 285 has reopened after a deadly crash near Colorado State Highway 8 in Morrison, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.

The crash was reported just before 5:30 a.m. and closed the northbound lanes, and then the southbound lanes for a total of about 6 hours.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said the crash involved five people between three separate cars.

Colorado State Patrol said the crash was caused by the driver of an Acura RL driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes. That driver struck two cars and was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. He struck one car, and that other driver was taken to the hospital "as a precautionary measure," according to CSP. Then a third car, with a male driver and female passenger, was struck. Those two were taken to the hospital, where the driver later died.

No one involved in the crash was immediately identified and officials didn't say if charges were pending against the Acura driver.