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Cause Of Fatal Semi Crash On I-70 Still Under Investigation

AVON, Colo. (CBS4) - A fatal semi crash that caused the closure of Interstate 70 Sunday morning is still under investigation.

Around 10 a.m. a Yellow company truck pulling two freight trailers westbound on I-70 went off the elevated portion the highway and landed on a Honda CRV occupied by two Avon residents. There was an explosion and fire. It took 20 to 30 minutes to put out fire.

The driver of the semi was killed in the crash. A passenger in the truck was taken to Vail Valley Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.

The occupants of the Honda were able to get out of their SUV. They were injured and taken to Vail Valley Medical Center, but have been treated and released.

One witness told CBS4 she was lucky she wasn't involved in the crash.

"I think I was kind of in shock because I kept driving and my son was yelling to stop," witness Lynn Larsen said. "Five seconds earlier we would have been right under there."

AVON SEMI FIRE MAP
(credit: CBS)

Officials with the Colorado Department of Transportation said the bridge has been inspected and found to be safe but they need to keep a westbound lane of I-70 closed so they can replace a damaged guardrail.

Investigators say they still don't know the cause of the crash. They are trying to determine if there was a mechanical failure on the truck or if a medical condition of the driver may have had a connection.

The two men in the truck were from Chicago and had stopped in Greeley. It's not clear where the truck's destination was.

The names of the victims haven't been released.

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