1 Dead, 3 Hurt In Wrong-Way Crash On Boulder Turnpike
WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) - A fatal crash closed in Westminster the Boulder Turnpike for several hours on Wednesday morning.
Sometime before 3 a.m. police say a red Ford SUV was going the wrong way on Highway 36 near the Sheridan Boulevard and Church Ranch exits and collided with another vehicle, a white Acura.
A male passenger in the car going the wrong way was killed and the drivers of both cars were hospitalized, in addition to a passenger in the car that was struck.
"They're traveling at high rates of speed, especially on the highway. The damage is great," said Westminster Police spokesman Cheri Spottke.
All of the eastbound lanes were closed for several hours while police investigated the accident, and drivers were being detoured off the highway at Wadsworth Boulevard.
Detectives with Westminster Police said they still need to conduct an interview with the driver who was at fault. She is still being treated at the hospital which has prevented detectives from interviewing her.
Police believe alcohol or drugs were possibly a factor in the crash.
"We're pretty certain there were drugs and/or alcohol were involved but a toxicology panel will confirm that and those will take a couple of days to come back," said Spottke.
The highway fully reopened after 8 a.m.
So far the coroner hasn't released the name of the person who was killed.
Police said it will be several days before traffic investigators can fully reconstruct the crash.
