Man Dies After Car Collides With Xcel Truck

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - A man has died after his car collided with an Xcel Energy bucket truck early Saturday morning in Aurora.

Lt. Chuck DeShazer with Aurora police said officers responded to the accident at South Chambers Road and East Mexico Drive at 2:15 a.m. When they arrived they found a silver Mitsubishi Lancer and an Xcel bucket truck had collided in the intersection.

"The driver of the Lancer, identified as Benjamin Rutledge, 38, of Aurora, was found to have suffered serious injuries and was immediately transported to a local hospital," DeShazer said in a statement.

Rutledge later died from his injuries.

"It was determined the Xcel vehicle had been southbound on Chambers and was making a left turn onto Mexico when it was struck by the Lancer that had been traveling northbound on Chambers," DeShazer said.

The driver of the Xcel truck, Greg Adams, 51, was not injured.

"Mr. Adams indicated he had a green turn arrow which was verified by an independent witness of the collision," DeShazer said.

The signal lights appeared to have been working properly. Rutledge was not wearing a seatbelt.