AURORA, Colo. — A car was struck by a University of Colorado A Line train Wednesday afternoon in Aurora.
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Aurora Police Department (APD) said the crash happened near the intersection at Chambers and Smith roads. That's between Airport and Sable boulevards, just south of Interstate 70 and east of Interstate 225.
The driver of the car, a man in his 30s, suffered serious injuries and is in critical condition, according to APD.
There were 43 passengers on the A Line train when the crash happened. Two of the train's passengers were evaluated by medical personnel, but ultimately did not need further care at a hospital.
Police said their preliminary investigation showed the car was headed west on Smith Road and turned to head north on Chambers Road. The car's driver disregarded the lowered train crossing signals and was hit by the eastbound train, APD said.
Chambers Road will be closed for an extended period of time, APD said. Traffic investigators continue to reconstruct the crash to calculate speeds and other contributing factors. Police said they are not sure yet if drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash.
Investigators are asking for anyone who witnessed the crash or who may have dashcam video to call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
Several major construction projects are ongoing in metro Denver currently. They include:
Central 70
The Central 70 Project will reconstruct a 10-mile stretch of I-70 between Brighton Boulevard and Chambers Road. The project will remove a 56-year-old viaduct, as well as lower the interstate between Brighton and Colorado boulevards. A 4-acre park will be built over a portion of the lowered interstate, and one Express Lane will be added in each direction. The project is slated for completion in 2022.
> More information on the Central 70 project can be found here.
I-25 South Gap
The 18-mile South Gap Project is split into three geographic sections – north (between Plum Creek Parkway and Sky View Lane/Tomah Road), middle (between Sky View Lane/Tomah Road and Greenland Road) and south (between Greenland Road and Monument). The project will add one express lane in each direction in addition to the two general use lanes. It’s slated for completion in 2022.
> More information on the South Gap project can be found here.
C-470 Express Lanes
The C-470 Express Lanes Project is located along 12.5 miles of C-470 between I-25 and Wadsworth Boulevard. The project will add two express lanes to westbound C-470 from I-25 to Colorado Boulevard and one express lane westbound from Colorado Boulevard to Wadsworth. It also will add one express lane eastbound from Wadsworth to I-25.
> More information on the C-470 Express Lanes project can be found here.
> CDOT provides in-depth information on all its current active construction projects here.
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