WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. — A newlywed couple and the mother of the woman were all killed when a semi-truck crashed on eastbound Interstate 70 near Ward Road around 8:20 a.m. Thursday and spilled its load of pipes onto the westbound lanes of the highway, where they hit several vehicles.
Five people were inside of one of the vehicles that was hit with debris. Three of those people were killed. The two others were taken to a hospital for treatment.
On Friday the Jefferson County Coroner's office identified the victims as:
- Ruben Rodriguez Garcia, 32
- Sindy Plata Martinez, 39
- Luz Martinez, 60
A GoFundMe page set up for the family says Rodriguez Garcia and Plata Martinez were married on Saturday and that Plata Martinez's parents were in Colorado from Colombia for the occasion. Her mother, Luz Martinez, was also killed in the crash. Her father and the couple's young son survived, the Gofundme page says. Both were taken to the hospital but have been released.
In an update Friday, Wheat Ridge Police said at least seven vehicles including the semi-truck were involved in the incident which they described as a "series of crashes." They don't believe any other vehicles were involved in the initial rollover crash involving the semi-truck. The semi's driver was also taken to the hospital for treatment and has since been released.
According to police, the semi was carrying plastic pipes and when the truck rolled over it lost its load and it was spread across an area of I-70 that was about the size of two football fields. Police also said that there were nearly 100 pipes and that each of them weighed about 500 pounds.
As a result of the cleanup and investigation, the highway was closed for hours and didn't fully reopen until around 4 p.m. Thursday.
It's not yet known what caused the semi-truck to roll over, however, multiple people reached out to 9NEWS and expressed concerns about the configuration of the construction zone through that area.
Ashley Crosby, a tow truck driver for Connelly’s Towing, waited on standby at a nearby truck stop until she was called to help after the crash. She said their drivers were stuck in the same traffic as everyone else.
“We actually had one of our trucks at 470 and I-70, and he said he spent 45 minutes on the ramp just to get off at Sixth Avenue,” Crosby said.
Anyone who was a victim of the crash and is looking for trauma support is encouraged to call Victim Outreach Incorporated (VOI) at 303-202-2196.
Police said the investigation is an "incredibly complicated investigation" and they're working with the district attorney's office to determine potential charges.
Witnesses are asked to contact the Crash and Traffic Team (CATT) for the Wheat Ridge Police Department by calling 303- 235-2933.