BOULDER COUNTY

Rollover crash on U.S. 36 leaves two dead, two hurt

A fatal rollover crash on U.S. 36 at Lefthand Canyon Drive has left two adults dead and two children injured.

According to a news release from the State Patrol, the accident happened at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday when a Jeep went through the center grass median before rolling and coming to rest in the southbound lanes of U.S. 36.

Both adult occupants of the vehicle, including the driver, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Two passengers, ages 11 and 16, were identified as the children of the deceased and were taken to a hospital with moderate injuries.

The crash initially closed U.S. 36 in both directions between Nelson Road and Neva Road.

The Boulder County coroner’s office will release the names of the deceased after notifying family. Investigators are still working to determine what caused the Jeep to leave its lane and roll over.

— Ella Cobb, Daily Camera

WESTMINSTER

Man dead in suspected road rage incident after crash on U.S. 36

A suspected road rage incident early Wednesday on U.S. 36 resulted in the death of a 30-year-old man, according to a Westminster Police Department news release.

Westminster law enforcement responded to a three-vehicle crash just before 1:30 a.m. New Year’s Day in the westbound lanes of U.S. 36 west of Church Ranch Boulevard. Police said preliminary information indicated a road rage incident on U.S. 36 ended in a confrontation where the driver of a truck exited his vehicle to confront the other driver.

However, the truck driver was then hit by an SUV traveling west on U.S. 36. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. His identity has not been released.

Police suspect alcohol might be a factor because the driver of the truck who was hit had an open alcohol container in the truck, police said.

No charges have been filed.

CHEESMAN PARK

Firefighters extinguish tree engulfed in flames

Denver firefighters responded to a tree engulfed in flames in Cheesman Park on Wednesday.

Just before 1 p.m., the Denver Fire Department said the fire was out and no one was injured.

Video of the fire posted in a Cheesman Park neighborhood Facebook group shows a tree behind the iconic Cheesman Park Pavilion fully engulfed in flames and a trail of black smoke rising.

The fire department did not immediately release the cause of the fire.

— Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post