I-70 reopens after fiery crash involving 2 semis east of Denver

Both directions of I-70 were closed at Highway 40 near the E-470 interchange due to a semi fire and crash, which disrupted traffic for several hours on Friday morning. 

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, all lanes of the interstate were closed at mile marker 288 west of E-470 just after 8:20 a.m. One lane of eastbound I-70 reopened about 10:30 a.m. followed by a second eastbound lane an hour later at 11:30 a.m. According to the Colorado State Patrol, one westbound lane reopened about 1 p.m., and the left lane will remain shut down for an unknown period of time. 

Black smoke could be seen billowing up from I-70 near the E-470 interchange on the CDOT traffic camera shortly after the crash. 

According to investigators with the Colorado State Patrol, two semis were involved in the crash. The state patrol confirmed that two semis collided after one rear-ended the other, which sent one semi into the median. 

“The second semi then went into the median, burst into flames and burned up,” said Colorado State Patrol Captain Clinton Rushing.    

That fire was extinguished by the Aurora Fire Department. No injuries were reported.

CSP said one of the semis was a 2026 Peterbilt hauling a trailer and the other was a 2020 Volvo also hauling a trailer. Both were traveling westbound on I-70. 

According to investigators, the Volvo rear-ended the trailer being hauled by the Peterbilt with the Volvo and trailer coming to a stop in the median. This caused the Volvo and its trailer to become fully engulfed in flames. CSP said the trailer then tipped onto its side into the left lane of westbound I-70. The trailer was carrying plastic cargo which spilled onto the roadway, spreading the fire onto the road and into the grassy median. 

The driver of the Volvo was charged with careless driving, according to CSP. 

Drivers were urged to take an alternate route during the closure. There were major backups in both directions of I-70. One of the on-ramps at E470 was also closed during the crash cleanup and investigation.