Five people, including three children, have died in a car crash south of Denver, Colorado, according to authorities.
The collision took place at 4:39 p.m. on Monday afternoon near Franktown, Colorado, police said. The Colorado State Patrol responded to a three-vehicle crash involving a black Toyota hatchback, a tan Ford sedan and a black Ford pickup on Highway 83 at mile marker 40.5, near Russellville Road, according to a statement from the patrol.
“The Toyota was traveling southbound on Highway 83 when the driver lost control and went off the right shoulder. The Toyota returned to the roadway and rolled onto the northbound lane, ejecting the driver,” authorities said.
“The Ford sedan was traveling northbound when the Toyota hit it head-on. The Toyota, after crashing into the Ford sedan, kept traveling southbound in the northbound lanes and struck a Ford pickup, causing minor damage,” CSP added.
The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead on the scene, police said.
The Ford sedan was occupied by an adult driver and five juveniles. The man who was driving and three of the juveniles were pronounced dead on the scene. The two other juveniles were airlifted to a nearby medical facility, but the driver of the Ford pickup was not injured, according to CSP.
Officials said the Douglas County coroner will identify all the deceased after all next of kin have been notified.
Police said it was unknown at this time why the Toyota lost control, but the state’s Vehicular Crimes Unit is leading the investigation.
Highway 83 currently remained closed as of Monday night due to the investigation and cleanup and drivers in the area are advised to find an alternate route until it reopens.