Authorities survey the scene of a fiery crash on I-70 near Colorado Mills Parkway that shut down the highway in both directions on Friday, April 26, 2019. Lakewood, Colo. A truck driver blamed for causing a deadly pileup involving over two dozen vehicles near Denver has been arrested on vehicular homicide charges. Lakewood police spokesman Ty Countryman said Friday that there's no indication that drugs or alcohol played a role in Thursday's crash. (AP Photo/Peter Banda)
LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Latest on fatal pileup on Interstate 70 near Denver (all times local):
8:45 p.m.
Transportation officials have reopened an interstate that was badly damaged by a fiery crash west of Denver.
The Colorado Department of Transportation opened Interstate 70 in both directions Friday night.
Police have said four people were killed on Thursday after a semi-truck plowed into vehicles on the interstate, causing a fire so intense that it melted the roadway and metal off of cars. The vital east-west highway links the mountains with the eastern plains.
The truck driver, 23-year-old Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos, has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide. He is scheduled to appear in court Saturday.
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2:15 p.m.
Colorado officials say they hope to reopen a major highway by Saturday morning after the interstate was badly damaged by a fiery crash near Denver.
Police have said four people were killed on Thursday after a semi-truck plowed into vehicles on Interstate 70, causing a fire so intense that it melted the roadway and metal off of cars. The vital east-west highway links the mountains with the eastern plains.
Authorities re-opened the highway's westbound lanes on Friday afternoon but said it will take crews at least until Saturday morning to repair the interstate's eastbound lanes.
Department of Transportation Chief Engineer Josh Laipply says crews and contractors have been called in.
The truck driver, 23-year-old Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos, has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide.
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12:30 p.m.
The truck driver suspected of killing four people in a fiery crash near Denver is expected to make his first court appearance on Saturday.
Authorities said Friday that Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos was arrested in Thursday's rush hour crash on busy Interstate 70 based on interviews and evidence gathered by investigators.
He is being held on suspicion of vehicular homicide but prosecutors have not filed formal charges against him.
Jail records don't indicate if he has a lawyer
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11:30 a.m.
The truck driver accused of killing four people in a fiery crash near Denver is a 23-year-old licensed operator from Texas.
Authorities said Friday that 23-year-old Rogel Lazaro Aguilera-Mederos of Houston was arrested in Thursday's rush hour crash on busy Interstate 70 based on interviews and evidence gathered by investigators.
Lakewood police spokesman Ty Countryman said there's no indication the crash was intentional and says he has been cooperative. Police wouldn't provide a hometown for him.
Jail records don't indicate if he has a lawyer. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance Saturday.
He is being held on suspicion of vehicular homicide but prosecutors have not filed formal charges against him.
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10:10 a.m.
Colorado officials say four people have died after a semi-truck hauling lumber plowed into vehicles on Interstate 70, causing a fire so intense that it melted the roadway and metal off of cars.
Authorities had to wait until daylight Friday to confirm the death toll from Thursday's 28-vehicle pileup because of the devastation caused by the fire.
Six people were taken to hospitals with injuries. Their conditions are unclear.
Lakewood police spokesman Ty Countryman says the driver of the truck who caused the crash sustained minor injuries. He has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular homicide.
Officials say the driver was headed down a hill when he slammed into slower traffic. Countryman says there is no indication the crash was intentional.
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7:40 a.m.
A truck driver blamed for causing a deadly pileup involving over two dozen vehicles near Denver has been arrested on vehicular homicide charges.
Lakewood police spokesman Ty Countryman said Friday that there's no indication that drugs or alcohol played a role in Thursday's crash.
The unidentified driver was headed down a hill on Interstate 70 when he slammed into slower traffic and sparked a massive fire. Countryman said police are looking at whether his brakes were working properly.
He said 28 vehicles were involved, up from the initial 15 vehicles police reported after further sorting through the burned wreckage.
Police still say there were multiple fatalities but are still working to provide an exact number.
The highway is expected to remain closed until Saturday.
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