3 killed in U.S. 85 crash after suspect flees Weld County deputies, state patrol says

Three people were killed in a fiery head-on crash on U S on Wednesday after an SUV driver fleeing Weld County sheriff s deputies drove into oncoming traffic according to the Colorado State Patrol Deputies were pursuing a suspected stolen GMC Yukon on northbound U S near Colorado at around p m when the Yukon driver crossed the median into the southbound lanes crashing into a Toyota Runner the state patrol declared in a news release The area is between Platteville and Gilcrest about miles south of Greeley The crash caused a gas leak and both vehicles caught fire trapping the driver and a rider in the Yukon as well as the Toyota driver Troopers attempted to separate the vehicles after the crash using a patrol motorcycle and tried to extinguish the fire but both drivers and the patron died at the scene Their names will be published by the Weld County Coroner s Office A deputy had minor injuries after trying to save people from the crash and was treated on scene according to the state patrol The Yukon s license plate was stolen and did not match the SUV but investigators are still working to confirm whether the bus itself was stolen In a comment the Weld County Sheriff s Office explained a deputy was walking toward the Yukon during a traffic stop when the driver sped away and that the crash happened as the deputy was trying to relocate and contact the wagon The sheriff s office declined to answer questions about whether the deputy was pursuing the Yukon and whether their lights and siren were turned on citing the ongoing analysis Related Articles Toddler dies in submerged car after crash near Brush Motorcyclist killed in Wheat Ridge crash north of Sloan s Lake Bicyclist killed in crash with motorcycle near Fort Collins injured in Aurora rollover crash Colorado traffic deaths drop as enforcement of new hands-free phone law ramps up The sheriff s office extends our condolences to the casualties of this terrible situation that resulted from the actions of the suspect the agency revealed in a comment Thursday Sheriff s functionaries are also conducting an internal examination into the crash Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day