Five people, including three children, were killed Monday afternoon after the driver of a stolen vehicle crashed into oncoming traffic on Highway 83 in Douglas County, Colorado.
According to Fox News, the collision occurred just before 4:40 p.m. near milepost 40.5, according to a statement from the Colorado State Patrol.
Troopers said a 31-year-old Denver man was driving a Toyota hatchback southbound when he suddenly lost control and veered off the right shoulder.
The driver over-corrected, causing the Toyota to roll and cross into the northbound lane. The man was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. The Toyota then slammed head-on into a Ford sedan carrying a 35-year-old Colorado Springs man and five children.
The children were identified as a 13-year-old girl, an 8-year-old boy, a 12-year-old girl, a 12-year-old boy, and a 14-year-old boy, all from the Colorado Springs area.
The 35-year-old driver of the Ford, along with the 8-year-old boy and both 12-year-olds, were pronounced dead on-site.
Two children — the 13-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy — survived the impact. Both were sitting in the back of the Ford when the crash occurred. Officials said they were airlifted to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, the Toyota had been reported stolen in Aurora approximately one hour before the crash.
The CSP Vehicular Crimes Unit is leading the investigation as authorities work to piece together the circumstances behind the crash, including what caused the stolen Toyota to lose control moments before the deadly collision.
