1 dead in Bennett crash, I-70 back open east of Denver metro area

One person was killed in a deadly crash on Interstate 70 in the Bennett area on Thursday. Eastbound lanes were closed from Exit 299 to Exit 304 at Bennett due to the crash, and they remained closed for several hours before the crash was cleared close to 10 p.m. 

According to Colorado State Patrol, the driver of a box truck had pulled over onto the shoulder of I-70 eastbound because he felt he could not continue to drive safely during heavy rain and hail in the area. 

At the same time a pickup truck with five occupants was traveling behind at speed and hydroplaned before hitting the back of the truck on the side of the interstate. The crash pushed the box truck further off the interstate into a ditch.

One of the passengers in the pickup truck was pronounced dead. Three others had serious injuries. 

CSP told CBS News Colorado the pickup truck had Kansas plates. 

The box truck was hauling pharmaceuticals to the East Coast.