Driver killed by passing vehicle on Interstate 70 after running from traffic stop, crash
A male driver was struck and killed after he tried to get away from law enforcement during a traffic stop early Thursday morning on Interstate 70 in Jefferson County.
A Colorado State Trooper saw a vehicle driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of C-470 toward I-70 about 1:50 a.m. Thursday. The trooper stopped the vehicle and the suspect got out of the vehicle.
During the initial interaction with the driver, the trooper suspected impairment. While trying to identify the driver, he reentered the vehicle from the passenger side and climbed into the driver's seat. The trooper tased the driver to prevent him from escaping and endangering other motorists.
The suspect removed the taser probes, started the vehicle, drove down a grassy median, over a retaining wall and landed on the eastbound I-70 off-ramp to westbound Highway 6 toward Golden.
That's when the suspect ran from the vehicle, across the off-ramp, and jumped over another concrete barrier onto eastbound I-70 where he was hit and killed by a passing vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle that struck the suspect remained on the scene.
The suspect's name has not been released.
As a result of the incident, Interstate 70 eastbound was closed for several hours during the morning rush commute at the Morrison exit. Ramp closures on and off Highway C470 were also in place. The road is expected to reopen by late morning.
When the CBS Colorado news helicopter flew over the scene multiple law enforcement agencies were present and appeared to be involved in the investigation, including Colorado State Patrol, Arvada police and Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies.
