PARACHUTE, Colo. -- A van ferrying firefighters from Oregon to Colorado's worst wildfire in history swerved off a highway Friday evening and spun out of control, killing four and injuring seven others.

HAYMAN FIRE INTERACTIVE VIDEO: Heavy Fire Near Signal Butte 6/18 VIDEO: Over Turkey Rock 6/17 VIDEO: Burned Homes In Douglas County DISCUSSION: How Can Wildfires Be Prevented? SURVEY: Forest Service Liable? SURVEY: Should State's Forests Be Closed? SLIDESHOW: Hayman Fire Explodes 6/18 SLIDESHOW: Deckers Area Fire Tour (Thursday) SLIDESHOW: Working The Fire SLIDESHOW: Dramatic Pictures SLIDESHOW: From Viewers MULTIMEDIA: Causes And Protections SIZE Subdivisions In Zone Perimeter Map At 137,000 Acres Early Fire Growth Early Satellite Image Large Satellite Enhanced Color Satellite With Landmarks EVACUATION Neighborhoods Affected Tips Pets, Large Animals INFO Get Federal Funds How You Can Help Open Fires Banned Penalties Fireworks Shows On? Forest Closure Wildfire Terminology Smell Smoke? Effect On Wildlife RESOURCES Hayman Fire Incident Page Douglas County Jefferson County Teller County National Incident Report Fire Bans

The 15-passenger van was carrying 11 members of a crew from Grayback Forestry to the 137,000-acre Hayman Fire on Friday when it drifted toward the median near Parachute, about 150 miles from the Hayman fire.

The Colorado State Patrol said the driver apparently overcorrected, swerved off the highway, and the van rolled four times and landed in a ditch.

Four fighters were confirmed dead at the scene. Three people were airlifted to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. Two of those victims are in critical condition, and one person is in serious condition.

Four others are being treated at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs, in unknown condition.

The deaths were the first of the firefighting season in Colorado, a season that already has seen about 250 homes consumed by raging flames and more than 220,000 acres scorched by major fires still out of control.

Colorado State Patrol spokesman Don Moseman said the van was part of an eight-vehicle convoy traveling eastbound on Interstate 70, heading to Colorado from La Grande, Ore., in the northeastern part of the state. Most of the people in the van were from Oregon and Idaho.

Moseman said other firefighters and support personnel in the convoy remained in the area, while others continued on to the fire.

"We had a lot of distraught people out there," Moseman said. "The vehicle was very heavily damaged. Of course in a convoy, some of their group saw it happen. It was very rough for them."

Retha Shirley, 19, and Daniel Rama, 28, from Baker City, Ore., were killed in the accident, authorities said. Jake Martindale from Boise, Idaho was also confirmed dead. The name of the fourth victim was not immediately released.

The driver of the van, Megan Helm, 21, of La Grande, had moderate injuries. She faces four counts of reckless driving causing death and two counts of careless driving causing serious bodily injury.

There was no indication that alcohol or drugs were involved. A trooper at the scene said that she was distracted by something in the vehicle when she lost control. Fatigue is also a factor that authorities are investigating.

The van had been on the road for "an extended period of time" although it was not known exactly how long.

Oregon crews were on duty in 1994 when a tame 50-acre fire on Storm King Mountain outside Glenwood Springs in western Colorado blew up after a weather front moved through. Fourteen firefighters, including nine from the Prineville, Ore., Hot Shots, were killed as flames overwhelmed them.

A memorial for those fallen firefighters is nearby the site where the crash occurred.

Memorial service for the Oregen firefighters is scheduled for Sunday at 8:30 p.m. at Lake George Community Church. The address of the church is 8989 Highway 90.