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Two killed, 6 injured after truck crashes into oncoming traffic on EB I-70

Highway was shut down for 7 hours
Posted at 11:52 AM, Jul 30, 2017
and last updated 2017-07-31 03:40:05-04

DENVER – Two people were killed and six people were injured after a pickup truck driving west on Interstate 70 crossed into the eastbound lanes and crashed into oncoming traffic late Sunday morning. 

The crash involving four other vehicles was reported at around 11 a.m. in the area east of the overpass on Hogback Road near the I-70 and Morrison parking lot. 

Colorado State Patrol Trooper Nate Reid told Denver7 Jeffery Stumpf, 54, of Evergreen, was driving a white, Chevy 2500 pickup truck when he crashed head-on with a Toyota 4Runner before it continued on, hitting the four other vehicles. He was taken to St. Anthony's Hospital where he later died.

The woman driving the Toyota 4Runner died on scene. She was identified as Jodie Stewart, 52, of Idaho Springs. Her son, only identified as a 17-year-old, was taken to St. Anthony's Hospital for treatment of minor injuries, Reid said.

Three people sustained serious bodily injuries, one person sustained moderate injuries and two people only suffered minor injuries, according to an official with the Colorado State Patrol Public Affairs Unit. 

PHOTOS: Deadly crash on EB I-70 closes highway for several hours

Crews were stopping traffic at Lookout Mountain and directing travelers to Evergreen Parkway or US 6, per a tweet from the Colorado Department of Transportation.

CDOT officials were also advising drivers coming back to Denver to drive later in the day to avoid traffic backups, as alternate routes would be congested.

The Colorado State Patrol - Golden division said the best detour to Denver would be to take Exit 251 (El Rancho) to Evergreen, then to Morrison on Highway 74. 

EB I-70 at Morrison Road reopened at 6:15 p.m., more than seven hours after the crash was first reported. CDOT officials warned drivers to expect up to 3 hours of total travel time from Silverthorne to Denver. 

CSP officials were still not sure by Sunday evening what caused the crash. 

AIRTRACKER7 flew over the crash as investigators combed the scene. Watch the scene of the crash below: 

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