Three people were killed and four seriously injured when a car careened off a major highway after it struck a bear.
The Colorado State Patrol says seven people were in the car that slid across the center median, crossing over lanes of traffic before it flew off Interstate 70 Friday morning near Rifle, Colorado.
Two of those killed were children.
All victims were ejected from the car at the time of the crash and none were believed to have been wearing a seat belt or child restraint systems, according to KDVR-TV.
Kimberly Hernandez, 7 and Eugenio Hernandez Altamirano, 63, were pronounced dead at the scene.
Brizeyda Hernandez, 15, was rushed to Grand River Hospital in Rifle at approximately 9:25am.
Brizeyda Hernandez, 15, was one of three people who died when a car driving along an interstate in Colorado hit a bear
Hernandez was rushed to Grand River Hospital in Rifle at approximately 9:25am on Friday. She was then airlifted to a children’s hospital, where she was pronounced dead
The Colorado State Patrol says seven people were in the car that slid across the center median, crossing over lanes of traffic before it flew off Interstate 70 (above) Friday morning near Rifle, Colorado
The Colorado State Patrol says drugs, alcohol, and the speed of the vehicle were not considered factors in the crash
She was then airlifted to Children’s Hospital, where she died of her injuries.
The three fatalities were residents of New Castle, Colorado, a small town about 100 miles from the border with Utah.
New Castle has a population of under 5,000 people
Another young victim of the crash – a nine-year-old boy – was also airlifted to Children’s Hospital. His injuries are considered life-threatening.
A 62-year-old woman who was also in the car was rushed to Valley View Hospital with life threatening injuries.
The driver, a 36-year-old male, was taken to Valley View Hospital with serious injuries.
A female passenger, 32, was also taken to a hospital, though there is no word as to the severity of her injuries.
The Colorado State Patrol says drugs, alcohol, and the speed of the vehicle were not considered factors in the crash.
The case is under investigation.
The bear was killed in the crash.