1 dead, 1 injured after crash, vehicle fire in Erie

DENVER (KDVR) — One man is dead, and another is seriously injured following a crash and vehicle fire in Erie in the early hours of Sunday morning, according to a social media post from the Town of Erie Police Department. Just after midnight, police responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash on Erie Parkway. When officers arrived at the scene of the crash, they discovered a vehicle that was fully engulfed in flames, and immediately began to extricate the occupants. The officers performed life-saving measures on the driver, an 18-year-old from Commerce City, until Mountain View Fire Rescue took him to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The passenger, also an 18-year-old from Commerce City, was taken to the hospital with serious bodily injuries, according to the social media post. Investigators said that preliminary information indicates that the vehicle was traveling eastbound on Erie Parkway at an "extremely high rate of speed" before crossing the median and into the westbound lanes, and crashing into a guardrail on a bridge. "This marks the second serious crash in the same proximity on Erie Parkway this weekend, and our hearts are heavy for everyone impacted. These incidents are devastating for the families involved, for witnesses, for first responders, and for our community as a whole. "We urge drivers to slow down, make responsible decisions, and remember that excessive speed can have irreversible consequences. We ask our community to keep those affected in their thoughts and to respect the privacy of the families during this incredibly difficult time," said the Town of Erie Police Department in the social media post. Police said an investigation is still active.