THORNTON, Colo. (KDVR) — Thornton police say a Subaru that was traveling at a high rate of speed crashed into a family's SUV and caught fire, causing the deadly crash on Saturday that claimed four lives.
Ever since the crash happened Saturday night in Thornton, police say they have been working to gather information to determine exactly how the deadly accident unfolded. Police said Tuesday that a Subaru sedan crashed into a Ford SUV, causing it to catch fire and killing four members of the Diaz family who were inside on Saturday evening.
One of the Diaz family's surviving sons rushed to the scene at Washington Street and Thornton Parkway minutes after it happened.
"They were probably 2 to 3 minutes out from the house. They had just left. I got there pretty quick, but everything was already on flames. So, there was nothing anybody could do," Adam Diaz said.
Police also said that the Subaru was moving at a "high rate of speed" when it hit the SUV, which was stopped at a red light. Thornton police told FOX31 Tuesday that officers worked late into the evening Saturday night into Sunday at the crash site.
A spokesperson said investigators have been gathering video, talking with witnesses, and putting together a sequence of events to reconstruct the accident. Investigators may also check for black boxes for helpful evidence, according to law enforcement procedural expert James Allbee.
"If there is any type of pre-braking or the speed — those types of things. Anything that led up to that event," Allbee said.
Police say the crash caused the gas tank to rupture which caused the fire. Sparks and hot surfaces are a few things that can cause fires in crashes, said Dr. Scott Davis, a fire and explosion expert at Gexcon, which is a safety and risk management company.
"Basically, what happens is, the fuel comes out and it's the vapors that ignite. it's not the liquid that ignites it's the vapors," Davis said.
The Thornton Police Department said it did not have an update on the condition of the driver of the Subaru who was seriously hurt and transported to a hospital. The department spokesman said charges will be filed in the case if they are appropriate.
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