Victims in deadly I-25 wrecks identified

UPDATE: State troopers have identified two men, killed in separate crashes along I-25 north of Pueblo Tuesday.

The first crash, which occurred about 10:30 Tuesday morning, happened when 21-year-old Jose Luna Duran leaped from the back of a Jeep Wrangler, landing on the road.

He was immediately struck by a semi-truck that was traveling just behind him.

It’s not yet clear why Duran leaped from the vehicle, of if CSP has had an opportunity to interview the driver. The victim hailed from Mexico.

The driver of the semi-truck was not injured.

The second crash took place a few hours later, when a tanker truck failed to slow down for cars that were still stopped behind the earlier wreck.

In that crash, the truck plowed into several cars, and a truck carrying railcar axles.

61-year-old Steven Aikman, a passenger in one of the cars, was killed.

State Patrol says in the second wreck, the driver of the semi is likely facing charges, though it’s not yet clear what those will be.

Both wrecks remain under investigation.

The interstate re-opened just before 6:00pm.

Earlier Story: A stretch of I-25 northbound is closed near Pueblo due to multiple crashes Tuesday.

There was an earlier crash near mile marker 113. A semi struck and killed a 21-year-old man.

That crash caused slowdowns near mile marker 109, which resulted in a semi colliding with seven passenger cars and another semi.

The crash killed one person and caused injuries to a few others.

Right now authorities say alcohol and drugs are not a factor, and they are investigating the speed at which the semi was traveling.

Both the northbound and southbound I-25 lanes were closed due to a high number of crashes in the area. The southbound lanes reopened around 3:00 p.m. Tuesday. At 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday commercial vehicles were allowed through the northbound lanes.

If you are traveling northbound, use Old Pueblo Road or Hwy 115.

KRDO will work to bring you updates.