Newlyweds killed in I-70 crash after semitruck overturns

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. (KDVR) — A wedding trip ended in tragedy when the newlyweds and another family member were killed in a crash on Interstate 70 Thursday morning.

Ruben Rodriguez and Juliana Rodriguez-Plata were traveling westbound on the highway with their 1-year-old son and Juliana’s parents when a semi truck traveling eastbound rolled over, spilling pipes across the highway and hitting their car.

Police said at least seven vehicles were involved in the crash, including the semi, with the debris field spanning more than two football fields across both lanes of I-70. The truck was carrying nearly 100 large, blue plastic tubes that weighed roughly 500 pounds each.

Wheat Ridge police said they are working with the district attorney’s office on potential charges.

The couple leaves behind a 1-year-old son, whose birthday they celebrated Sunday, just a day after they tied the knot.

Carlos Plata, Juliana’s father, was in town from Colombia for the wedding. He was inside the vehicle — and lost his daughter, son-in-law and wife all in an instant.

“I saw when the pipes were going so I just closed my eyes and no reaction, I just felt the impact and I woke up out of nowhere and just saw the baby crying and everyone unconscious, not waking up,” he said. “It was terrible, the accident, the image, all the blood. They were just instantly dead. Seeing my whole family, my daughter and my wife dead.”

‘A love you’ll never see anywhere else’

Juliana’s niece and nephew, Tony and Esli Rodriguez, said they are still in shock. They said the couple was so in love and spread that joy wherever they went.

“They were also joyful together, they were just in love. A love you’ll never see anywhere else. Always together 24/7,” Tony said.

“It fully hasn’t hit me yet, but I just think about it and I just want to cry because he was happy, he met her, he had a kid. I’ve never seen him this happy,” Esli said.

Carlos shared a GoFundMe that was created to help cover funeral costs .

Anyone who was a witness to the crash is asked to contact the Wheat Ridge Police Department’s crash and traffic team at 303-235-2933.

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