2nd crash kills driver on I-70

A 44-year-old Aurora woman was killed in a chain-reaction accident in which she was standing on Interstate 70 when she was hurled into the path of a tractor-trailer, authorities say.

Yelena A. Lyubimskaya of Aurora was taken to Denver Health Medical Center following the 7:05 p.m. accident Friday and was later pronounced dead, said Gilbert Mares, spokesman for the Colorado State Patrol.

Lyubimskaya was driving west on I-70 just east of E-470 in a gold 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer when she was involved in an accident with a silver 2003 Pontiac Sunfire, Mares said.

After the two vehicles came to a stop, the Sunfire was facing southeast in the right lane and the Trailblazer was facing south with its rear in the left lane, Mares said.

Lyubimskaya had just stepped out of the driver's seat onto the highway when two semis swerved from the right lane into a left lane to avoid a collision.

A red 2005 Freightliner tractor-trailer crashed into the rear of the Trailblazer, spinning it around and throwing Lyubimskaya into the highway. She was struck by the Freightliner, which then climbed up the concrete barrier and rolled onto its right side.

The driver of the Sunfire, Malinda L. Casey, 19, of Bennett, was transported to University of Colorado Hospital with minor injuries.

Roberta L. Strokel, 57, of Tukwila, Wash., who was driving the Freightliner, and a passenger in her semi were not injured.