Five people, including three minors, died Monday in a car crash south of Denver, Colorado, according to state authorities.

The crash occurred around 4:39 pm at mile marker 40.5 of Highway 83 near Russellville Road in Franktown According to the official report, the Colorado State Patrol responded to a collision involving a black Toyota hatchback, a tan Ford sedan, and a black Ford pickup truck.

How the collision occurred

According to the patrol, the Toyota was traveling southbound when the driver lost control and went off the right shoulder. The vehicle returned to the roadway, rolled over, and crossed into the northbound lanes, where the driver was ejected.

At that point, the Toyota collided head-on with a Ford sedan traveling in the opposite direction. After the initial collision, the vehicle continued southbound in the northbound lanes and collided with a Ford pickup truck, which sustained minor damage.

Five fatalities at the scene

The driver of the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene. An adult and five children were traveling in the Ford sedan; the driver and three of the children also died at the scene, according to the patrol. The other two children were airlifted to a nearby medical center. The driver of the Ford pickup truck was unharmed. Police reported that the cause of the Toyota loss control has not yet been determined. The state's Vehicle Crimes Unit is handling the investigation. It was also indicated that the Douglas County Medical Examiner will be responsible for officially identifying the victims once all family members have been notified. Highway 83 remains closed while cleanup and investigation efforts continue. Drivers are urged to use alternate routes until the highway is reopened.