An accident on Interstate 70 in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, resulted in the death of newlyweds Ruben Rodriguez Garcia, 32, and Juliana Rodriguez Plata, in her late 30s, and Juliana’s mother, Luz Melba Martinez, 60. The tragedy occurred on August 15, 2024, only days after the couple’s wedding.
The couple, married on August 10, were traveling to the mountains for their honeymoon, with their baby son, Daniel “Danny” Rodriguez Plata, and Juliana’s parents, Luz Melba Martinez and Carlos Joaquin Plata, 61. Their journey was abruptly ended when a semi-truck carrying large blue plastic tubes, each weighing up to 500 lbs, overturned on the eastbound side of the highway. The tubes scattered across both lanes, creating a debris field that extended over two football fields and involved seven vehicles, including the family’s.
Carlos Plata, Juliana’s father, saw the tubes falling and instinctively closed his eyes, feeling the impact. On regaining consciousness, he found the baby crying, with everyone else unresponsive.
The impact resulted in the immediate death of Ruben, Juliana, and Luz Melba. Daniel and Carlos were hospitalized with non-critical injuries and have since been discharged. The truck’s driver was also injured in the accident.
The accident took place near Ward Road around 8:20 a.m., leading to the closure of I-70 in both directions for several hours. Wheat Ridge Police initiated an investigation into the accident while emergency crews cleared the wreckage.
According to a local media report, the crash site falls within the I-70/Ward Road Interchange reconstruction project of the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Harry Payne, a driver, voiced concerns about the difficulty in navigating large trucks through the area, stating he feared the prospect of trucks overturning each morning.
Another driver, Don Carver, emphasized the need for better road signs in the area. He suggested that illuminated signs warning of sharp curves and necessitating slow speeds would be more effective than the existing ones.
Per the CDOT’s website, the project aims to replace two decaying bridges on I-70 over Ward Road to handle increased traffic. The project forms part of CDOT’s larger initiative to replace several bridges along I-70, reflecting its commitment to infrastructure enhancement and public safety.
The Rodriguez-Plata family is dealing with the heartbreaking aftermath of the crash. Ruben and Juliana had just celebrated their wedding and their son Daniel’s first birthday. Juliana’s parents had flown in from Colombia for the occasion. A GoFundMe page set up by Janell Rodriguez, Ruben’s sister-in-law, relayed the tragic news and has raised over $58,000 to date. The funds will be used to cover funeral expenses, support Daniel, and manage additional costs.
