Police say a fatal fire in Thornton was caused by a rear-end collision

A fiery multi-car crash that killed four people in Thornton on Saturday was caused by a rear-end car running a red light, police said.

According to reports Tuesday, a Ford SUV carrying four people was traveling northbound on Washington Street when its driver stopped at a red light at Thornton Parkway. press release from the Thornton Police Department.

Police said the driver of the second car, a Subaru sedan, was driving north on Washington Street when he rear-ended a stopped SUV around 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The collision ruptured the fuel tank, causing the SUV to catch fire.

Police said a third passenger car, a Chrysler van, also collided in the crash. The driver was not injured.

Police said the car fire killed two adults and two children who were in the SUV. All four were pronounced dead at the crash site, but their identities have not been publicly disclosed.

The Adams County Coroner’s Office will release their identities at a later date.