Two people died at the scene of a five-car pileup on a Monarch Pass. U.S. 50 reopened by evening and the accident is still under investigation.

Below is the News Release from the Colorado State Patrol.

On July 5, 2009 at approximately 9:45am, Colorado State Troopers responded to a 5-vehicle motor vehicle crash on U.S. 50 at milepost 194 on Monarch Pass between Gunnison and Salida, Colorado.

A 1983 Toyota Dolphin RV was westbound on U.S. 50 entering a right-hand curve when the vehicle crossed the center line. The RV swerved back to the right, side-swiping an eastbound Lincoln Town Car causing it to side-swipe a Toyota Camry. Both the Town Car and Camry then went off the right side of the road. The occupants of both vehicles were uninjured.

The RV then struck an eastbound 2009 Nissan Altima head on and rolled on to its side. The driver of the RV was pronounced dead at the scene and has been identified as Ray Stout, 79, from Montrose, Colorado.

The driver of the Nissan Altima was also pronounced dead at the scene and has been identified as Miguel Solis, 68, from El Paso, Texas. His passenger, Felipa Solis, was airlifted to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction with serious injuries.

A fifth vehicle, a Lexus, was struck by debris from the crash. Its driver was uninjured.

The crash caused the closure of U.S. 50 for several hours and remains under investigation.