Three people were injured in a four-vehicle crash that snarled this morning's commute on northbound Interstate 25 in Lone Tree.

The wreck happened at 7:38 a.m. when a semitruck was unable to stop in congested traffic, said Lone Tree police Cmdr. David Brown.

The big truck sheered off a four-door pickup's bed, triggering a chain collision that damaged two other vehicles.

Two men in the big rig were hurt, along with the pickup driver, Brown said.

All three were stable when transported to Littleton Adventist Hospital, he said, but their names and conditions were not immediately available.

Northbound lanes were closed for about 45 minutes, backing up traffic for several miles.

gathrighta@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5486