Authorities name the 3 Colorado men who died in fiery collision involving 2 planes

3 men who died in Colo. plane collision identified

BOULDER, Colo. — Authorities in Colorado have named the three men who died when two planes crashed near Boulder.

The Boulder County Coroner’s Office said Sunday that 25-year-old Alexander Howard Gilmer of Evergreen, Colo., was the pilot of a Piper Pawnee aircraft that was towing a glider when a Cirrus SR-20 collided with it Saturday afternoon.

The coroner’s office tentatively identified the pilot of the Cirrus as 58-year-old Robert Matthews of Boulder, and the passenger as 56-year-old Mark A. Matthews of Englewood, Colo.

The pilot of the glider was able to cut loose from the Piper Pawnee just before the collision and fly to safety.

Investigators are looking at video, photos and witnesses’ testimony to determine to what led to the fiery crash.