Crash involving nine semi-trucks and multiple cars on Colorado’s I-70 causes SIXTY trucks to stall on the same stretch of freeway
- A stretch of the I-70 in Colorado has been shut after a crash involving nine semis
- 160 miles of the road were closed – between the Kansas border and Airpark Rd
- Colorado State Patrol predicted the road won’t be clear until Thursday morning
- A number of semis involved suffered damaged gas tanks, causing spillages
A huge pileup involving nine semi-trucks and 12 cars in Colorado has caused the closure of a 160-mile stretch of the I-70.
The disruption came on Wednesday afternoon as a winter storm struck the Denver area, leaving inches of snow and high winds.
Colorado troopers have estimated the scene nay not be cleared until Thursday morning. Drivers were advised not to take take alternative roads around the closure due to ‘high winds and slick roads.’
Some of the semis involved in the crash suffered from leaking gas tanks and hazmat teams were deployed to try and contains the spills, a spokesperson for the Colorado State Patrol said.
‘I 70 shut down to multivehicle crash from air park to the Kansas line both directions. Approximately 9 semi‘s and 12 passenger vehicles involved,’ wrote the CSP in a tweet.
‘No injuries reported this far. Ongoing situation. Expect extended closure. Avoid area and try alternate route,’ they added.
A 160-mile stretch of the I-70 was closed both ways in Colorado after a crash involving nine semi-trucks and 12 cars
Colorado state patrol estimated that as many as 60 semis were stuck in a jam after the crash
The Colorado Department of Transportation said the lanes were closed due to near-zero visibility conditions
The eastbound lanes were closed from E-470, about 15 miles east of Denver, to the Kansas border. Westbound lanes were closed between the same two points.
The crash happened near to the town of Byers. A photo from the scene showed a jack-knifed semi on top of the passenger side of a car and the road covered in fresh snow.
That initial crash at 12.48pm caused a number of other crashes to ensue and additional semis to veer off the road.
So far there have been no injuries, highway patrol said. They also noted that the closure had affected as many as 60 semis.
The eastbound lanes were closed from E-470, about 15 miles east of Denver, to the Kansas Border. Westbound lanes were closed between the same two points
Drivers were advised not to take take alternative roads around the closure due to ‘high winds and slick roads’
The closure will take until the morning to clear, Colorado troopers estimated on Wednesday afternoon
‘State Patrol telling us 50-60 semis are stuck, waiting for this wreckage to be cleared and the road re-opened. Could be a long wait,’ tweeted Jim Benchman of CBS Colorado.
The Colorado Department of Transportation said the lanes were closed due to near-zero visibility conditions.
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