A massive pileup involving approximately 70 vehicles on Interstate 70 in Colorado on Tuesday has left eight people hospitalized, and forced the closure of a major stretch of highway through the state’s mountain corridor.
Authorities
said 19 individuals were evaluated for injuries, with eight transported to local hospitals. One of those injured sustained serious bodily injuries, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
The crash created widespread disruption along the interstate, with multiple semitrucks and passenger vehicles involved. Images from the scene showed crumpled front ends, scattered debris, and at least one vehicle partially lifted off the ground.
The incident prompted the shutdown of eastbound I-70 in Clear Creek County, about 50 miles west of Denver, as emergency crews responded and investigators began assessing the cause.
According to updates from the
Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office, the crash initially involved “possibly more than two dozen vehicles” but was later revised to an estimated 75 or more. The collision occurred on the eastbound on-ramp from U.S. Highway 6 near mile marker 216, close to the Loveland Ski Area, and led to the closure of I-70 East at the Eisenhower Tunnel.
By the evening, officials confirmed the roadway had reopened after hours of closure and traffic management.
The
Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) issued a travel advisory warning of an extended closure earlier in the day, noting that eastbound traffic was rerouted over Loveland Pass (U.S. 6). Drivers approaching the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel were told to expect delays and possible turnarounds due to the severity of the crash.
CDOT also cautioned that winter driving conditions persisted across the I-70 mountain corridor and urged motorists to check real-time updates before traveling.
The
Colorado State Patrol said in a social media post that the interstate was closed in both directions at one point to allow for a full crash investigation, advising drivers to seek alternate routes.
A driver caught in the incident described rapidly deteriorating conditions leading up to the crash. “It started snowing hard like a squall, the snow got heavier and all of a sudden we hit ice. Everybody was all over the road,” Tom Brock told
CBS. His vehicle was damaged, but he and his wife were not injured.
Weather conditions appear to have played a significant role. Data cited by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration mapping showed that between four and six inches of snow fell in the area surrounding the Eisenhower Tunnel in the 24 hours leading up to the crash.
The exact cause of the pileup remains under investigation by the Colorado State Patrol.
