Massive pileup on I-70 'like a war zone;' one dead, at least 22 injured
By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News (Contact), Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published March 31, 2008 at 4:57 p.m.
Updated March 31, 2008 at 6:42 p.m.
Photo by Matt McClain © The Rocky
I-70 westbound was closed at Frisco as weather was to blame for a twenty car pileup that killed one.
Photo by Dominique Taylor / Vail Daily
Town of Vail Peace Officer Brad Baldwin directs an unidentified truck driver to a pull off area in East Vail where he can wait until Interstate 70 reopens after it closed due to a multicar pile up Monday on Vail Pass.
Photo by CDOT
A view of eastbound Vail Pass this afternoon.
One person was killed and at least 22 others were injured in a pileup that involved between 60 to 75 vehicles and closed Interstate 70 in both directions west of Vail Pass on Monday, police said.
The pileup, which occurred on the westbound lanes, was blamed on a huge snowstorm that pounded Colorado's central mountains Monday.
As many as 75 vehicles may have been involved, trooper Ryan Sullivan, Colorado State Patrol spokesman, said. The root of the chain-reaction pileup was a tractor-trailer that jacknifed, he said.
"Then at least one vehicle collided with the semi," Sullivan said. "From that point on there were multiple accidents, and it was a chain-reaction from there in that mile stretch."
Later, troopers shut down eastbound I-70 to allow emergency vehicles to reach the crash site in the westbound lanes. The closure was compounded by another wreck involving several vehicles in the eastbound lanes.
The closure in the eastbound lanes stretched from Eagle to Copper Mountain, and the closure in the westbound lanes ran from Copper Mountain to Vail, a spokeswoman for the Vail community information office said.
Ambulances have taken at least six of the injured to St. Anthony Summit Medical Center in Frisco. Two women were in critical condition, Bev Lilly, hospital spokeswoman, said. Another female was in serious condition, and a fourth victim was in fair condition.
One child and an adult were treated and released, Lilly said.
"Their hands are full," Lilly said. The most seriously injured victims are expected to be transferred to St. Anthony's Central Hospital once the weather clears and it's safer to travel, she said.
Sixteen other crash victims were transported to Vail Valley Medical Center where 15 of the patients were in fair condition, Don Bishop, the hospital spokesman, said. The last victim was undergoing surgery late Monday afternoon and his condition was not available, Bishop said.
The poor weather also grounded flight-for-life helicoptersfrom St. Anthony's Central Hospital in Denver.
State Patrol troopers were advising drivers to avoid the area Monday night..
Drivers who escaped injury and were stranded at the huge accident site were taken by buses to drier locations where they were interviewed by troopers, Sullivan said.
West Vail Shell, a towing service, sent out four trucks to remove up to 30 vehicles from the crash site.
"There are vehicles piled up for almost up to a half-mile," Brendan Olson, a West Vail Shell employee fielding calls, said. "'It's like a war zone' — that's what one of the drivers told me."
The accident apparently was caused by ice and packed snow, which had made driving tricky and prompted the Colorado Department of Transportation to issue chain-law restrictions for large trucks and buses.
There is no word on when I-70 westbound would reopen, the transportation department said.
Vail Interfaith Chapel, 19 Vail Road which is south of the Main Vail roundabout, is offering emergency shelter tonight for stranded travelers. The Inn at Beaver Creek and the Pines Lodge also are offering stranded motorists discounted rates for tonight only, Vail officials said.
In metro Denver, March is trying its best to go out like a lamb, as rain and snow has disappeared from most of the area, leaving behind heavy clouds and blustery winds. Gusts could reach 33 mph.
Snow and ice are on all the mountain passes, and there are chain restrictions for buses and trucks on Loveland and Vail passes and at the Eisenhower Tunnel.
Tuesday and Wednesday, snow is again possible in the higher elevations with highs at the 8,000- to 9,000-foot level in the 30s.
There is enough chance of snow the rest of the week in the high country that ski resorts won't be thinking about early closures.
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March 31, 2008
9:37 a.m.
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JustSayin writes:
^^ failing the "living with a brain" test once again....idiotic troll.....
March 31, 2008
10:58 a.m.
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forwhatitis writes:
Wow JustSayin, what an intelligent, well articulated arguement you make. Seems like when the common sense arguements are made, you folks have no other recourse than to start the name calling and such.
March 31, 2008
1:59 p.m.
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blacksho89 writes:
Snow and ice did not cause the accident.
Drivers caused the accident. Driving too fast for conditions caused the accident.
Personal responsibility, maggot farmer. You have it?
March 31, 2008
2:01 p.m.
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JustMe writes:
^^
Indeed! Drivers are jerks, especially in bad weather - how someone thinks it's acceptable to speed and drive like a jerk in snowy/icy weather is beyond me. Driving in Colorado is almost always an exercise in anger management.
March 31, 2008
2:07 p.m.
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AC writes:
Squatch needs to learn that there is a difference between "weather" and "climate." Global warming -- average increases in overall global temperatures -- doesn't mean we're all living every day in every place in tropical temps. "Global warming" doesn't mean it won't ever snow again or go below zero in winter. It means there is a gradual increase in overall average temps -- which often are below freezing or zero.
Yeesh.
March 31, 2008
2:14 p.m.
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Elrey writes:
Global warming as a descriptor for the problem of carbon loading our environment is like describing an elephant as "a trunk." It misses the point and diminishes the rest of the problems that go along with it: collapse of marine life due to the death of the bottom of the food chain because of pH changes, crop failures and desertification. Read about it; it's nasty stuff. The nastiest part is that most of us will get a few more fat years, but our children and our children's children ... is this really the legacy that we want to leave to them? A worn-out planet with too many people and a broken economy?
March 31, 2008
2:15 p.m.
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Katoom writes:
Never mind all the global warming talk. Where did this reporter learn his trade? Who, what, when, where, etc. Just where on I-70? West bound at the Kansas line? The Mousetrap? Grand Junction? Central mountains, where? No mention at all of where the accident is, only a mention that a shelter had been set up in Vail on Sunday night. And areas between Vail and Aspen will get 20 inches of sow?
March 31, 2008
2:30 p.m.
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Katoom writes:
After my previous comments they decided to tell us where but we are still looking at 20 inches of sow between Aspen and Vail.
March 31, 2008
2:38 p.m.
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junglegymco writes:
Sasquatch fails brain test again. So does forwhatitis and doublefatchuck. Wow. You guys make me wish for IQ tests before being allowed to vote.
March 31, 2008
3:03 p.m.
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Golden writes:
Global warming is responsible for bad driving the same way it is responsible for all the other problems in the world.
You see... the consensus among all scientists is that the warm weather interacts with people’s integumentary system and cause a rise in the blood’s PH level. This triggers the thyroid to begin releasing extra thyroxine. Everyone knows this leads to a devastating slow down in the digestive tract. When this happens, the mitochondrial DNA fundamental changes on a microscopic basis and sends a very strong impulse to eat more salty food. This, of course, triggers a very acute anti-chomophobia reaction. And here is where the problem really comes home to roost. The driver, most of time completely unaware, will start to crave Taco Bell.
This is deadly for two reasons. First, the drive becomes distracted, then, especially if they are from Northern climates, will try to eat a taco or burrito while driving and simultaneously holding an extra-large, thirst quenching soda. Before you know it… WHAM they cause and accident, Secondly, assuming they succeed in consuming the taco/burrito and the soda, the brain synapses, already on hyper-alert from the thyroid gland and DNA malfunction, signal the driver it is time for a siesta. They fall asleep at the wheel and then WHAM… another accident.
Every scientist in the world agrees! Unless we do something, this problem is going to get worse and our grandchildren will pay the price!
March 31, 2008
3:14 p.m.
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medina88 writes:
Golden!!! I LOVE IT!!! About time someone gets it right. And poor SASQUATCH was only making a statement. Relax people.
March 31, 2008
3:59 p.m.
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db writes:
I can't wait for global warming - where the hell is it really ?
and for people like JustMe - poking along in the left lane at
17 mph in a snowstorm - on the cellphone bitching about the
'speeding idiots' - stay OFF THE ROAD. Some people learned to
drive on snow and ice ( at age 14 no less ) and 35 years later
I still KNOW HOW. It can be the SLOW ONES that cause accidents.
March 31, 2008
4:12 p.m.
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anya writes:
Well, if it's not global warning's fault, then it must have been that pestiferous george bush!
March 31, 2008
4:13 p.m.
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joggle writes:
You guys should read the Denver Post article on the same topic. Not only does it state exactly which mile marker the accident occurred at, it even gives the recommended alternate route (through Leadville). It's a shorter article to boot.
As for global warming: SASQUATCH has often (always?) posted "GLOBAL WARMING FAILS THE LOOK OUT THE WINDOW TEST---AGAIN!" in response to stories about cold spells, blizzards, etc. and will never learn the difference between weather or climate or is simply trolling for responses over and over again using the same bait. Please, for all you hold dear, stop replying to posts by SASQUATCH until he/she stops trolling with such idiotic flame bait.
This story had nothing to do with global warming but SASQUATCH wants to make it about global warming. Why? Because that's what Internet trolls do. They want attention and they want it now.
For a partial history of SASQUATCH trolling (from google, just look for 'global warming fails'):
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news...
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news...
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news...
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news...
March 31, 2008
4:21 p.m.
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Golden writes:
For crying out loud joggle.... its a story about an accident. People are trying to have some fun. Lighten up. Or don't lighten upo... either way take your fued somewhere else.
And what makes you think we aren't reading the stories... Are you suggesting we are too stupid to follow two related stories because we mock the global warming, zero-populations growth, globalist, anti-American alarmism? Stop whinning, you are heating up the atmosphere! Besides, we like SASQUATCH's sarcasim. It helps bring balance to posts like yours.
March 31, 2008
4:43 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
There are only two ways to survive when traffic and conditions get really bad like this. You must either drive like a maniac, get in front of them, and get away from the cluster as fast as possible. Or you must drive like a complete ninny on the shoulder, so slow that everyone will pass you as fast as they can, honking and flipping you the bird.
If you get caught with the ninnies in front and the maniacs on your tail then you're doomed if the ninny jerks the wheel.
Too bad folks just can't get along, spread out, and drive cool.
March 31, 2008
4:44 p.m.
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Newenergycommie writes:
Dear global warming believers. You are correct of course that there is a difference between climate and weather. Please try to keep that in mind when you read stories about heat waves, early plant blooms etc. The next time it is hotter than normal, don't get your panties in a bunch just tell yourself it is only weather.
March 31, 2008
5:01 p.m.
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grisgris writes:
good grief people, this was a (poorly) written article about an interstate crash, not a referendum on whether you believe in global warming or the difference between weather and climate. serious trolling here tonight!
March 31, 2008
5:01 p.m.
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whindependent writes:
Given the length and number of responses before 4:44 p.m., unemployment must be significantly more widespread than I have been led to believe.
March 31, 2008
5:23 p.m.
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HolierThanThou writes:
Happy Hour begins a 4:45 PM at the Rotgut Wireless Internet Saloon.
March 31, 2008
5:54 p.m.
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nowhearthis writes:
Golden, a basic lack of intelligence is not being implied, it is being clearly stated. Geez, does EVERYTHING have to be spelled out around here?
March 31, 2008
6:07 p.m.
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joggle writes:
Golden, you need to check out what 'trolling' is all about. If SASQUATCH isn't trolling then nobody is. About 3-4 posts (out of about 23) are actually about the story. All of the rest are either directly or indirectly about SASQUATCH's post (that had nothing to do with the story). That is a successful troll post by any definition I've ever heard of. From wikipedia.org's definition of an internet troll:
"someone who posts controversial and usually irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, with the intention of baiting other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion."
March 31, 2008
6:19 p.m.
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me2 writes:
Wonder if we will be treated to a view from Sasq`s window this Summer when the temp hits 110 or higher? If the asphalt melts and people are falling like rocks in a pond, will he have to see it to believe it is happening? Maybe he needs a bigger window.
I know the story was about a traffic accident, but there are no rules on this forum.
March 31, 2008
6:20 p.m.
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suburbdweller writes:
Remarkable the things you learn reading the comments of all the bright and intelligent readers out there, like that a traffic accident is proof that global warming doesn't exist, and that the breakup of antarctic ice is caused by a "prolonged period of extreme cold that was accompanied by huge snow falls."
I had no idea.
March 31, 2008
6:32 p.m.
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anothermother writes:
We live in Silverthorne, (we have for over 40 years by the way); however: we have guys working for us in Vail, they are still stranded in Leadville because some truck got jack-knifed (AGAIN). C-Dot didn't tell them they needed chains, (imagine that), when they re-routed everyone over Highways 24 & 91. Unless you live up here, or in WY for that matter, you have NO idea how fast the wind and snow comes up and how slick the roads get. Give everyone who is in this accident (major, by the way) a break! You could be driving 10 MPH and still not be able to stop coming down on Vail Pass. Respect the dead and the injured! You people who live in Denver or are just passing through forget how generous we were at New Year's Eve when everyone got stranded up here - to the tune of 2,000!!! We helped any way we could. We will do it again, we are a great community, and it hurts that you all blame this on too fast of driving when it was just on the news that a trucker jack-knifed and killed a family man who couldn't stop in time!
March 31, 2008
7:13 p.m.
Suggest removal
justajob writes:
If anyone you know is stuck in Vail and needs to get to Summit County & Denver.... Hwy 91 & 24 is closed from the Vail side as well. Go back through Edwards, off of I-70, take the Wolcott exit, and take Hwy 131 to Tonapas, take a right on Hwy 134 to Kremmling and come down Hwy 9 to Silverthorne. It took my husband about an hour and a half that way, but at least he's not stuck in Vail :) EB I-70 is open again after being closed for an accident this afternoon. He did say the 16 inches of powder at Beaver Creek today was worth it!
And thanks to all you posters on this site for the "global laughs" this afternoon! And if anyone knows how to join the class action suit against ALgore please post that as well!
March 31, 2008
7:52 p.m.
Suggest removal
anothermother writes:
GWM,
Thanks for the kudos, we just tried to help everyone we could, might be another situation tonight, who knows?
I almost am sure everyone was going slow, but I do not know, I wasn't there tonight.
We told our guys to start home at around 3 p.m. I hope they made it home tonight!
The reason I say people might be going slow, is it happened to me a few weeks ago. I was driving home from WY, came through Walden at about 20 MPH, hit the Steamboat/Kremmling highway at Muddy Pass, was going only about 25 MPH, - some lady hit a guardrail up there, got OUT of her car (!), I almost hit a blue car in front of me (had my 3 year old with me), and there was NO WAY I could stop - it's all downhill there too. It was a white-out, and I still can't believe it wasn't a 10 car accident. Everyone was going slow, I was praying the whole time from WY that No one stopped in front of me, because I would not be able to stop...exactly what happened. I ended up sliding into oncoming traffic, and thankfully no one was coming. Could have been a very sad, tragic situation. I know it sounds like I'm preaching, but I was almost a statistic too, as well as my daughter...
We will always take care of people up here, thanks for listening!
March 31, 2008
8:15 p.m.
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MountainCritter writes:
Let's see: Arctic sea ice melted back to the smallest area on record last summer, glaciers are receding world wide, ice shelves have been collapsing in Antarctica for years (and amazingly enough, some doofus thinks an ice shelf collapse somehow refutes global warming).
OTOH, it snowed in the Colorado Rockies today. Well, that proves this whole global warming thing is a hoax.
March 31, 2008
8:31 p.m.
Suggest removal
anothermother writes:
To MountianCritter;
Your "green peace" crap isn't welcome here, find another site...if you have any heart, get off here and find someone else who has lost someone in this accident.
March 31, 2008
9:44 p.m.
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RideWinter writes:
Unbelievable, someone dies, and the first post is about global warming.
Anyways...I was driving east bound on I 70 and witnessed this thing soon after it occurred. Shocking doesn't do the scene justice. Semis and cars jackknifed and flipped all over the road, cars piled up into sideways trucks, it was endless. Quite incredible there was only one fatality - people have learned to use their seatbelts. Maybe someday they will learn to slow down in bad weather too. In fact, after things had stabilized and I drove down the other side to Copper, unbelievably I was passed by a couple of speeding trucks through the snow! What does it take?? The cops need to get drivers under control, especially the semis.
March 31, 2008
10:50 p.m.
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BJG writes:
for those of you who don't believe in global warming because it's snowing outside. You need to quit running into the trees and look at the entire forest. Most of it in Colorado is dying because the pine beetle has been feasting on it for years due to unusually hot and dry temps in spring and summer. The mountain Aspen are also dying due to lack of moisture. One snowy winter does not mean that global warming is over. Weather events happen outside of Colorado.
March 31, 2008
10:50 p.m.
Suggest removal
am2fun4u writes:
Let's see, weather, speed, road conditions, trucks are all getting the blame. I never once read that it was human error. Everybody needs to step back and take a look at what it really was. It was a personal choice to be out there in those conditions. Put the blame where it is deserved!