A serious crash on I-70 near the Eisenhower Tunnel in Colorado on Wednesday caused a major traffic disruption and left several people injured. According to Colorado State Patrol (CSP), the incident began when a Freightliner semi-truck, driven by Leon Gamble of Texas, lost its brakes while heading west along the interstate. This caused the truck to collide with the back of another Freightliner, sending both trucks off the left side of the road.
Crash Details and Injuries
The second truck in the crash rolled over and landed on its passenger side in the median. The first truck’s trailer then struck an eastbound Toyota Rav4, pushing it into a Toyota Tacoma. As a result, five people were taken to the hospital. Four of the victims had minor injuries, while the driver of the second Freightliner truck sustained life-threatening injuries. Fortunately, the driver of the Toyota Tacoma was not injured.
Authorities have issued a citation for careless driving causing bodily injury to Leon Gamble, the driver of the first Freightliner truck.
Dangerous Stretch of I-70
The Summit County Sheriff’s Office took the opportunity to warn drivers about the particularly hazardous nature of this section of I-70. The stretch near the Eisenhower Tunnel is known as one of the highest and most treacherous parts of the U.S. interstate system. The sheriff’s office explained that drivers may not be accustomed to navigating steep uphill and downhill sections of the road, and mechanical problems, such as the one that caused this crash, are a possibility.
Despite the presence of guardrails, authorities pointed out that they are not guaranteed to prevent vehicles from veering off the road. They urged drivers to be defensive, give themselves extra space, and reduce speed when traveling through this area.
Ongoing Investigation
The crash remains under investigation by CSP. Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the incident and has not yet spoken to investigators to contact CSP dispatch at (970) 249-4392. Witnesses can provide their information, which will be used by investigators to further understand how the crash unfolded.