Northbound Interstate 25 remains closed in Pueblo after a massive pileup involving 30 vehicles killed four people and injured 29 others, Colorado State Patrol said Tuesday.
The crash just after 10 a.m. and involved at least six semis and two dozen passenger cars, the state patrol said. There were heavy winds at the time of the crash and blowing dirt that caused “brown out” conditions.
There was low to no visibility for drivers, the state patrol said.
Initial reports from troopers on the scene confirmed the fatalities. The agency later confirmed that 29 people were brought to hospitals with injuries ranging from serious to minor. More than 50 responders from 23 agencies were on the scene.
The Colorado State Patrol confirmed that the people killed and injured were involved in a crash in the northbound lanes. Four goats inside a trailer were also killed in the same crash, while 28 more goats survived and have been safely removed from the scene.
The crash in southbound lanes only involved property damage. Once all of the vehicles are removed from the road, the agency will be able to determine how many were damaged, the agency said.
No closures were in effect at the time of the crash, but state patrol Maj. Brian Lyons said at an afternoon media briefing that warnings had been issued regarding the high wind.
“This was one of those storms that came through and the wind picked up very quickly,” he said.
(MIke Sweeney, Special to The Colorado Sun)
Investigators will assess the damage of the vehicles to try to assess where the initial crash happened. The Pueblo County Coroner will identify the victims after next-of-kin have been notified.
One of the vehicles involved in the pileup was a trailer with animals, Lyons said. Crews are working with animal control to determine how many were inside. No information on their conditions was available.
A high wind warning issued by the National Weather Service’s Office in Pueblo remains in effect for Pueblo County until 6 p.m. Winds are expected between 30 to 40 mph with gusts up to 65 mph, the service said.
Winds are expected to pick back up Wednesday morning and continue through 7 p.m., forecasters warned.
Type of Story: News
Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
