2 shelters open for motorists | SteamboatToday.com
YOUR AD HERE »

2 shelters open for motorists

Lanes of I-70 closed as icy conditions cause accidents

Rocky Mountain News staff report

The eastbound lanes of Interstate 70 were closed Sunday over Vail Pass and from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower tunnel because of bad weather and heavy traffic, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Silverthorne Rec Center, 430 Rainbow Drive. As of 7:15 p.m. Sunday, 210 people had registered at the shelter. A second shelter has opened at Silverthorne Elementary School, 465 Brian Ave.

The lane closures on Vail Pass begin at mile marker 180.



Colorado 91 north of Leadville also was closed Sunday.

Earlier on Sunday, CDOT closed Interstate 25 from Fort Collins to Cheyenne for a few hours before it was reopened before noon. The Colorado State Patrol reported there were about eight separate accidents before I-25 was closed.



Also reopened were U.S. 24 between Limon and Colorado Springs, as well as Interstate 70 in the Silt area, about 175 miles west of Denver. U.S. Highway 285 from Kenosha Pass to Fairplay remained closed this afternoon because of blowing snow and icy roads.

The Colorado State Patrol also reported today that four people were injured – including two children – in separate accidents caused by icy conditions.

Patrol spokesman Sgt. John Hahn said the first accident happened at about 7:35 a.m. when the driver of a pickup lost control on Interstate 25 near Wellington, about 70 miles north of Denver. A 7-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl who were not wearing seat belts were ejected and hospitalized with serious injuries, Hahn said.

The names of the people involved were withheld pending notification of relatives, but Hahn said they were from Utah. He said the male driver faces charges of careless driving causing injuries.

An accident two hours later on Interstate 76 near Keenesburg, 40 miles northeast of Denver, left two men with serious injuries after the SUV they were in rolled, Hahn said. The driver in the crash was not injured and faces charges of careless driving causing injuries.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Steamboat and Routt County make the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.