I-70: 50 vehicle MVA

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RFsponge

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NOT in Alaska, damnit!
3-31-08 Approx 1345:

I-70 is closed on Vail Pass, both directions for an accident involving at least 50 cars in the WB lanes west of the summit. EB lanes have been closed to allow emergency vehicles access to the scene.

One fatality, multiple serious injuries, and a possible amputation is reported.

Adverse weather conditions are a contributing factor.
 

jimmnn

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I heard EMS command say 1 black, 4 reds, 7 yellows and requesting a Summit Stage Bus for numerous greens.

Also EB now closed Glenwood to Copper Mtn.

Jim<
 

jimmnn

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VAIL – At least one person was killed by a pile up involving at least 40 vehicles on Interstate 70 near Vail Pass on Monday afternoon. The pile up shut down both directions of the highway.

The Colorado State Patrol says the accidents started around 2 p.m. near mile marker 189 on the west side of Vail Pass.

According to State Patrol, several people were seriously injured and at least one person was killed.

Their names and conditions were not immediately released.

State Patrol closed both the westbound lanes due to the crash and closed the eastbound lanes to get emergency vehicles to the scene. Westbound is closed at Copper Mountain and eastbound is closed at Eagle.

Eastbound I-70 is also closed at Frisco due to another accident there and chains are required on eastbound I-70 from Silverthorne to the Eisenhower Tunnel.

The Colorado Department of Transportation says US 24 and SH 91 Fremont Pass are alternate routes, but both of those roads are also snowpacked and icy.

Traffic is backed up for several miles and is being routed to the eastbound side.

State Patrol is blaming adverse weather conditions for the multi-vehicle accident.
 

RFsponge

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NOT in Alaska, damnit!
Now 70 vehicles...

A colleague on-scene with CSP says the accident involves SEVENTY vehicles. She's got eyes on it so I would trust her ground-truth. No estimate from CSP on when the road will re-open. The east-bound closure has been pushed all the way back to Glenwood Springs...

Video looks like a classic chain-reaction. Lots of people driving too fast and too close to each other.
 

RodStrong

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A fair amount of activity on MAC 17 between Vail EOC and Summit EOC. Opening up a couple of shelters in schools, Red Cross from Denver en route, thinking about opening E/B.
 

jfab

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VAIL &#8211; Three of the people who were injured in a deadly 70-vehicle pileup on Interstate 70 had gotten out of their car and were running for cover when they were hit, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The Colorado State Patrol says the pileup involved three separate chain reaction crashes. The highway was closed for most of the afternoon and evening because of the crashes.

The first started just after 2 p.m. on March 31 on Vail Pass. About 20 vehicles crashed and about 12 people were injured.

The next chain reaction crash happened about 10 minutes later, involved 11 vehicles and started when a semi truck jackknifed and blocked all the westbound lanes. Lance Melting, 39, crashed his minivan into the truck and was killed. His wife was injured but has been released from the hospital.

During that second chain reaction crash, three passengers in a Suzuki, Tina, 43, Alyssa, 15, and Adrina Rosati, 11, all got out of their SUV and were running for cover when State Patrol says they were hit by other vehicles. They all suffered moderate to serious injuries and were taken to the hospital.

The third chain reaction crash happened five minutes later and involved about 29 different vehicles, but no injuries were reported.

State Patrol says the crash is still under investigation, but says since many of the people left the scene because they only had minor damage to their cars, it may never be known just how many vehicles or minor injuries were involved.

State Patrol investigated reports that a person lost their legs at the scene of the crash, but found no evidence that had happened.

According to State Patrol, no charges are expected to be filed and it blames the crashes on adverse weather conditions.
 

jfab

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VAIL &#8211; Three of the people who were injured in a deadly 70-vehicle pileup on Interstate 70 had gotten out of their car and were running for cover when they were hit, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The Colorado State Patrol says the pileup involved three separate chain reaction crashes. The highway was closed for most of the afternoon and evening because of the crashes.

The first started just after 2 p.m. on March 31 on Vail Pass. About 20 vehicles crashed and about 12 people were injured.

The next chain reaction crash happened about 10 minutes later, involved 11 vehicles and started when a semi truck jackknifed and blocked all the westbound lanes. Lance Melting, 39, crashed his minivan into the truck and was killed. His wife was injured but has been released from the hospital.

During that second chain reaction crash, three passengers in a Suzuki, Tina, 43, Alyssa, 15, and Adrina Rosati, 11, all got out of their SUV and were running for cover when State Patrol says they were hit by other vehicles. They all suffered moderate to serious injuries and were taken to the hospital.

The third chain reaction crash happened five minutes later and involved about 29 different vehicles, but no injuries were reported.

State Patrol says the crash is still under investigation, but says since many of the people left the scene because they only had minor damage to their cars, it may never be known just how many vehicles or minor injuries were involved.

State Patrol investigated reports that a person lost their legs at the scene of the crash, but found no evidence that had happened.

According to State Patrol, no charges are expected to be filed and it blames the crashes on adverse weather conditions.

**SORRY FOR THE DOUBLE POST!**
 
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