A suspicious device later determined to be a pipe bomb was discovered in a car on Interstate 25 north of Longmont on Friday, causing massive traffic delays as officials investigated the threat.
Colorado State Patrol troopers responded to a report of a single-car crash on southbound I-25 between Berthoud and Mead about 9:15 a.m. They found an abandoned 1990 Honda passenger car that appeared to have crashed into the guardrail.
Witnesses said they saw the driver of the Honda get into a dark-blue Ford Taurus and leave the scene. The Taurus headed southbound.
While troopers were preparing the car to be towed, they discovered a device in the trunk that appeared to be a pipe bomb, Master Colorado State Trooper Ron Watkins said.
The southbound and northbound lanes were shut down to ensure safety, Watkins said.
“It caused a major, major traffic problem,” he said.
I-25 was reopened about 1 p.m.
The suspected explosive was taken by the Weld County Bomb Squad on Friday afternoon to a safe location, where officials confirmed it was a bomb.
The State Patrol is asking that anyone who may have witnessed the crash and subsequent events to call 303-239-4501.
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.
