A winter storm contributed to a van accident that killed four people Tuesday. And the fast-moving system is expected to continue to bring freezing temperatures and treacherous road conditions to the Front Range today.
As much as 10 inches of snow was expected on the Front Range, and the National Weather Service issued a heavy-snow warning from Castle Rock to Fort Collins until noon. Temperatures could drop below zero in parts of the metro area.
Up to 3 feet of snow was expected in southwestern Colorado around Telluride and Ouray, and 1 to 2 feet was predicted for the central mountains from Aspen and Vail north to Steamboat Springs.
Icy conditions and snowpacked roads caused several accidents and traffic slowdowns Tuesday evening.
In the fatal wreck, a Dodge minivan packed with as many as 15 suspected illegal immigrants was eastbound on Interstate 70 when the driver lost control on a snowpacked curve in Idaho Springs, hit a tree and rolled the van over, police said.
Most of the people in the van were ejected. Three adult men and one woman were pronounced dead at the scene.
Ten other passengers, including a child, survived and were transported to St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver. Their injuries did not appear to be life-threatening.
The unnamed driver ran from the scene, but authorities located and arrested him at 5:45 p.m., State Patrol officials said.
In another single-vehicle rollover, a 10-year-old boy was killed Tuesday evening when the Ford pickup he was riding in rolled off an icy stretch of Interstate 25 near Kremmling, in Larimer County, the State Patrol said. Two women, including the driver of the pickup, were in serious condition at Poudre Valley Hospital.
Authorities said the crash was under investigation but likely was related to driving too fast for conditions, Master Trooper Ron Watkins said.
Dozens of communities along the Front Range were on accident alert late Tuesday as conditions worsened quickly, making roads icy.
Flights encountered short delays at Denver International Airport Tuesday evening after federal aviation authorities ordered planes to wait at gates until runways were de-iced, officials said. De-icing crews are expected to work through the night to avoid further delays, airport officials said.
Transportation department officials warned morning rush- hour travelers today to plan for slowdowns and icy conditions.
A winter-storm warning was expected to be in effect for the Vail Valley until noon today. Almost 2 feet of snow was forecast.
Snow totals for the northern mountains were projected to be between 8 and 16 inches, and as much as 15 inches for the foothills through this evening.
Temperatures in the Denver area were expected to range from the teens to the mid-20s throughout much of the day today, the Weather Service said.
Winds were expected to create blizzard conditions.
The Colorado Avalanche Center issued “considerable” avalanche warnings because the snow will be light and deep. Backcountry skiers are advised that conditions will be dangerous.
