SILVERTHORNE, Colo.-
The driver of a semitrailer that crashed on Interstate 70 with such force that wreckage flew over a half-mile away and his truck nearly disintegrated, will face charges.
Oscar Munos-Gurierrez, 32, of Houston, survived the Thursday night wreck on the western side of the 11,158-foot high Eisenhower Tunnel.
Colorado State Patrol investigators found the truck was in distress for at least 1,400 feet before crashing just below a runaway truck tramp, which Munos-gurierrez apparently did not try to use, said Colorado State Patrol Capt. Ron Prater said.
Prater described the accident as an “amazing tribute to driver error.”
“The grade is posted, there are signs warning drivers, yet … many of them refuse to choose an appropriate gear and drive at a safe speed down the grade,” Prater said.
The State Patrol will be aggressively pursuing prosecution of the driver, likely for charges related to reckless driving, Prater said.
Munos-Gurierrez suffered burns on his upper body, Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue Deputy Chief Jeff Berino said.
Munos-Gurierrez was hauling a load of large diameter pipe.
