One person was killed and at least 22 people were injured in a massive crash Monday involving 70 vehicles on the west side of Vail Pass.
Immediately after the initial wreck in the westbound lanes of Interstate 70 at 1:20 p.m., authorities closed those lanes as cars continued to slide into the pileup. They then closed the entire pass because of heavy snow and to allow emergency vehicles access to the location.
By 10 p.m., lanes in both directions had reopened.
The closures and restrictions affected traffic from the Eisenhower Tunnel west about 50 miles to Eagle. Traffic was diverted south to Leadville and north to Kremmling and U.S. 40 over Berthoud Pass.
Eastbound traffic was stopped at Eagle or Dotsero, west of Vail, and diverted north. Westbound traffic was diverted at Copper Mountain and sent south down Colorado 91 to Leadville. However, accidents and bad weather conditions soon clogged that two-lane road.
Colorado State Patrol troopers said a heavy spring storm that dropped more than 10 inches of wet, slippery snow contributed to the crash.
State troopers said the chain reaction crash occurred after a tractor-trailer jackknifed and a minivan slid into it. The driver of the minivan was killed, but the person’s name was not available Monday night.
Sixteen victims were transported to Vail Valley Medical Center. Fifteen of the injured were in fair condition, spokesman Don Bishop said Monday evening. The 16th was in surgery with an open fracture, he said.
At least six victims were transported to Summit Medical Center in Frisco. Three were in critical condition, two in serious and one in fair, said Bev Lilly, spokeswoman for St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver.
Lilly said that one of the critical patients was transferred to Denver by ambulance. She said the weather in Frisco was so bad that the medical-evacuation helicopter there was grounded.
Motorists on the mountain stretch of the interstate were asked to quit driving for the night. The Vail Village and LionsHead parking structures opened for free to the stranded motorists, and an emergency shelter was opened at the Vail Interfaith Chapel. It was staffed by the Salvation Army and Red Cross.
In addition, The Inn at Beaver Creek and The Pines Lodge offered rooms at $79, less than half price. They were snapped up within an hour after the offer was made. The Inn has 45 rooms, and The Pines Lodge has 60 rooms.
Extreme weather conditions also contributed to a six-vehicle accident on I-70 east of Frisco at mile marker 204 later Monday afternoon, shutting the eastbound lanes.
Chain restrictions were in effect for trucks and commercial vehicles on the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel.
Monarch Pass between Salida and Gunnison received heavy snow but remained open.
In southern Wyoming, Interstate 80 was closed east of Cheyenne to west of Laramie because of blowing snow and icy conditions.
Mike McPhee: 303-954-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com
