MATHESON, Colo.—Crews put out a fire that erupted when a propane delivery truck went off the highway and rolled in Elbert County, prompting the evacuation of a town about 100 miles southeast of Denver.
State Trooper Ryan Sullivan said the crash occurred at 11:16 a.m. Tuesday on U.S. 24 when the driver looked at the floor, drifted off the road and rolled the truck. Alcohol and drugs weren’t suspected in the crash.
The driver, identified as Kevin Tracy, 46, of Simla suffered moderate injuries and was flown to Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs.
Authorities allowed the fire to burn until the pressure in the tank decreased. There were about 2,300 gallons of propane on the truck.
Nearby Matheson, with a population of about 100, was evacuated as a precaution. Residents were allowed to return home Tuesday evening.
The highway from Simla to Limon was closed while the fire burned and the accident was investigated. It was expected to be reopened Tuesday night.
