See the aftermath of the Detroit airport car crash
Dramatic footage shows a driver who crashed into a check-in area at a Detroit airport taken into custody and police rushed to the scene.
Eight people were taken to the hospital after about 70 vehicles were involved in a massive pile-up crash on a stretch of Colorado highway in dangerously cold weather, authorities said.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, troopers were dispatched to the area of Interstate 70 near the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel on Tuesday, April 14, after receiving a report of a large multi-vehicle crash around 2:50 p.m. local time. The road was initially closed to traffic in both directions.
The Colorado State Patrol said in a statement that further investigation determined the crash occurred only in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70. The westbound left lane of the freeway was closed for medical attention, but the westbound right lane remained open and was moving slowly.
The Colorado State Patrol said in an update that responders at the scene estimated approximately 70 vehicles were involved in the incident. Nineteen people were evaluated for injuries, 11 of whom refused to be taken to the hospital, and eight were taken to nearby hospitals.
The Colorado State Patrol said eight people were taken to area hospitals, one with “serious injuries.” The agency told USA TODAY on Wednesday, April 15, that it had no additional updates on the incident or the condition of the injured.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis said in a statement that his state is “closely monitoring the serious multi-vehicle crash” and urged the public to follow official guidance and avoid the area while emergency crews respond to the scene.
The Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel, located along Interstate 70 about 90 miles west of Denver, is an important connection for motorists traveling from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains to the western slopes, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.
Series of collisions on Colorado highway leads to massive pile-up
Prior to the large pileup, the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office announced that six crashes occurred on the morning of April 14th. Five crashes occurred on the westbound section of Interstate 70, and one crash occurred on I-40.
“Some were single vehicles, while others were multiple vehicles,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement on social media. “At the end of the day, we need people to slow down, increase their following distance and get to their destination safely.”
The sheriff’s office then reported a “multi-vehicle accident with injuries” in the eastbound lanes of Highway 6 at the on-ramp to Interstate 70 near Loveland Ski Area around 3 p.m. local time. At the time, the sheriff’s office estimated that at least 75 vehicles were involved in the incident, and that the crash closed part of the highway.
“The closure is due to a serious multi-vehicle crash this afternoon on the east side of the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel,” the Colorado Department of Transportation said in a statement. “However, due to the severity of the accident, motorists approaching the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel should expect to be diverted for the next few hours.”
Following the incident, the Colorado State Patrol announced that all eastbound Interstate 70 is estimated to be closed for four to six hours. The sheriff’s office announced that portions of the highway had reopened by about 8:10 p.m. local time.
The sheriff’s office later reported that westbound Interstate 70 at the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel was temporarily closed due to an unrelated incident related to a “jackknifing incident involving a pickup truck and trailer.” All westbound lanes have since reopened.
The accident occurred in the snow
The Colorado Department of Transportation warned motorists on April 14 that winter driving conditions were being reported across the Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor, and the agency advised motorists to use caution and prepare for delays.
Snow showers are expected in the mountains into the evening of April 14, according to the National Weather Service office in Boulder, Colorado.
The Japan Meteorological Bureau announced on the morning of April 14, “There will be heavy snowfall in the mountains tonight.” “Slippery snow is possible on high mountain passes early this morning and again this evening.”
