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Semi jumps median on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon; road reopens after more than 12-hour closure

Screen grab from the CDOT camera on I-70 in Glenwood Canyon on Friday shows the semitruck that fell from the westbound lanes into the eastbound lanes near the Hanging Lake exit.
Courtesy Colorado Department of Transportation

Interstate 70 reopened eastbound early Saturday morning at the Glenwood Springs exit after a semi-trailer truck heading westbound on Interstate 70 jumped the median Friday onto the eastbound lane near the Hanging Lake exit nine miles east of Glenwood, according to the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office.

The accident was reported just after noon Friday, and the Colorado Department of Transportation sent an update at 1:49 a.m. Saturday that the eastbound lanes were open.

Garfield County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Walt Stowe said after the semi jumped the median, it caught fire, according to initial reports. Stowe warned early Friday afternoon that the eastbound lanes could be closed for 12 hours.



The interstate westbound at mile marker 133 near Dotsero reopened to one lane of traffic, as of 1:30 p.m.

Stowe said there was debris in the westbound lane. In that area of Interstate 70, the westbound lane is higher than the eastbound lane.




The driver of the semi, which is flipped upside down, was taken to a hospital in Vail.

It’s has not been reported if other vehicles were involved with the crash.

Reporter Ray K. Erku can be reached at 612-423-5273 or rerku@postindependent.com

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