1 dead, 2 injured after 2 crashes on I-25 near Walsenburg
Two crashes that killed one and required another to be airlifted had both directions of Interstate 25 closed in southern Colorado on Friday morning.
Just before 8 a.m., the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) was reporting there were delays up to 20 minutes for the wrecks, located south of Walsenburg about eight miles at mile marker 40.
Colorado State Patrol received a call at about 7:30 a.m. for a crash involving three vehicles. For the first crash, a semi-truck was reportedly rear-ended by a box truck, according to news release sent by State Patrol later in the day.
The driver of the box truck had “moderate” injuries and was airlifted to a nearby hospital.
As vehicles were moved to the right shoulder, a second wreck involving three other cars occurred, according to State Patrol.
A 46-year-old man driving a Ford F-250 reportedly rear-ended a Hyundai Elantra, causing the pickup truck to roll and slide and strike the back of a third car. After being hit, the other car crossed the center median and ended up on the right shoulder of the northbound lanes on I-25.
The driver of the Ford was fatally wounded and died on scene. The driver of the Elantra was taken to local hospital with unknown injuries at this time.
Traffic is being detoured at Exit 41, according to State Patrol.
State Patrol Sgt. Ivan Alvarado said earlier Friday that northbound traffic reopened.
Southbound I-25 is still closed as of 12:30 p.m. and will remain that way for “several hours,” State Patrol said in the release.