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Crash snarls traffic on US 40 near Steamboat Springs

Matt Stensland
Colorado State Patrol Sgt. Scott Elliott talks to people involved in an accident Tuesday morning on U.S. Highway 40 just south of Steamboat Springs.
Matt Stensland

— Icy roads resulted in a three-car crash Tuesday morning that snarled traffic just south of Steamboat Springs.

The crash occurred at about 9:45 a.m.

Colorado State Patrol Sgt. Scott Elliott said two Steamboat women were taken to Yampa Valley Medical Center with serious injuries not thought to be life-threatening.



For about two hours, long lines of traffic were taking turns navigating the crash, which blocked the westbound lane.

A Ford Ranger was heading east when it lost control and fishtailed into oncoming traffic. The Ranger then was hit by a Ford Escape. A Ford F150 pickup behind the Escape then collided with the vehicles.



The two injured women were in the Ranger and were the wife and daughter of the male driver. The driver was given a summons to appear in court for careless driving causing injury.

The speed limit where the crash occurred was 55 mph, but Elliott did not think the Ranger was being driven that fast.

“He was driving too fast on the sheet of ice,” Elliott said.

Elliott said he did not think bad tires contributed to the crash, which was the case with at least one of numerous crashes that occurred Monday.

In one instance, Elliott said a truck crashed into a guardrail near Milner. The truck had three bald tires. There was minor damage and no one was injured.

Other crashes Monday included a rollover on Colorado Highway 131. No one was injured.

Elliott said blizzard conditions existed Monday, especially on U.S. Highway 40 between Rabbit Ears Pass and Kremmling. He said cars were going off the road because drivers could not see the road due to the snow and wind. Despite the weather, none of the roads in the area were shut down.

On Tuesday afternoon, blue skies appeared in Steamboat.

“Everything is just wet now,” Elliott said. “It’s an improvement over yesterday.”

Meanwhile, in eastern Colorado, strong winds Tuesday forced the closure of Interstate 70.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland


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