YOUR AD HERE »

30-car pile-up between Silverthorne, Eisenhower Tunnel closes Interestate 70

On Tuesday, April 5, 2016, a multi-vehicle chain reaction of accidents closed down a half-mile stretch along Interstate 70, east of Silverthorne. No serious injuries were reported.
Courtesy of Lake Dillon Fire Rescue |

A series of accidents involving 30 vehicles had closed Interstate 70 along a 1/2-mile stretch between Silverthorne and the Eisenhower Tunnel on Tuesday evening, which is now currently open.

A blizzard that blew through the area had caused a number of accidents throughout Summit County, particularly along the interstate.

According to the Lake Dillon Fire Rescue, which reported the interstate accident on its Facebook page, the large array of vehicles included cars and semitrailers, including one truck carrying a load of pigs.



The scene of the accident was along the westbound route of the I-70 between mile marker 210 and the tunnels, said Colorado State Patrol trooper Nate Reid. Some injuries were reported, but none were serious.

Between mile marker 195 at Copper Mountain Resort and the summit of Vail Pass, several car wrecks had kept Copper Mountain Fire Department busy throughout the blizzard, according to fire chief Gary Curmode.



The most severe was a driver who was thrown out of his vehicle, having gone through the windshield, he said. His vehicle was down 30 feet from the highway, with the driver a further 30 feet below that. When CMFD found him, he was conscious and taken to the hospital.

Within Officers Gulch, a couple cars spun out and landed in a snow bank, said Curmode.

“When it’s snowing like it was — and it was a blizzard — I would not exceed 40 miles per hour,” he said. “No destination is worth going over 40 miles per hour in this weather.”


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

As a Summit Daily News reader, you make our work possible.

Summit Daily is embarking on a multiyear project to digitize its archives going back to 1989 and make them available to the public in partnership with the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. The full project is expected to cost about $165,000. All donations made in 2023 will go directly toward this project.

Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference.