EAGLE-VAIL —A Vail firefighter suffered serious injuries when he was struck after he climbed out of his car to lend a hand during Friday morning’s traffic accident along eastbound I-70.

The Vail firefighter’s name was not released until family had been notified, Vail Fire Chief Mark Novak said.

“He’s stable, but has been admitted to the hospital,” Novak said.

The firefighter was on his way to work when he came upon the accidents, Novak said. It appears he stopped to help when he was struck by another vehicle.

He suffered facial and head injuries, Novak said.

Two separate Friday morning accidents involved multiple vehicles as roads turned icy and snowpacked, said Trooper Tim Schaefer, public information officer with the Colorado State Patrol.

“We’re asking people to be cautious,” Schaefer said.

The first call came in at 6:42 a.m. from the local dispatchers. Eastbound I-70 was closed and traffic was diverted around the accidents, Schaefer said.

The CSP did not know how long the road would be closed. Vail Pass is also closed going eastbound on I-70 with no estimated time of reopening.

This story will be updated.