A semi truck driver was killed when his tanker truck rolled over and crashed on the westbound I-70 in Clifton, CO on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. Photo credit: KREXTV.com

Clifton is in Mesa County, Colorado in the western part of the state about 259 miles southwest of Boulder, 252 miles southwest of Aurora and 236 miles southwest of Arvada.

WATCH VIDEO

The accident happened on the westbound I-70 at mile marker 35 in Clifton just before noon, Wednesday. Several miles before the crash site in DeBeque Canyon, witnesses reported to the Colorado State Patrol that the trucker hit a guard rail and was driving erratically.

Map showing location of fatal tanker truck crash in Clifton, CO where a semi truck driver was killed on I-70 at mile marker 35 just west of the Clifton exit.

About 10 minutes later they received a call that the tanker truck had crashed in the median and rolled over at mile marker 35 in Clifton.

The 52 year-old trucker was ejected from the cab and was pronounced dead at the scene. His name is being withheld pending notification to relatives.

An article at the KJCT News website reported on the story:

Colorado State Patrol officers were initially responding to a water truck that was seen driving erratically. Within minutes, the truck ran off the right side of the road and when the driver swerved left, the truck rolled into the median.

The semi truck was operated by Stateline Trucking in Fruita, CO. The tanker, which was empty at the time of the accident, was used to haul fracking water. The truck driver had been working there less than a year.

Traffic was shut down in both directions on the Interstate for several hours while police conducted an investigation.

Authorities feel that the accident could have been a lot worse and involved more vehicles. Witnesses said the truck went off the road and back on a couple of times before it crashed.

One eastbound vehicle was hit by debris from the crash, but no occupants sustained any injury. Truck accidents of this type can cause serious brain injury.

The cause of the accident is not known at this time but is currently under investigation. State Troopers are looking at alcohol as a factor in the accident.

Related searches:

Arvada Brain Injury Lawyer
Aurora Brain Injury Lawyer
Boulder Brain Injury Lawyer

Semi truck overturned on a tight turn spilling a load of Coors beer between the eastbound Colorado 58 and eastbound I-70 in Wheat Ridge, CO on August 26, 2011.

WATCH VIDEO

The accident occurred at the flyover ramp to eastbound I-70 just before 3:30 p.m. closing the Colorado 58 and diverting eastbound traffic onto the westbound I-70 at the exit ramp before the flyover.

The semi truck had to be unloaded on Friday afternoon on the I-70 causing traffic problems and did not reopen until nearly 6 p.m.

9 News reports:

Traffic on westbound I-70 and at the West 32nd Avenue exit ramp was backed up and drivers were urged to go to a different exit to help avoid any accidents.

The clean up took so long because crews had to unload the semi and then get it upright before moving it.

Map showing location of Coors beer semi truck accident on the transition ramp from the eastbound Colorado 58 to the eastbound Interstate 70 in Wheat Ridge, CO on August 26, 2011.

The incident remains under investigation at this time.

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident lawyer news blog that reports on up to date truck accidents, truck accident attorneys and legal news across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, it is important to consult with truck accident lawyers who know the trucking laws for each state. Find out more information about Colorado truck accident lawyers.

Colorado, due to its high population and vast highway system, has a high incident of 18 wheeler truck accidents. Colorado cities with a high incident of truck accidents and vehicle collision resulting in severe personal injuries and even death include Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, Lakewood, Thornton, and Westminster to name a few.

Related searches:

Fort Collins Truck Accident Lawyer
Lakewood Truck Accident Lawyer
Pueblo Truck Accident Lawyer
Thornton Truck Accident Lawyer
Westminster Truck Accident Lawyer

Scene of fatal accident where the 24-year old driver of a Jeep was killed by a logging truck that ran a red light in Glenwood Springs, CO on August 16, 2011. Photo credit: Kelley Cox, Post Independent

The truck driver, identified as John H. Briggs, 58, of Del Norte, was heading south when he collided with a Jeep on Highway 82 near the Buffalo Valley intersection at 1:17 p.m. The driver of the Jeep was identified as Claudia Tena de Ramirez, 24, of Glenwood Springs.

Map showing location of fatal logging truck accident at County Road 154 and US Highway 82 in Glenwood Springs, CO on Tuesday, August 16, 2011.

Glenwood Springs Post Independent reports:

De Ramirez was making a left turn onto Highway 82 from County Road 154 when the accident occurred. The semi truck hit the driver’s side of the Jeep and pushed it across both oncoming traffic lanes, coming to rest on the northeast shoulder of the highway.

Alcohol, drugs and speed are not considered factors in this crash, the state patrol reported. Briggs was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, but was not injured.

Briggs has been charged with wreckless driving causing a death.

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident lawyer news blog that reports on up to date truck accidents, truck accident attorneys and legal news across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, it is important to consult with truck accident lawyers who know the trucking laws for each state. Find out more information about Colorado truck accident lawyers.

Colorado, due to its high population and vast highway system, has a high incident of 18 wheeler truck accidents. Colorado metropolitan cities with a high incident of truck accidents and vehicle collision resulting in severe personal injuries and even death include Arvada, Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins to name a few.

Related searches:

Arvada Truck Accident Lawyer
Boulder Truck Accident Lawyer
Colorado Springs Truck Accident Lawyer
Denver Truck Accident Lawyer

Map showing location of semi truck accident on eastbound Interstate 70 at mile marker 204 where a tractor-trailer jacknifed and rolled over several times. The accident occured on Sunday, August 14, 2011 in Wildernest, Colorado between Silverthorne and Frisco.

The first semi truck traveling eastbound on I-70 rolled as many as five times at about 6 p.m. The rollover occurred at mile marker 204 between the Frisco and Silverthorne exits.

The second accident involving a Walmart semi truck occurred at about 10:56 p.m. where the semi sat jack-knifed next to the first truck in the same location.

Colorado State Patrol spokesman and trooper Nate Reid reported that both drivers escaped the accidents without an apparent injury.

“Everybody walked away. It was just a crazy place to be having wrecks last night,” Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue spokesman Steve Lipsher said.

The incident remains under investigation at this time.

Truck Accidents 360 is a truck accident lawyer news blog that reports on up to date truck accidents, truck accident attorneys and legal news across the United States. Since trucking laws are governed by hundreds of regulations, it is important to consult with truck accident lawyers who know the trucking laws for each state. Find out more information about Colorado truck accident lawyers.

Colorado, due to its high population and vast highway system, has a high incident of 18 wheeler truck accidents resulting in brain injuries. Colorado metropolitan cities with a high incident of truck accidents and vehicle collision resulting in severe personal injuries such as brain injury cases and even death include Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins to name a few.

Related searches:

Colorado Springs Brain Injury Lawyer
Denver Brain Injury Lawyer
Fort Collins Brain Injury Lawyer

On Sunday night 33 year old truck driver Jason Ross, of St. Louis, Missouri, was driving a Freightliner semi truck on the Eastern Plains, traveling through Elbert County, Colorado. It is not known where the driver was headed when the deadly truck accident happened. The tractor trailer is owned by USA Truck, based out of Van Buren, Arkansas.

Sometime after 8:00 p.m. Sunday night the truck driver entered the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70, headed in the wrong direction. The truck driver had also turned off the lights on his tractor trailer for unknown reasons. Although unlit, the wrong way semi trailer was quickly noticed as it barreled down the highway in the opposite direction. Colorado State Troopers rushed to the interstate and tried to get the driver to stop.

Local police also joined in the chase and one officer from Limon pulled his squad car in front of the errant tractor trailer and aimed a bright light at the truck driver. Mr. Ross reportedly ignored the police car with its sirens blaring and lights flashing, and continued down the highway. The westbound truck driver would go about nine miles in the eastbound lanes before he finally caused the deadly truck accident.

According to police, the wrong way 18 wheeler had just go over a hill when it crashed head-on into a eastbound 1993 Buick Park Avenue sedan driven by 71 year old Martin Hernandez of Lamar, CO. There were two passengers in the Buick, the driver’s wife, 77 year old Maria Angelina Hernandez, and the couple’s 9 year old granddaughter. The three were headed back to the Martinez’ home when the truck accident occurred shortly before 9:00 p.m. Sunday night, near the city of Agate.

MAP


View Larger Map

An unidentified family member would later state that Mr. Martinez saw the unlit 18 wheeler approaching and although he did not have enough time to avoid the truck accident, he did turn the Buick so he took the full force, lessening the impact to his wife and granddaughter.

After slamming into the Buick, the tractor trailer crossed over the highway median and finally came to a rest across the westbound lanes of I-70. The impact of the truck accident punctured a gas tank on the semi trailer and some diesel fuel spilled out on the highway.

Rescue teams rushed to the site of the head-on collision, joining the Colorado State Troopers already at the scene. Mr. Martinez was severely injured in the truck accident. He was transported by medical helicopter to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood where, sadly, he died a short time later. His wife and granddaughter were also treated at the crash site. Mrs. Martinez was taken to Swedish Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The granddaughter was treated at Lincoln Community Hospital in Hugo and later released to her family.

The truck driver, Mr. Ross, received minor injuries in the truck accident. He was flown to Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs. After receiving treatment he was placed under arrest and taken to the Elbert County Jail. He has been charged with Suspicion of Drunken Driving, Vehicular Homicide, and Vehicular Assault. He also faces charges of Careless Driving Causing Injury, Reckless Driving, Driving on the Wrong Side of a Divided Highway, and Driving With No Headlamps.

Colorado State troopers shut down both directions of traffic on I-70 in the area around the truck accident site. After the emergency personnel finished treating the victims of the head on crash, highway crews were brought in to clear the disabled vehicles and other debris from the traffic lanes, and clean-up the spilled diesel fuel. The interstate reopened at about 1:00 a.m. Monday morning.

The truck driver, Mr. Ross, is being held on a $100,000 bond. Additional charges may be brought pending the completion of the truck accident investigation.

Firefighters and Colorado State Patrol investigate the scene of a crash on eastbound I-70 involving two semi-trucks and hazardous material. Photo credit: Andy Cross, The Denver Post

Evergreen is located in central Colorado, about 30 miles west of Denver, about 37 miles west of Aurora, about 85 miles north of Colorado Springs and about 89 miles south of Fort Collins

Eastbound traffic lanes on the Interstate were closed for several hours on Wednesday. The crash occurred on the eastbound side of the Interstate.

Location of semi truck accident near the Beaver Book exit on the eastbound I-70 in Evergreen, CO.

One of the 18 wheelers involved was carrying oxygen tanks. A Colorado Department of Transportation camera captured the scene. There was a truck parked next to the semi trailer that was being loaded up with the gas cylinders that had been on the one of the semi trucks involved in the crash.

According to a state patrol spokesman, Sgt. John Hahn, one of the tractor trailers involved in the accident was carrying chlorine gas, although no hazardous material was released in the crash.

Sgt. Hahn said that the collision remains under investigation, but pointed out that roads were icy, wet and slushy at the time of the mishap involving  two 18 wheelers. Although road conditions were snowy on the Interstate throughout the morning, investigators weren’t certain if weather played a role in the accident.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, the accident did spark a small fire. No injuries reported in the crash.

Evergreen firefighters and members of the Colorado State Patrol are investigating the scene of a crash. Crews were cleaning up after the collision, which took several hours.

All traffic lanes of the Interstate were shut down soon after the accident.  Traffic lanes on Interstate 70 west of Genesee and east of Idaho Springs was the section of highway involved.

Below is a Google street view of the eastbound I-70 at the Beaver Brook exit. You can click the mouse button and drag it to get a full 360° view of the surrounding landscape. There was snow and ice on the road at the time of the accident.

View Larger Map

The eastbound lanes remained closed throughout the morning hours. Shortly before 1 p.m. two lanes were reopened and one remained closed while cleanup efforts continued.

Interstate 70 was also closed on Vail Pass for awhile in the morning because crews were doing avalanche blasting.

Photo by John F. Russell

Below is a map of downtown Steamboat Springs and the location of the accident:

The SUV was tipped over when the right front portion of the semi truck hit the left rear of the SUV, sending it into a spin and eventually causing it to tip over and skid to a stop.

The SUV driver, Jade Stevens, a 21-year-old woman sustained injury from the truck accident. Stevens was transported to Yampa Valley Medical Center by medical crews.

Sgt. Dale Coyner of the Steamboat Springs Police Department stated that at first she was not immediately transported to the hospital, but  later decided to obtain medical treatment. The extent of her injuries is not yet known.

The driver of the semi truck, 33-year-old Wesley Williams,  was cited for careless driving causing bodily injury. The top of the Jeep came off as a result of the collision. Coyner states that was because the top was not properly bolted on. The semi truck cab sustained only minor damage.

View the intersection in Google Maps – you can pan around the intersection with your mouse.

View Larger Map

Related searches:
Colorado Truck Accident Lawyers

As you can see from the following photo the crash caused significant damage to the bridge.

No one is being allowed to drive over it, or under it. Eastbound traffic has backed up for several miles.

Westbound drivers are being told to get off the interstate in New Castle or Silt and take Highway 6.

Truck Accidents 360 is a news blog where you can find truck accident and attorney information.

Related Searches:

Colorodo truck accident lawyers & attorneys
Denver truck accident lawyers
Colorado Big Rig Lawyers