Adverse conditions can certainly make it more difficult to drive to wherever you need to go. It’s important for drivers to get into the habit of checking the weather and traffic reports before heading out so that they can reroute when necessary. When they don’t there is a chance that they could end up in crashes due to bad weather or other factors.
That’s what happened on Interstate-70, Highway 91 and Loveland Pass recently, when adverse conditions led to multiple collisions throughout the region. On Nov. 9, the news reported that all passenger vehicle traction laws had gone into place after the Colorado Department of Transportation was alerted to multiple crashes caused by vehicles sliding off the roadways.
Two-and-a-half hours of crashes in poor weather conditions add up
Between 4:11 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., multiple crashes were called in. In one of the crashes, a tractor-trailer dumped diesel fuel, which required a Hazmat team to respond to the scene. The Colorado State Patrol, along with Summit Fire & EMS, were kept busy with the driver of that vehicle suffering injuries as well as other drivers in additional crashes needing medical support.
In one of the other crashes, two vehicles hit head-on, and the victims inside had to be extricated. At least one of the drivers suffered serious injuries.
Looking at what happened, it’s important to note that winter is coming and that the weather will continue to get colder and more unpredictable. As the roads frost, black ice forms and snow falls. You should watch for traction requirements and other laws moving into place. If you can avoid driving when the weather is poor, do so, so you can minimize the number of vehicles on the roads.