PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. — Heavy winds which led to a dangerous reduction in visibility for drivers are partly to blame for a massive pileup on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo that killed at least four people and injured over two dozen others, troopers with the Colorado State Patrol said Tuesday.
The pileup, which was reported shortly after 10 a.m. about one-and-a-half miles south of the Pueblo city limits, was a combination of two separate crashes on both sides of the highway involving over 30 vehicles, including pickups pulling horse trailers, SUVs, passenger vehicles and at least 6 semi-trucks, according to CSP Major Brian Lyons. He said initial reports to the CSP indicated that strong winds and blowing dirt in the area were the likely the culprit for causing the pileup.
On Tuesday evening, the Pueblo County Coroner’s Office released the identities of the four victims:
- David L. Kirscht, 90, and his son Scott L. Kirscht, 64, both from Walsenburg
- Mary Sue Thayer, 72, from Rye
- Karen Ann Marsh, 66, from Pueblo
A fifth victim died overnight, according to the CSP, but their identity has not be released by the Pueblo County coroner.
Besides the four fatalities, Lyons said another 29 people were transported from the scene to area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to moderate, with a few others being treated for serious injuries. He could not say what condition any of the patients were in.
The CSP added that the crash victims were taken to two hospitals with seven sustaining serious injuries. One person remained in critical condition Tuesday evening and 21 other victims were treated for minor to moderate injuries.
Scripps News Group Colorado Springs reported their TV news crew saw around 15 ambulances come and go from the scene before CSP troopers asked them to leave the scene.
- Watch video from the scene of the massive pileup in the video player below:
UCHealth officials confirmed with Scripps News Colorado Springs earlier in the day that it had activated its incident command center, and that they had treated at least 12 patients so far.
Officials from St. Mary-Corwin Hospital in Pueblo told Scripps News Colorado Springs it activated its mass casualty alert, and that they had treated at least 7 patients transferred there.
During a news conference later Tuesday, Lyons said the four people killed in the pileup were from separate vehicles, but could not say whether they were drivers, passengers or both.
He added that the CSP was working with animal control and the State Veterinarian's Office since one of the vehicles involved in the crash was a gooseneck trailer that was carrying 32 goats. Only 28 survived the crash, a CSP spokesperson said.
- Video obtained by Denver7 shows a sheep running amid the chaos following the crash:
Later, the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region shared more about the trailer carrying 30 sheep and one goat. "In the midst of twisted metal and emergency response efforts, these animals were caught in the chaos, some trapped inside the damaged trailer, others running loose along the interstate in immediate danger," the organization posted on social media.
Animal Law Enforcement officers responded to the crash scene to help rescue the animals.
"Despite every effort, four of the sheep were too severely injured to recover. The remaining animals were safely secured and later reunited with their owner. They were transported home in a trailer supplied by another community member," the humane society posted.
While both directions of I-25 were closed for about a three-mile stretch between mileposts 91-94, the southbound lanes of I-25 were reopened by about 2:30 p.m.
The northbound lanes will remain closed "for an extended period," with a detour in place along the frontage road on the west side of the interstate, the CSP spokesperson said.
A sizable portion of the state, including Pueblo, is currently under a high wind warning until 5 p.m. due to westerly winds that could reach gusts up to the 65 mph in some areas.
"Due to low visibility, drivers are urged to delay traveling until conditions improve," the CSP said. "If travel is necessary, avoid I-25 in this area, use caution, and reduce speed."
Trucks that need to lay over until conditions improve can do so at large gas stations north and south of Pueblo, Lyons said, but high-profile vehicles should avoid travel until the winds recede, he said.
- Watch the news conference from the CSP in the video player below:
The CSP is also urging drivers to check COtrip for real-time updates on road conditions.
The identity of those killed in the crash will be released by the Pueblo County Coroner once family has been notified, troopers said.
The crash remains under investigation by the Colorado State Patrol Vehicular Crimes Unit, and the final numbers will be updated after all vehicles have been cleared from the scene, a CSP spokesperson added.
Lyons said the last time a crash of a similar scale occurred in this area was about 10 years ago.
In the video player below, Denver7's Colin Riley has the latest on the crash aftermath.
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