A huge pileup involving nine semi-trucks and 12 cars in Colorado has shut down a 160-mile stretch of the I-70.
The disruption came on Wednesday afternoon as a winter storm struck the Denver area, bringing violent winds and leaving roads covered in snow.
Colorado troopers have estimated the scene may not be cleared until Thursday morning. Drivers were advised not to take alternative roads around the closure due to ‘high winds and slick roads.’
Some of the semis involved in the crash suffered from damaged gas tanks and hazmat teams were deployed to try and contains spills, a spokesperson for the Colorado State Patrol said.
‘I 70 shut down to multivehicle crash from air park to the Kansas line both directions. Approximately 9 semi‘s and 12 passenger vehicles involved,’ wrote the CSP in a tweet.
‘No injuries reported this far. Ongoing situation. Expect extended closure. Avoid area and try alternate route,’ they added.
The eastbound lanes were closed from E-470, about 15 miles east of Denver, to the Kansas border. Westbound lanes were closed between the same two points.
The crash happened near the town of Byers. A photo from the scene showed a jack-knifed semi on top of the passenger side of a car and the road covered in fresh snow.
That initial crash at 12.48pm then caused additional semis to veer off the road.
So far there have been no injuries, highway patrol said. They also noted the closure had affected as many as 60 semis.
‘State Patrol telling us 50-60 semis are stuck, waiting for this wreckage to be cleared and the road re-opened. Could be a long wait,’ tweeted Jim Benchman of CBS Colorado.
The Colorado Department of Transportation said the lanes were closed due to near-zero visibility conditions.

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