The Journal
“It was a tangled mess of semis and vehicles,” said Lewis-Arriola Fire Chief George Deavers.
Deavers was one of the first on the scene Wednesday afternoon after at least seven semi-trailers and 12 passenger vehicles crashed on an ice-covered portion of U.S. Highway 491 near Pleasant View.
Law enforcement attributed the accident to icy road conditions and an intense snow squall about 3 p.m. Wednesday that caused low to zero visibility.
The highway was closed from just south of Pleasant View to Dove Creek because of the pile-up and treacherous road conditions. The highway closure expanded to Monticello, Utah, and lasted overnight.
Stranded drivers spent the night in Dove Creek. Others waited for passage on Road 18, a detour which was open intermittently on Wednesday night because of several accidents.
U.S 491 re-opened at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Deavers said several semi-trailers were jack-knifed on and off the highway. Passenger vehicles were strewn about as well, some with minor damage and others with significant damage.
Three people were transferred to area hospitals with minor injuries.
“It could have been a lot worse,” Deavers said.
A Colorado State Patrol vehicle was also badly damaged, though the trooper was reported uninjured. He was assisting another motorist when his vehicle was struck.
Wayne Englehart was driving on Road BB approaching the highway when he saw the emergency vehicles responding to the accident.
“I could barely see a thing, it was pretty hairy,” he said. “I crossed the highway and took the back roads, driving through snowdrifts to finally get home.”
Tow truck drivers cleared the accident throughout the night, and area churches and community centers reportedly opened up to aid stranded motorists.
“It was extremely hazardous conditions,” said Montezuma County Sheriff Steve Nowlin. “The squall happened all of the sudden and caused zero visibility and slick roads.”
Pleasant View and Lewis-Arriola fire departments responded to the accident. Eight sheriff deputies were dispatched to assist with the closures and detours, Nowlin said, with three staying until 3 a.m. Cortez Police also assisted at the road blocks and detours.
Sheriff deputies were “hammered for service” all night, Nowlin said, responding to crashes, most of which involved vehicles sliding off roads.
Nowlin said the best advice for winter driving is to reduce speeds, have good snow tires, and to keep survival gear in your vehicle including food and water, blankets, and signaling devices.
Added Colorado Trooper Josh Lewis, “Ultimately, the safest thing to do is to avoid driving in bad weather conditions.”