Winter has officially arrived in Colorado with 20-car and 30-car pileups occurring 15 minutes apart

Although winter officially begins on December 21, in Colorado, the season made a dramatic entrance this past Sunday. Snow and ice on Interstate 70 triggered two major multi-car accidents, according to KDVR.

The first collision involved 20 vehicles near mile marker 130 in Eagle County at approximately 11:30 a.m. Just 12 minutes later, a second crash occurred around mile marker 119, involving 30 more cars. In total, 50 vehicles were involved in less than 15 minutes.

Visibility at the time was limited to roughly 500 feet, and weather reports indicated conditions would deteriorate further as the day progressed. Due to the accidents, authorities closed I-70 in both directions to clear the wreckage.

No serious injuries have been reported, though many of those involved were likely returning home from Thanksgiving celebrations. The Denver Post noted that the Colorado State Patrol did not confirm the exact causes, but cameras in the area showed snow-covered roads and blowing snow, suggesting that icy conditions and poor visibility contributed to the pileups.

These incidents were not isolated. Over the weekend, other multi-car accidents occurred along I-70. In Putnamville, Indiana, a 45-car pileup on Saturday morning was described by the Riley Fire Department as the largest wreck their team had ever witnessed. Fortunately, no serious injuries occurred, but cleanup took hours, forcing extended highway closures.

Indiana State Police Public Information Officer Matt Ames urged caution on social media: "If you can stay home, stay home. Drive carefully in snowy conditions, reduce speed, wear seatbelts, and be safe." He also noted that the cleanup required handling multiple commercial and passenger vehicles, with a projected shutdown of at least six hours.

Winter storms combined with holiday travel continue to create hazardous conditions. This years storms also caused nationwide travel disruptions, with over 2,000 flight cancellations reported, mostly in the Midwest. Chicago saw snow accumulation ranging from four to ten inches, leading to major delays. One traveler, a 64-year-old lawyer named Randy Sutton, was stuck at OHare International Airport despite attempting to avoid delays by rerouting through Chicago.

These events highlight the ongoing challenges winter weather poses for drivers and travelers, emphasizing the importance of caution and preparation during the holiday season.

Author: Sophia Brooks