MEAD, Colo. — Crews responded to a serious crash Friday afternoon that closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 25 north of the Denver metro area.
The interstate reopened about 3:30 p.m.
The crash was near Colorado 66, which is Exit 243 to Longmont and Platteville. It involved two semi-trucks and three vehicles, according to Mountain View Fire Rescue.
Colorado State Patrol (CSP) said the crash happened just after 12:45 p.m. Friday. Two people were taken to a hospital, and one of those people suffered serious injuries, CSP said.
CSP said drivers should expect the highway to be closed for a while. They said there was a lot of debris on the road and that crews from the Colorado Department of Transportation needed to clear the debris before reopening the road.
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The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) provides these tips for safe driving in Colorado:
Expect the unexpected
Slow down
Don't tailgate
Be aware of emergency crews
Heed signs
Obey flaggers
Stay alert and minimize distractions
Keep with the traffic flow
Plan your drive
Be patient and stay calm
It is also important to be aware of emergency vehicles.
Colorado's Move Over Law requires drivers to move over a lane when there’s an emergency situation along the shoulder. If the driver can’t move over, they must slow down significantly to avoid an accident.
The law was implemented in 2005 and strengthened in 2020. A CDOT news release states: "The updated law stipulates that if a driver is unable to move at least one lane away from the stationary emergency vehicle, the driver must slow down to at least 25 miles per hour on roadways with a speed limit below 45 miles per hour. On roadways with speed limits 45 miles per hour or more, motorists must slow down to 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit. Drivers that fail to slow down or move over commit the crime of careless driving, a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense that can result in up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $300."
CDOT recommends people check COtrip.org to find out about road conditions, construction zones, and traffic alerts.
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