4 people are dead in the Colorado pileup. A truck driver faces vehicular homicide charges

[ironpony]

I'm putting this here, because this kind of accident is just plain stupid. Driving into a metropolitan area at a high rate of speed during peak afternoon rush hour. This guy came down from the foothills, and must have thought he could just blow through town. The story says this happened 8 miles west of downtown. If you use the I25/I70 exchange as a starting point, that puts this at about the Ward Rd exit (266) where I70 is curving east from its long descent from the mountains. Vision is restricted at the exit (Wheat Ridge T/A) because of a rise in the road, and once you get past there, you hit the end of the afternoon traffic jam every dang day.

No one is exempt from driving safely, and if you have an attitude that you're above the rules because of how you go about trucking, this is what happens.

Multiple people killed, several injured in Colorado after massive highway crash, fire

• By
• KARMA ALLEN

Apr 26, 2019, 3:43 AM ET

Multiple people died and at least 10 others were injured in a fiery crash on a Colorado highway that involved at least 15 cars and semi trucks.

Officials did not specify the number of people killed, but said there were "multiple fatalities" in the Thursday crash and subsequent fire on Interstate 70 in Lakewood, Colorado, about 8 miles west of Denver. One firefighter was among the people taken to a local hospital when debris, possibly a tire, exploded...

The accident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. when a semitrailer slammed into several stopped cars at a high rate of speed during a traffic jam, police said. The driver of that semi survived...

Countryman said one semi was carrying wood, another was carrying gravel and the third may have been hauling mattresses. The truck carrying wood appears to be the "one that drove into it all," he said.

Multiple People Killed...

 

[Hammer166]

I'm putting this here, because this kind of accident is just plain stupid. Driving into a metropolitan area at a high rate of speed during peak afternoon rush hour. This guy came down from the foothills, and must have thought he could just blow through town. The story says this happened 8 miles west of downtown. If you use the I25/I70 exchange as a starting point, that puts this at about the Ward Rd exit (266) where I70 is curving east from its long descent from the mountains. Vision is restricted at the exit (Wheat Ridge T/A) because of a rise in the road, and once you get past there, you hit the end of the afternoon traffic jam every dang day.

No one is exempt from driving safely, and if you have an attitude that you're above the rules because of how you go about trucking, this is what happens.

Multiple people killed, several injured in Colorado after massive highway crash, fire

• By
• KARMA ALLEN

Apr 26, 2019, 3:43 AM ET

Multiple people died and at least 10 others were injured in a fiery crash on a Colorado highway that involved at least 15 cars and semi trucks.

Officials did not specify the number of people killed, but said there were "multiple fatalities" in the Thursday crash and subsequent fire on Interstate 70 in Lakewood, Colorado, about 8 miles west of Denver. One firefighter was among the people taken to a local hospital when debris, possibly a tire, exploded...

The accident occurred at around 4:30 p.m. when a semitrailer slammed into several stopped cars at a high rate of speed during a traffic jam, police said. The driver of that semi survived...

Countryman said one semi was carrying wood, another was carrying gravel and the third may have been hauling mattresses. The truck carrying wood appears to be the "one that drove into it all," he said.

Multiple People Killed...

It was at Denver West, which is further west, basically very near the end of the grade, several miles east of where the truck speed ends. Still, this inexcusable.

Every trip over the mountains, I get passed on the grades by clueless drivers running well over the truck speed and having to ride the brakes. I'm frankly surprised this isn't a more common occurrence.

 

[ironpony]

It was at Denver West, which is further west, basically very near the end of the grade, several miles east of where the truck speed ends. Still, this inexcusable.

Every trip over the mountains, I get passed on the grades by clueless drivers running well over the truck speed and having to ride the brakes. I'm frankly surprised this isn't a more common occurrence.

Yeah, I saw that in the YouTube clip... it's by NREL. He was totally hauling ass. That's still a good downgrade from the 6th Ave exit all the way to Ward Rd.

 

[ironpony]

After the 8 minute mark.

 

[krelithous]

4 people are dead in the Colorado pileup. A truck driver faces vehicular homicide charges

 

[Pronghorn]

I saw the video on the news feed. Smoke and flames, what a mess. They’re saying a truck driver with was going to fast and rear ended a bunch of cars that were stopped.

 

[tommyh]

horrible accident
they said he was going down a hill,I would like to see how steep it was

 

[mndriver]

I70 coming into Denver headed east bound is the rumors I have heard.

 

[ironpony]

horrible accident
they said he was going down a hill,I would like to see how steep it was

Y'all know or have heard about Mt Vernon Canyon on I70, yes? The long 6% grade from Floyd Hill, east to the Morrison exit with multiple escape ramps, huge warning signs and lots of flashing lights, with a deadman's curve at the bottom?

He was past all of that.

This is the less steep section past the C470 and US6 exchanges, near what's known as Denver West, exit 263, where it's starting to flatten out after say about 3% coming down from C470, exit 260 - that's about 3 miles. It was 63° yesterday, so brake fade shouldn't have been a factor unless he was riding his brakes down the canyon. If that was the case, then he would have been out of control further back near the Morrison exit, in my opinion.

No brakes from C470/US6 to the crash site? He'd have been going a lot faster than on the video.

The news stories are saying there was an accident further along that had brought traffic to a standstill. The YouTube video shows this was the case, and the truck shooting by at the beginning of the exit ramp at a very high rate of speed on the shoulder. Skip to the 2 minute mark on the video below. I think he wasn't paying attention, looked up, saw stopped traffic and avoided one collision only to hit the vehicles underneath the bridge.

The driver is already claiming he lost his brakes. If he knew about that further back, I think he'd have tried to get in the median, been on his air horn, or something to try to avoid any collision.

 

[Duck]

It was 63° yesterday, so brake fade shouldn't have been a factor unless he was riding his brakes down the canyon.

The other day I was out on the bike and there was a can hauler going the other direction and after it passed, I smelled truck brakes. I looked back and saw smoke coming from the rear of the trailer.

Typical flat, boring Illinois, no hills anywhere within a 20 mile radius.

I thought about turning around and chasing him down but I said f*k it & kept going. Probably doesn't speak English anyway.

 

[Hammer166]

Y'all know or have heard about Mt Vernon Canyon on I70, yes? The long 6% grade from Floyd Hill, east to the Morrison exit with multiple escape ramps, huge warning signs and lots of flashing lights, with a deadman's curve at the bottom?

He was past all of that.

This is the less steep section past the C470 and US6 exchanges, near what's known as Denver West, exit 263, where it's starting to flatten out after say about 3% coming down from C470, exit 260 - that's about 3 miles. It was 63° yesterday, so brake fade shouldn't have been a factor unless he was riding his brakes down the canyon. If that was the case, then he would have been out of control further back near the Morrison exit, in my opinion.

No brakes from C470/US6 to the crash site? He'd have been going a lot faster than on the video.

The news stories are saying there was an accident further along that had brought traffic to a standstill. The YouTube video shows this was the case, and the truck shooting by at the beginning of the exit ramp at a very high rate of speed on the shoulder. Skip to the 2 minute mark on the video below. I think he wasn't paying attention, looked up, saw stopped traffic and avoided one collision only to hit the vehicles underneath the bridge.

The driver is already claiming he lost his brakes. If he knew about that further back, I think he'd have tried to get in the median, been on his air horn, or something to try to avoid any collision.

There's actually video of him from up above the runaway ramp. No brake smoke, but way too fast, more than one lane, etc. I'll see if I can link after while.

 

[Mike]

23 years old, experience was definitely a factor in this. Not an excuse, but a factor.

This page may show the video @Hammer166 is talking about.
Videos Show Speeding Semi Before Deadly I-70 Crash And Fire

If it is the same truck, it is definitely out of control and going way to fast. Still doesn't tell the story of why.

 

[Mike]

Must be a small company that owns the truck, because I have seen no mention of the company name. If it was a big company like TMC, it would be plastered all over the internet.

 

[r3gulator3]

Must be a small company that owns the truck, because I have seen no mention of the company name. If it was a big company like TMC, it would be plastered all over the internet.

Um. 2500 trucks is now considered a big company? I was thinking a big company was Crete with 5k plus.

 

[Hammer166]

23 years old, experience was definitely a factor in this. Not an excuse, but a factor.

This page may show the video @Hammer166 is talking about.
Videos Show Speeding Semi Before Deadly I-70 Crash And Fire

If it is the same truck, it is definitely out of control and going way to fast. Still doesn't tell the story of why.

You have to wonder if language is an issue. That doesn't seem to be enforced anymore.

Still blows my mind there's no brake smoke. It's like he didn't even realize he was out of control.

 

[r3gulator3]

No brake smoke if the brakes don’t really work to begin with. That mfer was trying to do the monteagle 100 on copper mountain. Not wise, I wonder if he realized it’s posted 25 for trucks? Or did he think it was 70? This is just....wow.

 

[Hammer166]

No brake smoke if the brakes don’t really work to begin with. That mfer was trying to do the monteagle 100 on copper mountain. Not wise, I wonder if he realized it’s posted 25 for trucks? Or did he think it was 70? This is just....wow.

That one is posted 45 for trucks. Used to be 35 up until 5 years ago or so.

 

[Mike]

You have to wonder if language is an issue. That doesn't seem to be enforced anymore.

Still blows my mind there's no brake smoke. It's like he didn't even realize he was out of control.

I don't think language was a factor, can't see how it would be.

I think inexperience and panic may be the two big culprits, but just guessing.

It seems like brakes might have failed. Not overheated, but simply failed. Looked like he was fighting the truck down the hill. Might have seen the smoke later after he figured out too late to pull the knobs.

 

[Mike]

Um. 2500 trucks is now considered a big company? I was thinking a big company was Crete with 5k plus.

Big company compared to a small fleet.

 

[r3gulator3]

That one is posted 45 for trucks. Used to be 35 up until 5 years ago or so.

Maybe it’s Vail pass that’s 25 I know there’s a chunk of that that’s posted slow. It’s been a long time since I ran it. I about shit bricks because it was my first time in the mountains. Spooked me. Now with some experience under me and having conquerEd wolf creek pass. And a lot more steeper windy things in Idaho and Utah, I can roll the speed limit (for trucks) and anticipate the curves and handle it much better/