Both are incline ramps. Check COTrip.org for opening information. At approximately 5:14 a.m. Christmas Day, Vehicle #1, a 2008 Ford F350, driven by Ernesto Velaquez, 48, of Del Norte Colorado was westbound on Colorado 160 at a high rate of speed. Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation, San Juan Water Conservancy District & Dry Gulch. Keep brakes cool by pulling into brake stations or onto the shoulder of the road, if a safe spot can be located. Where are brake stations, chain-up stations and runaway ramps located? Nov 7, 2020 Driver Survives After Truck Plunges Off Wolf Creek Pass, Rolls 700 Feet Down Mountainside The driver was seriously hurt -- and wasn't rescued until the next morning, after someone. Updated: 2 years ago / Posted Dec 30, 2020. The man was riding westbound on state Route 35 about 15 miles east of Francis when he drifted into oncoming traffic at about 2:15 p.m., according to the Utah Highway Patrol. *The distance from the summit (near Wolf Creek Ski Area) to the west base of the pass (near Treasure Falls) is just over eight miles. 2021-2022 Season Pass Holders will receive a 10% loyalty discount at time of purchase. An autopsy was conducted Monday. *The west side of the pass is at a 7% downhill grade. Multiple area agencies responded to a single-vehicle accident on Sept. 9 that killed one and left four injured. Authorities have not released his name. *The posted speed limit for traffic traveling westbound, downhill from the summit varies from 25 to 45 MPH. Bus incidents highlight challenges of canceling school, CBI announced last week that a Ford Focus was found Feb. 23 hundreds of feet off Wolf Creek Pass, Car found off Wolf Creek Pass belonged to woman missing since January, Report a paper delivery issue/suspend delivery. NewsWatch 12 is working to find out more information and . The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene, the UHP said. The remains of a woman found dead last week off Wolf Creek Pass have officially been identified as belonging to a 49-year-old Texas woman who had been missing for nearly two months. Speed and brake failure possible factors in Wolf Creek Pass crash that Truck driver killed in accident while delivering load of lumber, Semi truck driver cited following collision with Amtrak passenger train, Big rig crash spills more than 1000 cans of Bushs Baked Beans. After striking the large boulder Vehicle #1 rotated clockwise coming back onto the roadway, rolling one-half time and, rotating 180 degrees striking the front of Vehicle #2 with the drivers side of vehicle #1. Vehicle #1 then traveled westbound off the northside of the roadway, along the ditch and embankment, striking several rocks and a delineator post, before striking a large boulder with the front of Vehicle #1. CBI said the Coroners Office made a preliminary finding that Mizell died as a result of multiple blunt force injuries. In The Pines -Private Location -10 Minutes to Downtown (0.10 mi) DOWNTOWN Gorgeous Home. They believe the accident happened between 10 and 11 p.m. the night before. Spurs snap 16-game losing streak by topping uninspired Jazz, Man arrested in connection with fatal shooting now accused of child rape, Supreme Court seems ready to reject student loan forgiveness, Protesters disrupt Senate hearing on ERA. Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. Vehicle #2, a 2018 Kenworth truck tractor and semitractor-trailer driven by Arturo Romeo, 55, of Commerce City Colorado and front seat passenger Desiree Van Hartesrett, 53, of Commerce City Colorado, was eastbound on Colorado 160. Hardaway said he spent the night outside. Driscoll emphasized. A GoFundMe account was created to help with Mizells funeral costs, which can be viewed at https://bit.ly/3pTVnaS. If you wish view the full all article, watch this short video or subscribe now for full access. Hardaway told the paper the truck started filling up with water. The vehicle approached a sharp left curve and steered right, impacting a cement barrier and down the embankment, hitting several trees, and breaking the tractor. He is now back in Durango, where he has lived since 2016. Tractor Crash west of Caulfield on Wednesday West Plains, Mo. One of the passengers, 40-year-old Elizabeth Taypotat, was pronounced dead at the scene, the report indicates. The Ford continued down a ditch and embankment, striking several rocks, and a delineator post before hitting a large boulder with the front of the truck. Attempt to stay in the center of the ramp to avoid any risk of rolling over. At approximately 5:14 a.m. Christmas Day, Vehicle #1, a 2008 Ford F350, driven by Ernesto Velaquez, 48, of Del Norte Colorado was westbound on Colorado 160 at a high rate of speed. It was cold, and I was afraid Id get hypothermia.. Multiple safety closures are in place with no estimated time of opening: CO 145, U.S. 160, U.S. 491 and U.S. 550 are closed due High winds, low visibility, heavy snowfall close ski area, Archuleta County courts and probation closed Wednesday, Feb. 22, Archuleta School District schools closed Wednesday, Feb. 22. Wolf Creek Pass is a high mountain pass on the Continental Divide, in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.It is the route through which U.S. Highway 160 passes from the San Luis Valley into southwest Colorado on its way to New Mexico and Arizona.The pass is notable as inspiration of a C. W. McCall song. Hardaway said he is walking around, and slowly recovering, but he still has a long road ahead. Duchena Tasha, 29, Isaiah Martin, 17, and Shauana Tara Martin, 28, killed and 5 injured in head-on collision between two pick-up trucks on U.S. Highway 287 north of Wolf Creek, Montana What every family needs to know about wrongful death claims: Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2015 Roadway: U.S. Highway 287 City: Wolf Creek, MT Type: Car Accident Topics: York says Hardaway's medical insurance had lapsed "due to hardship caused by the pandemic" and he won't be able to work for several months. The crash occurred in Mineral County at the bottom of Wolf Creek pass. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report, the . Ivan Alvarado of the Colorado State Patrol said officers got word of the. According to investigators, a woman was critically injured after her chair collided with a tower, throwing her 25-30 feet to the . Hardaway's truck went across the lanes of traffic, off the shoulder and hit a tree, before rolling down the mountainside. Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Note: This is your last chance to use a runaway ramp. Pagosa Springs, CO 81147, Open 8-12 and 1:15-4 p.m. Three circus trains were traveling from Gouverneur, where the circus had performed that. A password reset email has been sent containing a link to reset your password. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a It is believed speed and possible brake fade/failure contributed to the crash. That boulder caused the Ford to spin again, forcing it back onto the road, rolling and completely rotating before hitting a semi-trailer on the driver's side. Personnel from multiple area agencies work to rescue passengers of a vehicle that traveled off a steep embankment on Wolf Creek Pass, injuring four and killing one. Attempt to stay in the center of the ramp to avoid any risk of rolling over. But, she said its essential drivers maintain a low speed coming down the highway. Investigators do not believe, however, that foul play was involved. Driver of Vehicle #1 Ernesto Velaquez died on scene as a result of the injuries he sustained from the crash. . York wrote. All Rights Reserved, No, thanks! *A ski area, forest roads and a public scenic lookout are all points of access along US 160 Wolf Creek Pass in which truckers may encounter other vehicles attempting to enter or exit the roadway. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation announced on Wednesday evening that law enforcement officers from multiple agencies, and search and rescue teams on Tuesday recovered the human remains on the. Newspaper and tourism guides serving Archuleta County and Pagosa Springs, Colorado since December 9, 1909. Regular Rates went into effect Monday, October 17th, 2022. mjd4277, Sep 28, 2021. mjd4277, Sep 28, 2021 #1 + Quote Reply. Remains Identified in Wolf Creek Pass Crash The Mineral County Coroner's Office has identified the remains of the woman located at the scene of a crash on Wolf Creek Pass. Wolf Creek Ski Area; Snowmobiling; Nordic Ski / Snowshoe; Ice Fish; Sled, Skate & Hockey; A Trip to Powder . If a trucks brakes fail due to overheating or excessive use going downhill, runaway ramps are the only way the truck will be able to stop.. Peak Advantage Passes. The driver and passenger of the semi-trailer, Arturo Romeo, 55, and Desiree Van Hartesrett, 53, of Commerce City, were not injured. OSP also confirmed that the logging truck was owned by Wolf Creek Timber Services of Veneta. Other southwest/south-central Colorado passes include: US 550 Red Mountain, Molas and Coal Bank Passes; Colorado Highway (CO) 145 Lizard Head Pass; CO 17 La Manga-Cumbres Pass; and US 50 Monarch Pass. But all things considered, he considers himself lucky to be among the few people who has survived a crash off Wolf Creek Pass. Speed and brake failure possible factors in Wolf Creek Pass crash that killed truck driver R.I.P. During that time, the scene was not secured, the daughters said. However, there was no evidence the straps were buckled at the time of the crash, the report notes. The daughters said a vigil was planned for Tuesday, which would have been her 50th birthday. Bus incidents highlight challenges of canceling school, Report a paper delivery issue/suspend delivery. National propane delivery companies fail customers across Colorado, Court orders mobile home park owner in Durango to deliver more water, toilets, Snow day, or no way? Wolf Creek Pass= The Most Dangerous Road In America 4/17/21 - Jackknife Tractor Trailer + Accidents 21,419 views Premiered Apr 17, 2021 771 Dislike Share Save Magnetic Reversal News 38.7K. The ski operation on Wolf Creek Pass underwent drastic changes during 1955. Wolf Creek Pass. . Hardaway told the Durango Herald he suffered compound fractures, injuries to his spine and a concussion in the crash. Cpl. Photos of Wolf Creek Pass - 14. It was so crazy.. | (CBS4) -- A Durango man drove off the road on Wolf Creek Pass -- and his truck rolled approximately 700 feet down the mountainside. Aug 4, 2022: Continental Divide Trail Coalition partners with Helena in Craft a Better Community program. All Rights Reserved. MINERAL COUNTY One man is injured after a single-vehicle, semi-truck crash on Colorado 160 near mile marker 168 in Mineral County on Sunday. Speed and brake failure possible factors in Wolf Creek Pass crash that killed truck driver By Ashley - September 27, 2021 A truck driver lost his life last week on a notorious stretch of winding mountain roadway in Colorado. CBI announced last week that a Ford Focus was found Feb. 23 hundreds of feet off Wolf Creek Pass on U.S. Highway 160 near mile marker 162, in the area of the hairpin turn on the west side of the pass. 2020 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Wolf Creek Pass (el. WOLF CREEK A wreck that occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 21 on Wolf Creek Pass has left many questions authorities are trying to answer. We make a great team, PFPD Chief Randy Larson said via the press release. The vehicle approached a sharp left curve and steered right, impacting a cement barrier and down the embankment, hitting several trees, and breaking the tractor. Mizells daughters Sarah Ferguson and Megan Mizell went on the Tyger True Crime show Feb. 23 and said they were notified Feb. 20 that a backcountry skier had found the crash scene. High Peaks Media shared dash cam video captured by a truck driver showing the crash as well as the aftermath. On Tuesday KEZI learned that Oregon State Police suspect McVay was driving under the influence of alcohol. Troopers say that 54 year old truck driver Rifat Podzic was driving a 2010 Peterbilt with a trailer on Colorado Highway 160 near mile marker 160 in Mineral County when the crash occurred. . Oregon Department of Transportation says all lanes of Interstate 5 are closed 8 miles north of Grants Pass until 5 miles north of Wolf Creek. See below for information for truckers from Colorado authorities on driving on Wolf Creek Pass. PO Box 9 Are there public access areas on the pass route? Daily Briefing Hotels near Wolf Creek Pass Overlook: (0.00 mi) Best Deal in Pagosa! He said he suffered multiple injuries from the crash, including compound fractures, injuries to his spine and a concussion. only for your personal, non-commercial use. A car matching the description of the one Mizell was driving was found on Feb. 23 crashed hundreds of feet below Wolf Creek Pass. He was able to get out of the crushed cab, but couldn't make it up the steep slope. "By some miracle, Will is at home and able to walk a little," Cass York stated. These emergency escape ramps are located on the right side of the road and preceded by warning signs at each location. A 2010 Volvo semi truck heading west out of South Fork, failed to negotiate the turn by the overlook on Highway 160. After a search and rescue team ventured down the mountainside. Traffic Alert: I-5 reopened in Josephine County following winter weather closure. The only costs associated would be any law enforcement fines associated with a possible citation (for faulty equipment or driving negligence), as well as any billing from the towing company for their services of recovering the vehicle. Terms of Use First published on July 1, 2020 / 10:26 AM. Photos courtesy Pagosa Fire Protection District. A woman was found dead near her vehicle after it crashed in steep terrain on a mountain pass in southwest Colorado. (see runaway ramps details below). Jul 21, 2022: 2022 Field Programs: Mid-Summer Update. The motorcycle collided with a truck pulling a trailer. I-5. *The distance from the summit (near Wolf Creek Ski Area) to the west base of the pass (near Treasure Falls) is just over eight miles. Point Forecast: 19 Miles S South Fork CO. 37.4N 106.6W (Elev. The preliminary investigation shows the vehicle traveling westbound on 160 at a high rate of speed (unknown speed currently) down a steep grade. According to CSPD, Velaquez was driving at high speeds during the time of the crash. The PFPD press release noted the vehicle was approximately 250 feet down the embankment. FRANCIS, Summit County A 26-year-old motorcyclist died Sunday in a head-on crash in the Wolf Creek Pass area of the Uinta Mountains. MINERAL COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- One person is dead after an early-morning crash on Christmas Day in Mineral County at the bottom of Wolfcreek pass. This area can also be used as a chain-up station. Severe Weather According to CSP, from 2015 to 2019, there were 47 semi truck crashes on the west side of Wolf Creek Pass. The Ford swerved into the westbound lane before the driver lost control and it went off the north side of the road. Driscoll emphasized. A truck driver lost his life last week on a notorious stretch of winding mountain roadway in Colorado. Lewis said authorities began their search around 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, and Hardaway was found about 20 minutes later injured and dehydrated, but still alive. *Truck drivers should inspect their brakes at the summit, before descending the eight mile trip down the pass. However, the best practice is to remain in low gears to avoid overheating. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here. The pass is notable as inspiration of a C. W. McCall song. However, the best practice is to remain in low gears to avoid overheating. According to CSP, from 2015 to 2019, there were 47 semi truck crashes on the west side of Wolf Creek Pass. Hardaway's friend, Cass York, set up a GoFundMe for him, to help with his medical bills and living expenses while he continues to heal. Map. Interstate 5 NB closed near Wolf Creek. At mile point (MP) 162.5, about 4.5 miles from the summit. The rider was with a group of other motorcyclists at the time of the crash. The wreckage of his truck ended up in a creek, and William Hardaway spent the night, cold and seriously injured, in the backcountry. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said the Mineral County Coroners Office identified the remains as belonging to Marlena Rena Mizell, who was last seen in South Fork on Jan. 2. Privacy Policy, Weather data from The Durango Herald and darksky.net, I didnt know I was going to make it out of there. Courtesy photo. Reading or replaying the story in its With stretches as wide as four lanes, US 160/Wolf Creek Pass can deceive drivers into thinking there is ample room to navigate it. It rolled to the bottom of the canyon for several hundred feet coming to final rest in Wolf Creek on its roof, the report states. According to the Colorado State Patrol, a. Other southwest/south-central Colorado passes include: US 550 Red Mountain, Molas and Coal Bank Passes; Colorado Highway (CO) 145 Lizard Head Pass; CO 17 La Manga-Cumbres Pass; and US 50 Monarch Pass. Shelby is a digital content producer for KRDO.com. Runaway Ramp, MP 162.5 approximately 4.5 miles from the pass summit. Use flashers to warn other vehicles of the trucks low speed. MAINTAIN CONTROL:Even the most experienced drivers should practice the utmost caution and safe driving practices to keep control of their vehicles. FRANCIS, Summit County A 26-year-old motorcyclist died Sunday in a head-on crash in the Wolf Creek Pass area of the Uinta Mountains. 10PM: Motorcyclist dies in head-on collision on Wolf Creek Pass. Colorado State Patrol found a Durango man about 20 minutes after seeing skid marks go off Wolf Creek Pass. HWY 160 West of Downtown Pagosa Springs webcams - Courtesy of CDOT, this webcam is located just west of downtown Pagosa Springs, and provides still images . The pass is significantly steep on either side (6.8% maximum grade) and can be dangerous in . The PFPD release indicates in addition to the CSP and PFPD, San Juan National Forest firefighters and personnel from the Archuleta County Sheriffs Offices Office of Emergency Management and Pagosa Springs Medical Center EMS also responded, as well as a tow company. In one, which occurred near Wolf Creek Pass, the. The vehicle is presumed to have been traveling at sp or superseded by additional information. According to ODOT the I-5 closure 8 miles north of Grants Pass has been lifted. Vehicle #1 traveled into the eastbound lane to negotiate the curve. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts "Everyone is so blown away, saying 'I can't believe you survived,'" the Herald quoted him a saying. Oregon Department of Transportation says all lanes of Interstate 5 are closed 8 miles north of Grants Pass until 5 miles north of Wolf Creek.The estimated delay According to her daughters, she had been staying at the Rainbow Lodge in town. According to the Colorado State Patrol, a Ford F350 was driving westbound on Colorado 160. Around milepost 162 on U.S. Highway 160, where Wolf Creek Pass descends toward Pagosa Springs and makes several tight curves, Hardaway, headed west, crossed into the eastbound lane and went off the road. Deep within the San Juan Mountains, Wolf Creek Pass is a steep and beautiful mountain pass in Southwest Colorado. The single-vehicle crash occurred on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. *A ski area, forest roads and a public scenic lookout are all points of access along US 160 Wolf Creek Pass in which truckers may encounter other vehicles attempting to enter or exit the roadway. Live, Real Time Wolf Creek Webcams Base Area Located at the bottom of the Treasure Stoke Chairlift, the camera looks westward towards the Base Area. A 36-year-old Durango man survived driving off Wolf Creek Pass, rolling 700 feet down a steep mountainside and spending a night injured in the backcountry before being rescued last week. Three of those crashes resulted in needless fatalities." During the month of October, CDOT and the Colorado State Patrol are teaming up to conduct safety checks of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) at the summit of Wolf Creek Pass. This dash cam video of a devastating fatal crash on a steep grade in Colorado serves as a sobering reminder of the danger truckers face when driving in the mountains. In the past few years, CDOT has improved striping and lane configuration, constructed a concrete barrier near the scenic overlook pull off, and installed additional signs about the dangers. Jul 08, 2022 12:01pm. The CSP says Hardaway, 36, was heading west in a 1993 Dodge pickup, that was pulling a trailer with a Jeep and a utility-terrain vehicle on it. According to the PFPD press release, The first arriving engine company set up steep angle rope rigging to allow safe access to vehicle and occupants. Without the mutual aid assistance from all involved this incident would have been even more difficult. New date and times: Highway closure changed to Tuesday morning to allow for helicopter operations on Wolf Creek Pass Drone video shows the scene of a 100-vehicle crash in. Oregon. All Rights Reserved. Susman was killed in the crash. The CSP report indicates neither excessive speed nor alcohol/drugs are suspected. Use flashers to warn other vehicles of the trucks low speed. Durango resident Rachel Smith . A wide shoulder area is available to all motorists traveling both west and eastbound. CBI announced last week that a Ford Focus was found Feb. 23 hundreds of feet off Wolf Creek Pass on U.S. Highway 160 near mile marker 162, in the area of the hairpin turn on the west side of. "I didn't know if I was going to make it out of there.". RELATED:ALCOHOL MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN FATAL LOG TRUCK CRASH ON HIGHWAY 126 amazing views, Minutes from Hot Springs, AC (0.07 mi) Little Slice of Heaven on the Hill Lewis said the cause of the crash remains under investigation. These emergency escape ramps are located on the right side of the road and preceded by warning signs at each location. Three of those crashes resulted in fatalities. The driver of Vehicle #1 lost control of the vehicle and began to rotate counterclockwise. Runaway Ramp, MP 161 approximately 6 miles from the pass summit. The preliminary investigation shows the vehicle traveling westbound on 160 at a high rate of speed (unknown speed currently) down a steep grade. archived form does not constitute a republication of the story. He was traveling eastbound on SR-35 around 12:40 p.m. Sunday when he went off the roadway after failing to negotiate a left-hand turn, according to the Utah Highway Patrol. While driving along a curve the vehicle began to spin. Recovery will resume in the spring. "It was cold, and I was afraid I'd get hypothermia," he told the Herald. The pass is significantly steep on either side (7 to 8% in most places . source: Bing. and can be traversed via US 160 between the towns of South Fork and Pagosa Springs. feet" from Highway 160 on Wolf Creek Pass. He was taken to the hospital in Pagosa Springs and eventually to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs, Lewis said. This is about an injury or accident Something else? Under the control of the Wolf Creek Development Corporation, the . Once the truck is stopped, call 911 to report the incident, even if there are no injuries associated with the episode. Hardaway said he was helping a friend move June 23 from Littleton to Vernon, Arizona. The driver did not survive the accident. Both are incline ramps. Mineral County-The Colorado State Patrol investigated a two vehicle crash on Highway 160 at Mile Post 179.3.The crash occurred in Mineral County at the bottom of Wolf Creek pass. HWY 160 at Yellowjacket Pass webcam - Courtesy of CDOT, this webcam is located 35 miles west of Pagosa Springs at the summit of Yellow Jacket pass, and provides still images of eastbound traffic. Flat Earth Trucker, NavigatorWife, lovesthedrive and 4 others Thank this. Commercial trucks must maintain the lower 25 MPH speed. Vehicle #1 traveled back across the westbound lane out of control before traveling off the north side of the roadway. 113 views. The EAST side should open to the ski area after 9am. GRANTS PASS, Ore-- In just the last several minutes, NewsWatch 12 has learned of a multi-vehicle crash on I-5 along milepost 73 just before Wolf Creek where several people have been injured. Recovery of the vehicle is in progress - being stopped short by winter weather. This was a truly horrific scene in Southwestern Colorado in late September of 2021. According to an incident report from the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), the accident occurred at 2:18 p.m. at milepost 159.8 on Wolf Creek Pass, which a press release from the Pagosa Fire Protection District (PFPD) notes is near the overlook pullout. The car started filling up with water, Hardaway said. Her remains were found last week at the site of a car crash off Wolf Creek Pass. supports HTML5 video. Commercial trucks must maintain the lower 25 MPH speed. The E-470 Public Highway Authority encourages our customers to report minor, non-injury incidents as soon as possible. Remarkably, Hardaway spent just two days in the hospital. Please enter valid email address to continue. It is the route through which U.S. Highway 160 passes from the San Luis Valley into southwest Colorado on its way to New Mexico and Arizona. Colorado State Patrol Trooper Josh Lewis said skid marks were noticed going off Wolf Creek Pass on Wednesday, and as authorities investigated further, Hardaways trailer was spotted. Press J to jump to the feed. Mizell was last seen about noon Jan. 2 making a purchase at the Rainbow Grocery store in South Fork. Adding high speeds to this miscalculation creates dangerous conditionsparticularly for commercial vehicle drivers. Dash cam video shows crash that claimed truck drivers life on Wolf Truck driver killed in accident while delivering load of lumber, Semi truck driver cited following collision with Amtrak passenger train, Big rig crash spills more than 1000 cans of Bushs Baked Beans. In an interview with The Durango Herald last week, South Fork Police Chief Hank Weber confirmed the car found off Wolf Creek Pass was Mizells, but he too declined to identify the woman. Weve made it safer, but its very easy to increase your speed because you feel like you have so much room, she said. The man was riding westbound on state Route 35 about.