Driver Succumbs to Injuries Following Semi Truck Rollover on Wolf Creek Pass

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A tragic accident unfolded on Monday, November 3, in Mineral County, Colorado, when a semi-truck plunged off the side of Highway 160 at Wolf Creek Pass, resulting in the driver’s death. The incident has drawn the attention of local authorities and raised concerns about road safety in the area.

According to the Colorado State Patrol (CSP), troopers were dispatched to the scene shortly before 8:30 a.m. The crash involved a semi-truck transporting a trailer loaded with canned beverages. Preliminary reports revealed that the vehicle veered off the highway and descended the mountainside approximately 17 miles north of Pagosa Springs.

The CSP’s investigation indicates that the 2020 Freightliner was traveling south on Highway 160 when it collided with a barrier wall on the right side. The impact caused the truck to rebound across the road, crashing through the left-side guardrail and tumbling down a steep embankment. During its descent, the trailer ruptured, spilling its load of canned goods onto the highway.

The catastrophic fall left both the truck’s cab and trailer in ruins down the mountainside. Upon their arrival, troopers faced challenges in locating the driver amidst the widespread debris.

Courtesy: Colorado State Patrol

After an exhaustive search, the driver, identified as a 23-year-old from New York, was found and tragically pronounced dead at the scene. CSP investigators concluded that the driver had been ejected from the cab during the accident.

According to CSP, the initial investigation revealed the semi was travelling at a high speed when it hit the right side barrier, and that smoke was coming from the brakes. CSP said the driver did not take the runaway truck ramp 1.5 miles before the crash.

Due to the cargo spilled on the highway, the Colorado Department of Transportation had to use a plow to clear the road. The highway is not closed; however, CSP said the recovery of the truck and trailer is expected to take an extended period of time.