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Cleanup continues after Edwards truck crash

EDWARDS, Colorado – A tire blowout apparently led to a Wednesday truck crash that caused an all-night closure of a section of Interstate 70.

The crash occurred about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and Trooper Josh Lewis of the Colorado State Patrol said the accident happened between mile markers 163 and 162, just east of the Edwards interchange. When the tire blew, the truck skidded about 150 feet, and eventually left the road on the north side of the highway. The vehicle then rolled about one and a quarter times, landing on its side.

The driver, who the State Patrol hadn’t yet identified Thursday morning, was taken to Vail Valley Medical Center with injuries described as “serious,” but not life-threatening. Lewis said full report on the accident is expected in the next few days.



Ashley Mohr of the Colorado Department of Transportation said the truck was carrying paint used for highway striping. Paint spilled from the accident, and then again during the initial cleanup. A total of about 1,000 pounds of paint was spilled.

An axle on the wrecked vehicle broke when a tow truck operator was trying to pull the truck upright, sending the rig back onto its side and spilling still more paint. No paint got into local water or spilled on the roadway, Mohr said.

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Mohr said the paint didn’t run much due to cool temperatures through the evening and overnight hours. Those lower temperatures caused the paint to congeal, making cleanup easier.

The transportation department called in an outside cleanup company, Mohr said, adding it could take as long as a week to finish the work.

Business Editor Scott N. Miller can be reached at 970-748-2930 or smiller@vaildaily.com.


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