Driver of CDOT snowplow involved in fatal crash with youth hockey van on I-70 charged with 8 misdemeanors
The Colorado Department of Transportation has confirmed that the snowplow driver has been placed on administrative leave
Colorado State Patrol/Courtesy photo
The Colorado State Patrol has charged the snowplow driver who was involved in a fatal crash with a van carrying a youth hockey team on Interstate 70 in Clear Creek County in January.
One person was killed and several were injured when the snowplow lost control and crashed through the median into oncoming traffic on Jan. 29, according to the State Patrol. Officials later identified 29-year-old Littleton resident Colton Wiedman, who was working for the Colorado Department of Transportation at the time, as the driver of the snowplow.
Wiedman has been charged with one count of careless driving causing death, four counts of careless driving causing serious bodily injury and three counts of careless driving resulting in bodily injury, all Class 1 Traffic Misdemeanors. He also faces a single count of failure to drive in a designated lane, a Class A Traffic Infraction.
The State Patrol announced the charges in a news release on Thursday. The Colorado Department of Transportation said on Thursday that Wiedman was placed on administrative leave after the crash and his employment will be handled in accordance with the state’s personnel policies.
Neither the State Patrol nor the Colorado Department of Transportation immediately responded to questions sent by email Thursday regarding whether Wiedman is still employed by the state, the status of his driving privileges and additional details about the crash.
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The crash occurred around 8:53 a.m. on Jan. 29 near I-70 Mile Point 218, a few miles east of the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnels, according to the State Patrol. Wiedman reportedly lost control while driving westbound, resulting in the plow breaking through the cable rail at the median and entering the eastbound lanes of travel.
The plow collided with a Toyota Tacoma and a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van carrying the girl’s hockey team from Santa Clarita, California. After the impact from the snowplow, the Tacoma also crossed the median, hitting a BWM.
The driver of the van, which was carrying 10 people, was declared dead at the scene, and at least seven passengers, including four children, were transported to be treated at a hospital, one by helicopter, according to the State Patrol.
The 5th Judicial District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case, according to the news release.
Wiedman is scheduled to be arraigned in Clear Creek County Court on the charges on May 5.
Summit Daily’s Kyle McCabe contributed to this report.
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