I-70 over Vail Pass opens in both directions following early Saturday morning accidents

Interstate 70 on Vail Pass reopened Saturday morning after a series of crashes caused an extended closure of the highway. The westbound lanes were closed for more than 4.5 hours while the eastbound lanes were closed for approximately 3 hours.

Trooper Gabriel Moltrer with the Colorado State Patrol said the first call came in at 6:43 a.m., closing I-70 westbound. At least four tractor-trailers were involved in that crash in the westbound lanes at mile marker 186.

Shortly thereafter, at 6:59 a.m., the closure was extended to the eastbound lanes, as well, as another crash occurred in that direction.

Wet snow and sleet had made driving conditions difficult, and the roads remained closed while crews cleaned up the crashes.

Precipitation had mostly stopped by the 9 o’clock hour and the roads reopened around 9:30 a.m., Moltrer said.