LOMA, CO — Westbound Interstate 70 remained closed Monday in western Colorado after a fiery head-on crash near the Utah border left one driver dead and several others hurt. The Colorado State Patrol said the crash happened late Monday morning just west of Loma and prompted an early afternoon detour for travelers heading west. Investigators said a Subaru Outback and a pickup truck collided in the westbound lanes. First responders arrived to find both vehicles heavily damaged, and the Subaru had caught fire.
What Troopers Reported
According to state patrol, someone called authorities a few minutes before the collision to report a speeding vehicle going the wrong way on the interstate. Troopers have not said whether that report was tied directly to the Subaru involved in the wreck, but the timing put investigators on alert before the impact occurred. The agency said its preliminary findings point to a head-on crash in the westbound lanes. The driver of the Subaru was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not released that person’s identity.
Pickup Occupants Taken
The other vehicle carried at least five people, including two minors, state patrol said. All of the pickup’s occupants were taken to a hospital after the crash, though authorities said they do not yet know how serious their injuries are. Officials did not immediately release names or ages for the people in the truck. The agency also did not say which medical facilities received the injured passengers. With the westbound lanes blocked, emergency crews and investigators worked at the scene while traffic was redirected around the closure.
Traffic Impact On I-70
The closure created a major disruption on one of western Colorado’s busiest travel corridors, especially for drivers moving toward the Utah line. Emergency workers put a detour in place early Monday afternoon while the crash scene was investigated and cleared. The interstate’s westbound side stayed shut down near the border area as crews assessed the damaged vehicles and the fire damage to the Subaru. Authorities have not said when normal traffic flow would resume. Travelers were urged to follow detour instructions and expect delays in the area.
Investigation Still Open
The Colorado State Patrol is continuing to examine how the crash unfolded and whether the wrong-way driving report can be linked to the collision. So far, officials have only confirmed that the wreck involved a Subaru Outback and a pickup truck, left one person dead, and sent five pickup occupants to the hospital. The cause of the wrong-way travel has not been explained, and no additional details about the victims’ conditions have been released. More information is expected once investigators finish their initial review.