Truck crosses 3 lanes of traffic I~70 in Vail

Saturday, April 30, 2011
Truck crosses three lanes of traffic on Interstate 70 in Vail


No injuries reported in Saturday afternoon accident


By Lauren Glendenning
lglendenning@vaildaily.com
Vail, CO Colorado



Truck crosses three lanes of traffic on Interstate 70 in Vail
No injuries reported in Saturday afternoon accident


Vail Daily

ENLARGE
A tractor-trailer was heading west on Interstate 70 when it drifted across three lanes of traffic and ended up on South Frontage Road on Saturday in Vail.
Kristin Anderson / kanderson@vaildaily.com

VAIL ' A tractor-trailer traveling west on Interstate 70 through Vail drifted across three lanes of traffic before rolling onto its side on South Frontage Road in Vail near the Glen Lyon office building.

The accident happened at 2:15 p.m. Saturday and does not appear to be weather-related, said Vail Police Officer Kevin Luse.

"We're still investigating, so it's a little early, but we believe the driver fell asleep, is what it looks like," Luse said.

The tractor-trailer driver was at the Vail Valley Medical Center on Saturday afternoon. Luse said the driver told him he was not injured, but there was blood on his face after the accident, so he went to the hospital to get checked out.

The tractor-trailer side-swiped a Subaru Forester wagon carrying a family, including a 3-year-old child. Everyone in that car was also uninjured, Luse said.

"They're shaken up, but everybody's fine," Luse said.

The tractor-trailer was heading west when it drifted into the left westbound lane, across the median and across both lanes of eastbound traffic. It then wound up on its side on the South Frontage Road, Luse said.

As of 4 p.m., Luse said it would still be a couple of hours before the truck could be towed because the towing company has to remove the truck's load first. Luse said he believes the truck was hauling refrigerators.

The truck's fuel tanks are still in tact and it was not carrying anything hazardous, Luse said. Nothing has leaked out, and there appears to be no threat to Gore Creek.

"There's no leaking ' it's been confirmed by Vail Fire, and the Eagle River Water & Sanitation District is on scene," Luse said.