Snowy, Icy Conditions In Mountains Catch Some Drivers By Surprise
VAIL, Colo. (CBS4)- Road conditions along the Interstate 70 mountain corridor continued to worsen on Tuesday evening as the snow kept falling and piled up.
The conditions over Vail Pass were slick. Passenger traction laws were in place along I-70 from the Eisenhower Tunnel to Vail Pass.
One soldier was caught off guard while trying to drive over the pass to get to Fort Carson Army Post south of Colorado Springs.
"Coming over from Hawaii, trying to make it to Fort Carson, got caught up in the weather but making the best of it," said Donald Renfro.
CBS4 Mountain Newsroom reporter Matt Kroschel helped him out and pushed his car out of the busy roadway until his friend could come pick him up.
According to CDOT, when the traction law or Code 15 is in effect, all passenger vehicles need to have either snow or mud (M+S) tires, or a four-wheel/all-wheel drive vehicle or use chains or an alternative traction device. All tires, regardless of the vehicle must have a minimum one-eighth inch tread.
When either of those are in effect a motorist can be fined $130 for not having proper equipment or more than $650 for blocking the roadway. Ford did not elaborate on how many drivers had been fined, if any.