EB I-70 reopens in Colorado's mountains after 10-vehicle crash

At approximately 5:10, sheriff's deputes and CDOT reopened the eastbound lanes of I-70

Those lanes were closed at Georgetown on Thursday after a crash involving 10 vehicles and some Clear Creek County deputies. The closure was between Exit 228- Georgetown and U.S. 40 at mile marker 228.5 after the crash.

In a news conference, Captain Shane Scovel with the Colorado State Patrol said that at about 11:25 on I-70 eastbound near exit 228, a semi-truck was on fire and pulled off the highway at the change station. Clear Creek County Sheriff's Department and Colorado Department of Transportation were on the scene. They were starting to shutdown the highway and divert traffic into Georgetown at exit 228 when a semi-truck ran through the backed-up traffic hitting about 9 vehicles. 

Scovel reported that 9 people were injured, 6 were transported to the hospital, 3 people refused transportation. Two of the Clear Creek County deputies were among those who went to the hospital. Grant County Public Information Officer Jenny Fulton said that both deputies sustained minor injuries and are expected to recover. 

Colorado State Patrol continues to investigate the crash. Scovel said that 10 vehicles were damaged, 3 depute cruisers, 2 semi-trucks, and 5 passenger vehicles.

Also during the news conference, Fulton explained that Clear Creek County Sheriff's Department has 2 deputies and a sergeant on duty at any given time. All three of them responded to the semi-truck on fire. The rest of the department was attending the funeral of Lakewood Police Agent Nicholas Graham and had to be called back when the crash happened. She also thanked Grant County Sheriff's Department who was providing assistance to the department. 

Eastbound I-70 remains closed for the crash investigation. Drivers can expect delays of several hours.