Eastbound Interstate 70 temporarily reopens near western Colorado after semi-truck crash and oil spill

A truck driver was taken to the hospital with serious injuries after crashing through the median near Glenwood Springs on Tuesday. A single lane on eastbound Interstate 70 was reopened overnight to traffic temporarily until a planned closure again at 11 a.m. on Wednesday morning.  

The truck driver was hauling black plastic crates and wooden pallets and driving west when it rolled over and crashed through the guard rail down into the eastbound lanes below, spilling oil, according to the Colorado State Patrol. This caused a roadblock in eastbound lanes of I-70 for several ours on Tuesday before a temporary overnight clearance.  

The westbound lanes are open. Eastbound travelers were originally being asked to take a northern detour through the town of Rifle at exit 87, then north along Highway 13 to Craig. That route continues on US 40 to Steamboat Springs, then south on CO 9 to Silverthorne where drivers get back on I-70, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

A photo shared by CDOT shows the mangled truck on its side with CDOT crews and a CSP cruiser blocking traffic.

A CDOT spokeswoman says the truck took out about 200 feet of guardrail before falling 25 feet down to the eastbound lanes.