Colorado’s two main interstates, I-70 and I-25, are home to hundreds of crashes caused by other crashes.
Colorado State Patrol calls these “secondary crashes.” Since 2021 troopers have investigated 880 secondary crashes on state and Federal highways, and 61% happened on I-70 (24%) or I-25 (37.5%).
Troopers are also debunking myths about secondary crashes, like weather. Roughly two in three happen when roads are clear of snow, ice, rain and other elements.
Instead, most crashes after the crash are caused by drivers. The top-3 reasons:
- Following too close (33%)
- Inattentiveness – distracted driving (22%)
- Speeding (19.5%)
“First responders are well aware of the risks posed to them as they work on crash scenes,” Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, says in a press release. “They work to investigate thoroughly and clear a scene as quickly as possible, despite how long it can feel to motorists caught in traffic related to a crash.”
Earlier this month a Golden police officer was struck and killed by an allegedly drunk driver while responding to another crash. The officer’s partner was injured.