U.S. Highway 160 between Elmore’s Corner and Gem Village was closed for about two hours Thursday after a truck lost its brakes and crashed into five cars, according to the Colorado State Patrol.
The crash occurred about 11 a.m. near milepost 97, where a construction crew is making road repairs, said Trooper Aaron Robertus.
The semitrailer was traveling east when the brakes failed, he said. The driver tried to avoid rear-ending cars or causing a head-on crash by “splitting” the center lane, meaning he drove up the middle of the highway and sideswiped five cars.
Some people complained of sore muscles, but no one was taken to the hospital, Robertus said.
“He actually did a pretty good job of that (not causing injuries),” the trooper said.
The vehicles hit included a Subaru, Ford Expedition, Mazda 7, Nissan Maxima and Ford Ranger, he said. Three of the five vehicles were stopped at the construction zone.
The flatbed trailer was carrying a couple dozen large boulders.
The driver, Stuart Yates of Mancos, was cited with operating a defective vehicle and careless driving, Robertus said.
Traffic was rerouted on County Road 223 until the highway reopened.
shane@durangoherald.com