Drivers crashing off snowpacked and icy roads have kept emergency responders and law enforcement busy.
On the evening of Dec. 12, a car traveling northbound on U.S. 491 in Cortez lost control in a snowstorm, hit a median and went off the east side of the road, said Cortez Police Department Lt. Andy Brock.
The responding officer stopped his patrol vehicle on the side of the road with flashing lights to warn other drivers. As he was walking back from the crash site, a northbound truck lost control on snowpacked roads and rear-ended the unoccupied patrol car.
Brock said both accidents were weather related. No citations were issued, and there were no major injuries.
On Dec. 14, a car pulling out of a driveway on Colorado Highway 145 in Cortez slid on ice into oncoming traffic and clipped a southbound truck. The truck slid sideways, and flipped onto its side in a resident’s yard. There were no injuries, Brock said, and the driver of the car exiting the driveway was issued a citation.
On Dec. 14 at 9:45 a.m., a southbound truck on Colorado 145 south of Rico lost control in icy conditions, slid off the road and struck a tree, said Colorado State Trooper Josh Lewis. The driver was cited for careless driving. There were no injuries.
On Dec. 15 at 1:15 p.m. a westbound SUV on County Road P lost control on a snowpacked curve just east of County Road 25, reported a Montezuma County Sheriff deputy. The vehicle flipped and landed upside down near a creek. The female driver and male passenger crawled out of the vehicle, said Cortez Fire Department District Chief Jay Balfour. The woman was transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital with a minor injury. The section of road was closed for a short time while the scene was cleared.
The crash was being investigated by the Colorado State Patrol.
On Dec. 15 about 2:30 p.m., another car slid off Road M east of Road 28 and flipped upside down, said Balfour. The driver was transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital with minor injury, he said.
Weather and slick roads were contributing factors in all of the wrecks, officials said. Snowfall and a lingering cold spell have left roads icy in places, Brock said.
“Slow down a lot in icy conditions and give yourself plenty of space between the vehicle in front of you,” he said.
Good winter tires are also key for road safety.