A traffic alert in Gilpin County follows an incident involving an Amtrak train and a truck earlier this morning, leaving one person injured and causing road closures. According to 9News, the collision occurred around 11:30 a.m. near Highway 72 and South Beaver Creek Road, with Amtrak Train 5 en route from Chicago to San Francisco striking a truck.
The Colorado State Patrol has reported that the truck driver was hospitalized due to the crash, and their HAZMAT team was called to the scene, meanwhile, local authorities including the Gilpin County Sheriff's Office have warned motorists to avoid the area as South Beaver Creek Road, Pactolas Lake Road, and Highway 72 remain closed in both directions, according to CBS News Colorado.
Onboard the Amtrak train, none of the roughly 279 passengers or crew members sustained injuries, a fact that highlights a fortunate escape from what could have been a grave incident. Amtrak noted that railroad crossing incidents are the second leading cause of rail-related deaths in America, relays Denver7. The specific circumstances of the truck's presence on the tracks, whether it was a stalled vehicle or an attempt to clear the crossing before the train's arrival, remain unclear at this time.
