A blinding wall of wind-driven dust turned a stretch of Interstate 25 just south of Pueblo into chaos on Tuesday, killing five people and sending at least 29 others to local hospitals in a sprawling crash that snarled traffic for hours in both directions.
The pileup ignited shortly after 10 a.m. on northbound I-25 near Milepost 92, close to the South Gate and roughly a mile south of Pueblo Boulevard. More than 30 vehicles, including multiple semi trucks, were caught in the chain reaction as the wreck pushed from the northbound lanes into southbound traffic, according to the Colorado Springs Gazette. State troopers urged drivers to steer clear of the area while first responders worked through the crushed cars and debris.
Polis offers condolences and urges caution
Governor Jared Polis, in a statement shared on Facebook, wrote that his "thoughts are with the families and loved ones affected by the tragic crash on I-25 south of Pueblo." He thanked the Colorado State Patrol and other first responders at the scene and urged Coloradans to stay off the roads when high winds or low visibility make driving risky. The full message, with a photo from the crash site provided by the state patrol, is posted on Facebook by the Colorado Governor's Office.
Wind, dust and potential closures
The National Weather Service office in Pueblo had a High Wind Warning in place at the time of the crash and reported gusts that could reach the mid 60s mph, conditions strong enough to kick up dust and create sudden brownouts, according to the National Weather Service. With those winds hammering the plains, the Colorado Department of Transportation warned that proactive safety closures on I-25 south of Pueblo and on other routes across the southeastern plains might be necessary while conditions remained hazardous, per CDOT.
Hospitals and emergency response
Local hospitals moved quickly into mass-casualty and incident-command modes as ambulances and first responders rushed crash victims off the highway. UCHealth facilities and CommonSpirit-affiliated St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center reported treating multiple patients from the scene. Officials said at least 29 people were transported to area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to serious, according to KOLO-TV.
Investigation and victims
The Colorado State Patrol's Crash Reconstruction Team and Vehicular Crimes Unit are leading the investigation. Troopers said they are examining the sudden brownout conditions as a potential factor while they piece together where and how the initial impact started in the long chain of collisions.
The Pueblo County Coroner identified four of the people killed in the crash, and officials said one of the 29 hospitalized victims later died, bringing the death toll to five, according to reporting from Denver7.
As cleanup and the investigation continue, CDOT and local agencies are urging drivers to delay nonessential travel while wind and dust remain a threat. For live highway updates and closure information, officials are directing motorists to check COtrip or CDOT's travel advisories. Anyone who captured video of the wreck or has information about what happened is asked to contact the Colorado State Patrol or the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office to help reconstruct the sequence of events.
