A longtime Berthoud fire lieutenant is in an intensive care unit after a wrong-way driver slammed into his vehicle on Interstate 25 as he headed to work, according to local reports. The crash killed the wrong-way driver at the scene, shut down lanes on the interstate for hours, and left investigators combing through debris before traffic finally started moving again.
Crash Details And What Officials Have Said
A video report from CBS Colorado says the collision unfolded in a reversible HOV lane on I-25, where a vehicle was heading in the wrong direction. The firefighter was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, while the wrong-way driver was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the station. The Denver Police Department posted about the wreck on X as crews worked, but officials have not released a full timeline, an official cause or a detailed explanation of how the vehicle ended up going the wrong way.
Victim Identified And Injuries Listed
The Denver Gazette identifies the injured responder as Lieutenant Ken Bradley of the Berthoud Fire Protection District and reports that a GoFundMe set up in his name outlines a grim list of injuries. According to the Gazette, the fundraiser says Bradley suffered multiple fractures in both legs, a fractured left arm, a dislocated right shoulder, several broken ribs, a pneumothorax, a serious leg laceration, and a concussion. The outlet reports Bradley was on his way to work when the head-on crash occurred, and that investigators are still trying to determine how the wrong-way driver accessed the travel lane.
Why Wrong-Way Crashes Are Particularly Dangerous On I-25
Reversible HOV and express lanes on parts of I-25 create traffic patterns that can be confusing and have been linked to previous wrong-way incidents, according to transportation officials and earlier coverage. The Colorado Department of Transportation recently wrapped up major express-lane work along the I-25 North corridor between Berthoud and Fort Collins and has emphasized changing lane configurations on that stretch, as outlined by CDOT. Local stories have also pointed out that some HOV access points lack hard barriers that would physically block drivers from entering in the wrong direction, a concern flagged in earlier reporting from Westword on past wrong-way crashes.
Investigators have not released the wrong-way driver’s identity or a conclusive cause of the wreck and are still gathering evidence, according to local reports. A fundraiser and messages of support for Bradley are now circulating among neighbors and fellow firefighters, The Denver Gazette reports. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact investigators, and news outlets say they plan to update coverage as more details become public.
