Lead
Four people were killed and 29 others were injured in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo on Tuesday morning. The pileup occurred at about 10:02 a.m. at milepost 92, just south of Pueblo Boulevard, during a sudden brownout that reduced visibility to near zero. Colorado State Patrol (CSP) reported crashes on both directions of the highway, with the larger collision occurring in the northbound lanes. Southbound lanes were reopened around 2:30 p.m., while northbound remained closed as investigators and clearance crews worked the scene.
Key takeaways
- Fatalities and injuries: 4 people were killed and 29 were injured in the incidents on I-25 near Pueblo.
- Scale of the wreck: Authorities say at least 30 vehicles were involved across both crashes, including six semitrucks.
- Timing and location: The main crash was reported at about 10:02 a.m. at milepost 92, just south of Pueblo Boulevard.
- Medical response: UCHealth reported Parkview Medical Center received 13 patients as of noon; CommonSpirit hospitals received 11 patients linked to the crash.
- People left at scene: CSP said 10 people involved were unhurt and remained at the scene; school buses transported them away from the highway.
- Special circumstances: Responders had to bring specialty vehicles to remove livestock from at least one trailer carrying goats and sheep.
- Traffic measures: Southbound lanes reopened around 2:30 p.m.; northbound lanes remain closed with a detour from Exit 91 to Exit 94.
- Safety constraints: A wind restriction is in effect on I-25 from Pueblo to the New Mexico state line, requiring high‑profile vehicles to park or turn around.
Background
Brownout conditions are a known hazard in parts of southeastern Colorado, especially during dry spells when high winds can lift fine soil from exposed ground. The region near Pueblo has experienced low moisture levels in recent weeks, leaving loose dirt and dust that can be swept across roadways when storms or gusts arrive. Interstate 25 is a major north–south freight corridor linking Colorado cities and serving long-haul commercial traffic to and from New Mexico, so any prolonged closure has both local and regional consequences.
Colorado State Patrol and local emergency services routinely plan for wind-related hazards, including rolling road restrictions and closures for high‑profile vehicles during strong gusts. Nevertheless, when a storm front moves through quickly and visibility collapses, drivers have little time to react—especially on high-speed highway segments. Past pileups in the state have shown that chain reactions are common when visibility drops to near zero, producing multi-vehicle collisions that can span both directions if initial incidents occur near medians or emergency areas.
Main event
According to CSP, the first notifications of crashes on I-25 arrived shortly after the storm moved in and visibility dropped sharply. Major Brian Lyons of CSP described a rapid deterioration of conditions: wind picked up, dirt traversed the roadway and created what he called a dirt or brownout, leaving visibility “next to nothing.” By the time first responders were alerted, multiple collisions had already occurred.
Investigators say there were crashes on both sides of the highway, with the much larger pileup in the northbound lanes. CSP reports at least 30 vehicles were involved across the two incidents, and among those were six semitrucks, pickups towing horse trailers, SUVs and passenger cars. One of the vehicles was hauling goats and sheep, prompting crews to bring specialty equipment to remove animals from the wreckage.
Medical systems in the area received a steady flow of patients. UCHealth confirmed Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo had received 13 patients as of noon, while the CommonSpirit health system said it had taken in 11 crash-related patients. CSP said 10 people involved in the crash were unhurt and remained on scene until transported by school buses to a separate location.
As of the latest public update, CSP said southbound lanes were reopened around 2:30 p.m., but northbound lanes would remain closed for an extended period. A detour was established from Exit 91 to Exit 94 while crews continue clearing wreckage and conducting an on-scene examination to determine the sequence of impacts.
Analysis & implications
The incident highlights how rapidly changing weather can transform routine travel into a life‑threatening situation on high-speed corridors. Brownouts produced by wind-driven dust or dirt are distinct from more familiar whiteout snow events; they can arise in dry months and often afford drivers little warning. For freight operators and passenger carriers, the presence of multiple semitrucks and trailers elevates both the danger of rollovers and the complexity of clearance operations.
From an emergency management perspective, response to this scale of incident requires coordinated action across law enforcement, fire, medical services, and road maintenance. The need for specialty vehicles to recover livestock and disabled heavy equipment extends clearance time and complicates triage and patient transport. Extended northbound closures on I-25 will disrupt freight schedules and local traffic, with economic ripple effects for deliveries and commuters through Pueblo.
Policy and enforcement implications may follow: wind restrictions and high‑profile vehicle parking orders are preventive measures, but compliance and enforcement depend on timely warnings and staging areas. This crash may prompt renewed scrutiny of pre‑emptive road closure thresholds, signage, and communications between meteorological services and traffic authorities to reduce the likelihood of similar pileups.
Comparison & data
| Metric | Reported value |
|---|---|
| Total vehicles involved | At least 30 (across both crashes) |
| Semitrucks | 6 |
| Fatalities | 4 |
| Injuries | 29 |
| Uninjured at scene | 10 |
| Southbound lanes | Reopened ~2:30 p.m. |
| Northbound lanes | Closed; detour Exit 91 → Exit 94 |
The table summarizes confirmed numbers released by CSP and the local hospital systems as officials worked through the afternoon. Exact vehicle counts by lane and a definitive breakdown of injury severity have not been released publicly; investigators said they will reconcile vehicle positions and damage patterns to establish the crash sequence. The presence of commercial motor vehicles increases the chance of severe outcomes and lengthens clearance time compared with incidents involving only passenger cars.
Reactions & quotes
Colorado State Patrol framed the event as a fast-onset weather hazard that left drivers with little time to respond. CSP Major Brian Lyons provided context on conditions and investigation plans before crews completed scene processing.
“The wind picked up very quickly and the dirt traversed all the way across I-25, creating what I’ll call a dirt or brownout. Visibility was next to nothing,”
Major Brian Lyons, Colorado State Patrol
The medical community reported triage and intake across local hospitals as they treated crash victims and coordinated transfers where needed.
“Parkview Medical Center has received multiple patients related to the I-25 crash and our teams are providing care,”
UCHealth spokesperson (hospital system)
Local traffic officials implemented a detour and wind restrictions to limit further high-profile vehicle movement while the investigation and clearance continued.
“A wind restriction is in place for I-25 from Pueblo to the New Mexico state line; high-profile vehicles must park or turn around,”
Colorado Department of Transportation / CSP advisory
Unconfirmed
- The precise number of vehicles in the northbound pileup has not been finalized; investigators will confirm counts after scene processing.
- Identities and hometowns of the four people who died are pending formal identification by the Pueblo County Coroner’s Office.
- No public determination has been made about whether any traffic violations, mechanical failures or specific driver actions initiated the chain of collisions; that remains under investigation.
Bottom line
This collision underscores how quickly dry, windy conditions can convert ordinary highway travel into mass-casualty incidents when visibility collapses. The confirmed toll—four fatalities, 29 injured and dozens of vehicles involved—reflects both the rapid onset of the weather event and the highway’s role as a busy freight and passenger corridor. Emergency response and hospital intake systems were heavily engaged through the day, and specialized recovery operations extended clearance times.
Investigators will now focus on reconstructing the sequence of impacts, matching vehicle damage to final positions and reviewing available video and witness accounts. In the near term, travelers should expect continued northbound closures and detours on I-25 near Pueblo, and commercial carriers should heed the wind restriction until authorities lift it. Policymakers and road managers may use findings from this incident to refine warning thresholds and staging plans so drivers get earlier, clearer guidance when brownout conditions threaten.