Colorado State Patrol says US 285 was closed in both directions for a time this morning after a semi truck went off the road into the river near Kenosha Pass.
One lane was opened briefly, and both lanes closed again to get the truck out of the river.
Troopers say it is not clear why the truck drove off the road. No injuries have been reported.
We drove by it on the way to camping on Kenosha Pass yesterday. From the skid marks, he swerved out of the northbound lane, crossed the southbound lane, and when into the river.
Coming back today, we saw what we believed to be his skid marks on every curve prior to the crash. The place where he went off wasn't even that curvy, so I'm guessing he swerved to avoid rear-ending another vehicle in front of him. We could see no other reason to swerve off the road since he had made each of the previous curves and this was somewhat straight.
That photo is of the truck being pulled out. It was further into the river when we went by and the tractor was completely in the river and was level. He did a remarkable job of driving.
Going into the river where he would land on his wheels to avoid rear-ending someone is his lane was remarkable driving. Staying on the road and rear-ending the driver in front of him would not have been.
Yes, some of the semi drivers use 285 as a race track, but gapers don't know (or maybe don't care) that going 35 MPH when looking or trying to find the right turn isn't good driving, either.
Agreed, Just know what I see, and the mornings on 285NB, are scary, when there a semi coming up on you like your standing still, and your doing the speed limit, then they pass and your car gets knocked around, from the backwash. Yes, I have written Jeffco., BTW, they're are also dumbsh*t drivers doing the same in the pouring rain, like this morning!
