Crews were on the scene of a single-vehicle crash involving a liquified natural gas tanker that injured the driver and closed U.S. 160 in both directions for several hours about 5 miles east of Durango Monday.
State Patrol Trooper Gabriel Moltrer said the accident was reported at 11:06 a.m. He said the driver was taken to a hospital. His condition was unknown.
The highway remained closed most of the day, but was reopened at 7:25 p.m. after the state patrol and others at the scene removed the tanker and semi. Lisa Schwantes, spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Transportation, said the highway couldn’t be opened until the tanker was upright again.
Drivers were using county roads north of the highway as detours.
The Colorado State Patrol stated the 18-wheeler was hauling approximately 79,000 pounds of liquid natural gas.
Initial reports indicated a small grass fire was ignited from liquid fumes flowing from the tanker. State troopers with a hazardous-materials unit were working to remove the semi and tank.
Updated at 8:15 p.m. April 15 with the highway reopened.
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