Interstate 70 near Vail Pass in Colorado was shut down for hours on Monday, December 30, after heavy snow led to a traffic jam involving over a dozen semi trucks.

The blizzard: Started pounding the area around 1 p.m., causing road surfaces to turn icy and slick.

Despite the hazardous conditions, more than a dozen trucks passed the chain station without chaining up. This delayed the implementation of chain laws, contributing to the traffic dilemma and creating difficulties for truckers ascending the pass.

• Sergeant Patrick Rice from the Colorado State Patrol acknowledged the delay, saying they were "behind the ball on getting the chain law set in place."
• Jonathan Levine, a local driver, noted, "It's just a sheet of ice up there, multiple spun-out vehicles."

The impact: Highway 24, a known alternative route, also closed temporarily, adding to the traffic woes according to Vail Daily.

I-70 finally reopened by 5 p.m., and thankfully, no serious injuries or major accidents were reported during the closure.