A winter storm brought chaos to Interstate 70 at Vail Pass on December 30, 2024, leading to a closure of over three hours.

What happened: More than a dozen tractor-trailers ignored the chain-up requirement, resulting in a significant traffic jam. Snowfall turned the highway into a slick mess, causing some trucks to jack-knife and block the road.

• Officials closed Highway 24, often used as a detour, for a couple of hours.
• Loveland Pass also shut due to the severe weather conditions.

Background: The incident spotlighted the ongoing challenges truckers face during harsh winter conditions, especially when timely information about chain laws isn't communicated.

Sargeant Patrick Rice from the Colorado State Patrol mentioned that the chain law wasn't imposed fast enough, resulting in trucks hitting the steep and icy slopes unprepared, according to Vail Daily.

The aftermath: By Monday evening, traffic began flowing again just before 5 p.m. Thankfully, no injuries were reported, and the authorities managed to clear the road.