Glenwood Springs Police Department and Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
5.21.26, 7:20 p.m. – 7th Street & Bennett Avenue: The area is now clear. There’s no ongoing threat. Residents can resume normal activity.
Departamento de PolicĂa de Glenwood Springs y Autoridad de Comunicaciones de Emergencia del Condado de Garfield
5.21.26, 7:20 p.m.– Calle 7 y Avenida Bennett: La zona ya está despejada. No existe ninguna amenaza. Los residentes pueden retomar sus actividades normales.
Glenwood Springs Police Department and Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
5.21.26, 6:40 p.m. – 7th Street and Bennett Avenue – Glenwood Springs: There is a law enforcement presence in the area. Please stay inside, lock doors and windows or avoid the area.
5.21.26, 6:40 p.m. – 7th St y Bennett Ave, Glenwood Springs: Hay presencia policial. Por favor, permanezca adentro, cierre con llave las puertas y ventanas, y evite el área.
5.16.26, 3:31 p.m. – We’re aware of the power outage currently affecting Glenwood Springs, New Castle, and Silt. Xcel Energy is actively working to restore service as quickly as possible.
At this time, please do not call the electric company to report the outage, as they are already aware of the issue and responding.
We appreciate your patience and will share updates as they become available.
At approximately 9:39 a.m. this morning, Colorado River Fire Rescue (CRFR) was dispatched to a reported collision involving a passenger train and a tanker truck between Silt and Rifle, Colorado.
CRFR responded with two engines, two ambulances, and a Battalion Chief. Upon arrival, crews found a passenger train involved in a collision with a tanker truck carrying hot asphalt tar. The collision resulted in the derailment of the train.
The driver of the tanker truck sustained minor to moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance for medical evaluation. No additional patients required transport.
CRFR personnel assisted approximately 310 passengers and train staff members from the train to waiting buses for transportation to their final destination.
Multiple agencies assisted with the incident response, including the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Transportation, New Castle Police Department, and Union Pacific personnel.
The incident remains under investigation by the appropriate authorities.
Leif Sackett Fire Chief Colorado River Fire Rescue
May 6, 2026, 12:12 p.m. – This morning, around 9:40 a.m., the Colorado State Patrol responded to the area of Highway 6 near Mile Pond Road (milepost 95) for a report of a passenger train that struck a semi-tanker truck on the train tracks.
The semi-tanker was split open due to the crash, spilling an estimated 6,000 gallons of road oil onto the ground. The driver of the semi-tanker was taken to an area hospital for minor injuries. Six passenger cars and two locomotives were derailed as a result of the crash, with the rail being damaged/split in areas. The rail line will be closed for an extended period of time for repairs. It is unknown at this time how many passengers were on the train; however, it is reported that no passengers suffered any injuries. Local buses will be transporting passengers to a safe location.
Highway 6 will be closed for an extended period of time. For road closure information, please visit COTrip.org for more information.
The Colorado State Patrol is the lead investigating agency for this incident. Any new information will be released in an update to this press release.
Colorado River Fire Rescue | Garfield County Sheriff’s Office
May 6, 2026, 4:14 p.m. – At approximately 9:39 a.m. this morning, Colorado River Fire Rescue (CRFR) was dispatched to a reported collision involving a passenger train and a tanker truck between Silt and Rifle, Colorado.
CRFR responded with two engines, two ambulances, and a Battalion Chief. Upon arrival, crews found a passenger train involved in a collision with a tanker truck carrying hot asphalt tar. The collision resulted in the derailment of the train.
The driver of the tanker truck sustained minor to moderate injuries and was transported by ambulance for medical evaluation. No additional patients required transport.
CRFR personnel assisted approximately 310 passengers and train staff members from the train to waiting buses for transportation to their final destination.
Multiple agencies assisted with the incident response, including the Garfield County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Transportation, New Castle Police Department, and Union Pacific personnel.
The incident remains under investigation by the appropriate authorities.
Leif Sackett Fire Chief Colorado River Fire Rescue
May 6, 2026, 10:19 a.m. – At 9:38 a.m., emergency crews were paged to a train vs. tanker truck collision at a railroad crossing just east of Rifle on Highway 6&24.
Highway 6&24 is currently closed. Injuries are unknown at this time.
Please avoid the area and allow first responders to work safely. More details will be released as they become available.
May 6, 2026, 10:04 a.m. – Highway 6 in Rifle is closed near Mile Pond Road (near Casey Concrete) due to a crash involving a train and a tanker truck.
Emergency crews are on scene and working the incident. At this time only minor injuries have been reported.
Please use an alternate route while responders safely manage the scene.
Colorado Department of Transportation
May 6, 2026, 10:33 p.m. – U.S. 6 is closed in both directions between Mile Pond Road and Peterson Lane (near Rifle) at Mile Point 94.5. Road closed expect delays due to a crash involving a train. See map for detour(s).
Comment: Please plan alternate routes, extended closure likely.
