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.
Follow Colorado River Fire Rescue (CRFR Facebook) and Garfield County Sheriff’s Office Facebook for more information.
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.
