Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
1.30.23, 11:42 p.m. – UPDATE: I-70 is open at mile marker 116 eastbound, Glenwood Springs. Glenwood Canyon is now open.
Colorado Department of Transportation
1.30.23, 10:14 p.m. – UPDATE: Westbound I-70 Glenwood Canyon REOPENS after vehicle crash. Crews worked throughout the day to safely clear away a crashed commercial motor vehicle. Crews have reopened westbound Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon after the extended closure. Eastbound I-70 is anticipated to open within the hour. The closure was necessary for crews to safely clear a commercial vehicle that crashed on I-70 east of Glenwood Springs, Road conditions are available at COtrip.org.
1.30.23, 1:24 p.m. – STATEWIDE – A safety closure is in place for Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon for eastbound and westbound traffic due to a vehicle crash. The extended closure is in place between exit 133 (Dotsero) and exit 116 (Glenwood Springs) and is expected to last at least through tonight. The commercial motor vehicle crash is located at Mile Point 124.6, east of Glenwood Springs, and will require extensive removal operations. The alternate routes will add several hours of travel time (more info below). All updates will continue to post to COtrip.org. More pictures will be posted on the CDOT Facebook page and added to a media kit folder as they become available.
One commercial motor vehicle was involved in the crash. The tractor-trailer crashed while traveling westbound, west of Hanging Lake Tunnel. The trailer is currently blocking westbound traffic, and the tractor traveled over the guardrail down onto eastbound lanes. Secondary crashes also took place nearby as vehicles tried to avoid the crashed CMV. Crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to clear the CMV, secondary crashes and motorists waiting in the queue behind the crash.
Alternate Routes
CDOT strongly advises motorists to check weather and travel conditions before using the northern or southern alternate routes. It is very important to check COtrip.org and weather forecasts before traveling on either route. They are more remote than I-70 and have limited cell service in places. Smartphone users can also use CDOT’s free COtrip Planner mobile app. Drivers should anticipate additional traffic on these routes.
Northern Alternate Route
To use the northern alternate route, westbound motorists from the Denver metro area will exit I-70 at exit 205 (Silverthorne) and travel north on Colorado Highway 9 towards Kremmling. At Kremmling, travelers will continue west on US Highway 40 until the intersection with Colorado Highway 13 in Craig. Turn south on CO 13 to complete the alternate route and return to westbound I-70 at Rifle (exits 87 or 90). Eastbound motorists can travel the same route in reverse. Motorists should be prepared for icy and snowpacked areas along this route and are encouraged to drive for the conditions.
Southern Alternate Route
To use the southern alternate route, westbound motorists from the Denver metro area can travel on US 285 to US 50, and continue west to Grand Junction. Travelers on I-70 can use CO 9 to US 285 south to US 50, or use CO 91 southwest to US 24 to US 50. Eastbound motorists traveling from the Grand Junction area can use US 50 east to US 285 and continue to Denver and areas nearby.
Know Before You Go
Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:
Road conditions and travel information website: www.COtrip.org
1.30.23, 11:50 a.m. – I-70 is closed in both directions between exit 133: Dotsero and exit 114: West Glenwood (Glenwood Springs) due to a semi-truck crash. Proceed with caution, expect lengthy delays. No detour available at this time.
Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
1.30.23, 11:35 am – I-70 is closed between mile-markers 116-133 both directions, Glenwood Springs Canyon, due to an accident.
Comunicado de Prensa – Amezana hecha a las Escuelas (Abajo)
On January 25, 2023 at 8:11 am, Carbondale Police Department were made aware from Dillon Police Department of a potential threat made to schools.
Officers received information from Dillon Police Department of a man who made an online threat threatening school. The man’s phone GPS location was found to be in Carbondale. Law enforcement agencies, Roaring Fork School District and RE-2 School District decided to issue a “Secure” on all schools out of an abundance for caution and safety of students and community. Later, the man’s phone GPS location was found to be at a local business in Carbondale where he works. The man’s car was found in the parking lot. The man had started his shift and was tracked to Old Snowmass. The man was located and safely taken into custody by Pitkin County Sheriff’s deputies.
Carbondale officers determined there was no direct threat to Carbondale schools. School districts lifted the “Secure” after determining there was no threat.
Carbondale Police Department takes any threats made to the school, students, or the community seriously. We work together with the Roaring Fork School District, and other agencies to protect students and the local community.
Carbondale officers and Roaring Fork School District employees are trained in the I Love U Guys Foundation protocol. Attached to this press release you will find the protocol terms and definitions.
No further information will be released.
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El 25 de enero de 2023, a las 8:11 am, el Departamento de Policía de Carbondale fue informado por el Departamento de Policía de Dillon de una amenaza potencial hecha a las escuelas.
Los oficiales recibieron información del Departamento de Policía de Dillon de un hombre que hizo una amenaza en línea amenazando a las escuelas. Ubicaron al hombre por GPS del teléfono en Carbondale. Departamento de policías, el Distrito Escolar de Roaring Fork y RE-2 decidieron emitir un “Seguro” en todas las escuelas por precaución y seguridad de los estudiantes y la comunidad. Más tarde, ubicaron el hombre por GPS del teléfono que estaba en un negocio local en Carbondale, donde trabaja. El auto del hombre fue encontrado en el estacionamiento. El hombre había comenzado su turno y fue rastreado hasta Old Snowmass. El hombre fue localizado y puesto bajo custodia de manera segura por oficiales del Condado de Pitkin.
Los oficiales de Carbondale determinaron que no había una amenaza directa a las escuelas de Carbondale. Los distritos escolares levantaron el “Seguro” después de determinar que no había amenaza.
El Departamento de Policía de Carbondale toma en serio cualquier amenaza hecha a la escuela, los estudiantes o la comunidad. Trabajamos junto con el Distrito Escolar de Roaring Fork y otras agencias para proteger a los estudiantes y a la comunidad local.
Los oficiales de Carbondale y los empleados del Distrito Escolar de Roaring Fork están entrenados en el protocolo de la Fundación I Love U Guys. Adjunto a este comunicado de prensa encontrará los términos y definiciones del protocolo.
No se dará a conocer más información.
Pitkin County Sheriff’s Department
Subject Taken Into Custody After Search
DATE OF INCIDENT:January 25th, 2023 DEPUTY IN CHARGE: Undersheriff Alex Burchetta CASE NUMBER: 23P000967
Pitkin County, Colorado –01/25/2023 – The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office was notified Wednesday morning by the Garfield County Communications Authority of an individual who made a threat to a school in Summit County, CO. The individual was believed to be in Pitkin County Wednesday morning and information obtained from law enforcement sources suggested the individual was armed.
As a safety precaution, all schools in Pitkin County went on “secure” status at approximately 08:50 a.m. Location data obtained from law enforcement partners indicated the individual was in the Old Snowmass area, a rural section of central unincorporated Pitkin County. Watson Divide Road and Snowmass Creek Road were closed to restrict the public’s access to the Old Snowmass area of Pitkin County to ensure the public’s safety, and to allow law enforcement to operate safely. The road closures were lifted at approximately 10:15 a.m.
Deputies from the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office along with additional law enforcement from various regional law enforcement agencies actively searched for the individual, and took the subject into custody at 10:02 a.m at an address in the Old Snowmass area.
The subject’s name is Charles Draughn and is currently being held in the custody of the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, held on an active felony warrant out of Summit County, CO.
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office wants to thank the Carbondale Police Department, Snowmass Police Department, Aspen Police Department, Basalt Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Dillon Police Department, Summit County Sheriff’s Office, Garfield Sheriff’s Office, the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigations for their participation in the safe apprehension of this wanted individual.
Glenwood Springs Police Department
January 25, 2023 – 10:03 a.m. – Suspect in custody, GSPD assisted other agencies in this investigation. Any further information will be put out by the investigating agencies. Schools are no longer on secure protocol.
The Secure Action in all Roaring Fork Schools has been lifted because there is no longer an external threat to schools. All schools have returned to normal operations.
We know that situations like this are frightening for staff, students, and parents alike. The safety of students and staff is our first priority, which is why we implement our protocols whenever there is any possible threat to safety. You can learn more about our approach to school safety by reading our emergency and crisis information guide for parentshere.
Law enforcement inadvertently asked some schools to go into Lockdown before amending the order to the proper precaution for this situation, Secure. We know that asking students and staff to go into Lockdown can be traumatic; we will be working with law enforcement to ensure that the correct precaution is always called. We appreciate our partnership with law enforcement and the prompt response from all of our schools.
El protocolo “seguro” en todas las escuelas de Roaring Fork se ha levantado porque no existe una amenaza externa para las escuelas. Todas las escuelas han vuelto a sus operaciones normales.
Sabemos que situaciones como esta son aterradoras para el personal, los estudiantes y los padres por igual. La seguridad de los estudiantes y el personal es nuestra prioridad, por lo que implementamos nuestros protocolos cada vez que existe una posible amenaza a la seguridad. Puede obtener más información sobre nuestro enfoque de la seguridad escolar leyendo nuestra guía de información sobre emergencias y crisis para padres aquí.
La policía local pidió que las escuelas entraran en “Lockdown” antes de modificar la orden y luego pidieron entrar en protocolo “seguro”. Sabemos que pedirles a los estudiantes y al personal que entren en Lockdown puede ser traumático; trabajaremos con la policía para garantizar que siempre se tome la precaución correcta. Agradecemos nuestra asociación con la policía local y la pronta respuesta de todas nuestras escuelas.
Atentamente,
Jesús Rodríguez
Roaring Fork School District (Re-2)
January 25, 2023, 9:54 a.m. –
ALL CLEAR
Hello Garfield Re-2 Families:
All schools are currently being released from SECURE status. The valley law enforcement issue has been determined to no longer present an issue to our district.
Specifically this issue was in response to a threat originating in Summit County that could have impacted Garfield County. Garfield Re-2 went to secure as a precautionary measure only.
All students and staff are safe. We are grateful for all of our local law enforcement partners and we appreciate your patience and understanding.
Again, ALL SCHOOLS ARE CLEAR and the SECURE has been lifted.
If you have questions, please contact 970-665-7300.
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Hola familias de Garfield Re-2:
Todas las escuelas están siendo liberadas actualmente del estado SEGURO. Se ha determinado que el problema de la aplicación de la ley del valle ya no representa un problema para nuestro distrito.
Específicamente, este problema fue en respuesta a una amenaza que se originó en el condado de Summit y que podría haber afectado al condado de Garfield. Garfield Re-2 fue a asegurar solo como medida de precaución.
Todos los estudiantes y el personal están a salvo. Estamos agradecidos por todos nuestros socios locales encargados de hacer cumplir la ley y apreciamos su paciencia y comprensión.
Una vez más, TODAS LAS ESCUELAS ESTÁN DESPEJADAS y se ha levantado el SEGURO.
Si tiene preguntas, comuníquese al 970-665-7300.
January 25, 2023, 9:26 a.m. –
Hello Garfield Re-2 families: As a precautionary measure, all Garfield Re-2 Schools are currently on SECURE in response to a law enforcement issue in the valley. Secure means that no one will be allowed in or out of the school buildings, and no outside recess, but school will continue to operate as normal within the building.
All students and staff are safe. This is a precautionary measure ONLY. We appreciate your patience and understanding. We will let you know as soon as the secure status is lifted. If you have questions, please contact 970-665-7300.
Roaring Fork Schools
January 25, 2023 – Dear Roaring Fork Schools families,
All Roaring Fork Schools have been asked to implement a Secure protocol (exterior doors locked but business as usual inside) this morning as a precaution due to a general online threat to school safety in Summit County. While the threat is not specific to our schools nor immediate communities, out of an abundance of caution, local law enforcement asked our schools to go into Secure. We know that situations like this are frightening for staff, students, and parents alike, and we want you to know that the safety of students and staff is our first priority.
The Secure action is called when there is a potential threat or hazard outside of the school building. Secure uses the security of the physical facility to act as protection. During Secure, all students and staff are brought into the secure building and all exterior doors are locked. Classes are able to continue uninterrupted inside the building. You can learn more about our approach to school safety by reading our emergency and crisis information guide for parentshere.
Please know students are safe in their schools at this time. We ask that you not come to our schools to pick up students at this time.
Thank you for your continued trust in our team. We will continue to be diligent and observant in keeping the safety of our kids our utmost priority.
Se les ha pedido esta mañana a todas las escuelas de Roaring Fork que implementaran un protocolo llamado “seguro” (que las puertas exteriores están cerradas pero que todo siga igual adentro) como precaución debido a una amenaza general en línea de la seguridad escolar que pasó en el condado de Summit. Aunque la amenaza no es específica para nuestras escuelas ni para las comunidades inmediatas, por precaución, la policía local pidió a nuestras escuelas que se pusieran en modo “Seguro.” Sabemos que situaciones como esta son aterradoras para el personal, los estudiantes y los padres por igual, y queremos que sepa que la seguridad de los estudiantes y el personal es nuestra primera prioridad.
El protocolo “seguro” se llama cuando existe una amenaza o peligro potencial fuera del edificio escolar. “Seguro” utiliza la seguridad de la instalación física para actuar como protección. Durante “Seguro”, todos los estudiantes y el personal entran al edificio de manera segura y todas las puertas exteriores están cerradas. Las clases pueden continuar sin interrupciones dentro del edificio. Puede obtener más información sobre nuestro enfoque de la seguridad escolar leyendo nuestra guía de información sobre emergencias y crisis para padres aqui.
Tenga la seguridad que los estudiantes están seguros en sus escuelas en este momento. Les pedimos que no vengan a recoger a los estudiantes en este momento.
Gracias por su continua confianza en nuestro equipo. Continuaremos siendo diligentes y atentos para mantener la seguridad de nuestros niños como nuestra máxima prioridad.
Motorists on northern alternate route must plan for weather and additional travel time
1.17.23, 12:19 p.m. STATEWIDE — A safety closure is in place for westbound Interstate 70 in Glenwood Canyon at exit 133 (Dotsero) due to a multiple vehicle crash located further west at Mile Point 122.9. Motorists should anticipate the westbound safety closure being in place until at least this evening. Westbound motorists are being routed onto the northern alternate route. The alternate route will add at least 2.5 hours travel time. Please see below for more info about the northern alternate route. Eastbound I-70 remains open. All updates will continue to post to COtrip.org. More pictures will be posted on the CDOT Facebook page and the media kit folder as they become available.
Four commercial vehicles were involved in the crash. Crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to remove the vehicles. One vehicle is a tanker carrying gasoline. In order to clear the crash, crews are draining the remaining 7,000 gallons of gasoline into another tanker. Draining into the second tanker is anticipated to require at least four hours. The tanker spilled 3,000 gallons of gasoline after the crash. The spill has been stopped and a hazardous vehicle crew is overseeing clean up.
Northern alternate route
It is very important to check COtrip.org and weather forecasts before traveling on the northern alternate route. It is a more remote route with limited cell service and services. Smartphone users can also use CDOT’s free COtrip Planner mobile app.
To use the northern alternate route, westbound motorists from the Denver metro area will exit I-70 at exit 205 (Silverthorne) and travel north on Colorado Highway 9 towards Kremmling. At Kremmling, travelers will continue west on US Highway 40 until the intersection with Colorado Highway 13 in Craig. Turn south on CO 13 to complete the alternate route and return to westbound I-70 at Rifle (exits 87 or 90). Motorists should be prepared for icy and snowpacked areas along this route and are encouraged to drive for the conditions.
Know Before You Go
Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts and anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:
Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
Semi trucks and a tanker crashed in Glenwood Canyon on Interstate 70.
1.17.23, 9:45 am – Westbound I-70 continues to be closed due to a vehicle crash. Motorists should anticipate the westbound safety closure being in place until at least this evening (Mon. 1/17/2023). Westbound motorists will be routed onto the northern alternate route. The alternate route will add at least 2.5 hours travel time. Please see below for more info. Eastbound continues to be open. All updates will continue to post to COtrip.org.
Three trucks crashed in Glenwood Canyon on Interstate 70 near Glenwood Springs.
Northern alternate route: It is very important to check COtrip.org and weather forecasts before traveling on the northern alternate route. It is a more remote route with limited cell service and services. To use the northern alternate route, westbound motorists from the Denver metro area will exit I-70 at exit 205 (Silverthorne) and travel north on Colorado Highway 9 towards Kremmling. At Kremmling, travelers will continue west on US Highway 40 until the intersection with Colorado Highway 13 in Craig. Turn south on CO 13 to complete the alternate route and return to westbound I-70 at Rifle (exits 87 or 90). Motorists should be prepared for icy and snowpacked areas along this route and are encouraged to drive for the conditions.
Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority
1.17.23, 7:21 am – I-70 is closed at mile-marker 133 westbound, Dotsero, due to an accident.
THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE COLORADO AVALANCHE INFORMATION CENTER.
WHAT…Avalanche Warning
WHERE… Flat Tops, Elk Head Mountains, Park Range, Gore Range, and Front Range
WHEN… Very dangerous avalanche conditions developing by Monday morning and lasting through Tuesday.
IMPACTS…You can expect to easily trigger a large and dangerous avalanche on steep northerly and easterly-facing slopes at all elevations.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…Travel in backcountry avalanche terrain is not recommended on Monday or Tuesday. Stay up-to-date with changing conditions at colorado.gov/avalanche.
The National Weather Service in Grand Junction has issued a
Snow Squall Warning for…west central Eagle County in west central Colorado and southeastern Garfield County in west central Colorado
Until 1030 AM MST.
At 1006 AM MST, a dangerous snow squall was located along a line extending from 16 miles northwest of Gypsum to near Silt to near Parachute, moving southeast at 20 mph.
HAZARD…Flash freeze on roads. Intense bursts of heavy snow and gusty winds leading to blowing snow and rapidly falling visibility. Wind gusts up to 35 mph.
SOURCE…Radar indicated.
IMPACT…Dangerous and life-threatening travel conditions are expected to develop rapidly in the warning area.
This includes the following highways… Interstate 70 in Colorado between mile markers 69 and 136, including Glenwood Canyon. Colorado 13 between mile markers 1 and 5. Colorado 82 between mile markers 1 and 7.
Locations impacted include… Glenwood Springs, Rifle, New Castle, Silt, Parachute, Battlement Mesa, Dotsero and Shoshone.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Wet roadways will quickly freeze. Black ice will cause roads, bridges, and overpasses to become slick and dangerous. Slow down and be prepared for a sudden loss of traction.
If traveling on a highway, find the nearest exit or rest area and park safely away from traffic. Allow snow squalls to pass before attempting to resume travel.
