DENVER — Interstate 25 just north of Pueblo remains closed Monday following a deadly train derailment Sunday afternoon.
A semi-truck driver was killed when a train derailed and a bridge collapsed, spewing coal and mangled train cars across I-25, Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Gayle Perez told the Associated Press by phone on Monday. He was identified by the Pueblo County Coroner as Lafollette Henderson, 60, of Compton, California.
The National Transportation Safety Board said the derailment caused the railroad bridge that runs above I-25 to partially collapse. No other vehicles were involved, Perez said.
The derailment occurred near Mile Marker 107 and prompted the closure of the interstate at 4:45 p.m. Half a dozen train cars and the coal they were carrying remain scattered across both lanes of I-25, according to Amber Shipley, a spokesperson with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The train consisted of five locomotives and 124 cars carrying coal. A total of 30 cars derailed.
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Semitruck driver killed when Colorado train derails
Both directions of I-25 will remain closed from mile marker 110 to I-50 until crews are able to make further assessments and give more specific updates, Shipley said in a news release Monday.
“There is significant damage to the railroad bridge crossing I-25,” she said, adding the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the derailment and are expected to arrive to the site about 114 miles south of Denver Monday afternoon. It is unknown how long the investigation will take.
HOW TO GET AROUND THE CLOSURE IF YOU LIVE SOUTH OF FOUNTAIN
Drivers who may live or work south of Fountain and may be traveling toward Pueblo will be detoured to exit 110 toward Overton Road then toward Jerry Murphy; drivers will then head toward I-25 via westbound Colorado Highway 47.
This access route is recommended for local traffic only, the CDOT spokesperson said.
HOW TO GET AROUND THE CLOSURE IF YOU LIVE AROUND COLORADO SPRINGS
If you’re going south: Take Colorado Highway 115 toward Penrose and then turn east on US Highway 50 toward Pueblo.
If you’re going north: Exit I-25 at US Highway 50/Colorado Highway 47 and travel west toward Colorado Highway 115. Drivers will then head north toward Colorado Springs.
Those using Highway 115 will encounter a 12-mile-long construction project and should expect “temporary driving surfaces and frequent traffic pattern changes. Impacts include only one lane being open in each direction, reduced speed limit of 45 mph and there’s a width restriction of 11-feet.
Vehicles over 11 feet should seek alternative routes other than CO 115: Those driving east should use US 50, CO 96 or CO 17. Those heading west should use US 50 and then use US 285.
FEDS, LOCAL OFFICIALS RESPOND
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg addressed the incident on social media Sunday evening: "In touch with Gov. Polis and have been briefed by Federal Railroad & Federal Highway Administrations on a BNSF coal train derailment & bridge collapse affecting I-25 near Pueblo, CO. USDOT staff are en route. Travelers should follow local updates about closures & detours."
On Monday, Rep. Lauren Boebert posted on X, formerly Twitter, that her prayers are with the family of the truck driver and that she would continue to monitor the situation.
Gov. Jared Polis on Monday released a statement, saying he had spoken with both Buttigieg and the BNSF about the accident, which could take about two days to clear completely before all lanes of the highway can be reopened to traffic. His full statement is below:
"I am saddened that a life was lost in this train derailment and send my condolences to his family and loved ones. I have been briefed by CDOT and yesterday I spoke directly to Secretary Buttigieg and BNSF, the operator of the train. Our immediate priority is safely getting the highway open both ways. CDOT Director Shoshana Lew and federal officials are on the ground in Pueblo and I am receiving updates directly from the team onsite and plan to receive an onsite briefing this week once our state debris-clearing work has begun. We cannot begin our work to reopen the highway until the National Transportation Safety Board clears us to proceed and I urged Secretary Buttigieg to allow us to conduct debris removal as soon as possible. It is estimated that the debris removal phase could take as long as 48 hours, but I am ensuring that we are doing everything we can to complete it more quickly, including beginning preparations now so we can begin as soon as we are allowed to and save precious hours."
