Two major highways in Southwest Colorado were closed by semitrailer crashes Wednesday night.
A semitrailer crash south of Silverton closed U.S. Highway 550 around 7:40 p.m., and almost simultaneously, a semitrailer was involved in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 491 south of Cortez, just north of the New Mexico line, said Colorado State Patrol Capt. Adrian Driscoll.
The crash near Silverton occurred near mile marker 70. The highway was closed between mile markers 49 near Cascade and 71, according to the State Patrol.
Driscoll said another semitrailer was involved in a crash with a pickup near mile marker 5 on U.S. Highway 491. The pickup was fully engulfed in flames.
Driscoll said a fatality had been confirmed in the Cortez crash.
The semitrailer that crashed on Highway 550 was leaking dangerous material, and a hazardous materials team was en route Wednesday night. Driscoll said the semitrailer was carrying a metal alloy.
Reopening times for the highways were not known.
parmijo@durangoherald.com
