Alcohol, speed suspected in I-70 semi-truck crash

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY - Authorities say alcohol may have played a role and charges are pending against a driver after a semi-truck crashed and rolled on a major interstate, forcing its closure for about 12 hours while crews cleaned up the mess.

Eastbound Interstate 70 near Idaho Springs reopened on Saturday morning, about 12 hours after the crash forced officials to close the eastbound lanes near the Central City Parkway, near mile marker 242.5.

Idaho Springs Police say 49-year-old Steven Barlow of Montrose crashed the Western Express semi-truck he was driving around 9 p.m. on Friday, shutting down the stretch of I-70 overnight and leaving traffic at a standstill for hours.

According to police, Barlow was driving too fast and failed to negotiate a curve, hit a guardrail, went off the road and rolled into Clear Creek. Police say the initial investigation leads them to believe alcohol factored in the crash, but toxicology reports were not immediately available.

Police say the truck was hauling packages for Federal Express, some of which had to be fished out of the creek. Additionally, police say 50 gallons of diesel spilled into the water, leaking from saddle tanks on the truck.

Users were notified downstream of the chemicals in the water.

Police say Barlow was taken to St. Anthony hospital with moderate injuries.

The interstate reopened just before 9 a.m. Drivers were being rerouted to the nearby Frontage Road during the closure.