A Colorado snowplow driver is facing serious criminal charges following a devastating multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 70 in January that resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, including to members of a youth hockey team from California.
Charges Filed in Deadly Interstate 70 Incident
Colton Wiedman, 29, was formally charged on Thursday with careless driving causing death, along with multiple counts of careless driving causing serious bodily injury and bodily injury, as well as failure to drive in a designated lane. The charges stem from a catastrophic crash that occurred near Herman Gulch on the morning of January 29.
Sequence of the Multi-Vehicle Collision
According to investigations by the Colorado State Patrol, Wiedman was operating a Colorado Department of Transportation snowplow westbound on I-70 when he lost control of the vehicle. The snowplow crossed the highway median, broke through a cable rail barrier, and entered the eastbound lanes of traffic.
The plow first struck an eastbound Toyota Tacoma, sending it across the median into the path of a westbound BMW. Wiedman's vehicle continued eastbound, where it collided with a Sprinter van carrying the Santa Clarita Lady Flyers, a youth hockey team from California. The force of the impact pushed the van down an embankment.
Tragic Outcome for Youth Hockey Team
The driver of the van, Manuel Alejandro Lorenzana Villegas, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was the father of one of the young players on the team. Eight passengers from the van sustained injuries in the crash.
Emergency responders transported seven of those injured to hospital by ambulance, including four children and three adults. One girl required airlifting to a trauma center with critical injuries. The team, consisting of players typically aged 11 and 12, was traveling to participate in a tournament organized by the Western Girls Hockey League at the Edge Ice Arena in Littleton.
Legal Proceedings and Employment Status
The charges against Wiedman include one count of careless driving causing death, four counts of careless driving causing serious bodily injury, three counts of careless driving causing bodily injury, and one count of failure to drive in a designated lane. The first three charges are classified as misdemeanors, while the final charge constitutes a traffic violation.
The Colorado Department of Transportation confirmed that Wiedman was placed on administrative leave following the January incident. The agency stated it is handling the matter in accordance with state personnel rules and procedures. An arraignment hearing has been scheduled for early May, where Wiedman will formally respond to the charges.
Remarkably, Wiedman himself emerged from the collision without injury, as did the occupants of the two passenger vehicles initially struck by the snowplow. The investigation continues as authorities examine all factors contributing to this tragic event on Colorado's highways.
