Early-morning two-vehicle crash closes northbound I-25 near Plum Creek Parkway, driver hospitalized

A two-vehicle crash on northbound Interstate 25 near the Plum Creek Parkway exit in Castle Rock closed all northbound lanes for roughly two hours, creating long backups and forcing drivers onto local frontage roads during the morning commute. The collision involved a Dodge Ram pickup and a semitruck; the pickup driver was hospitalized.

The crash was reported in the early morning hours of Feb. 4, 2026, with on-scene reporting placing the initial call at about 4:30 a.m. and the Colorado Department of Transportation posting the official closure just before 5 a.m. CDOT’s closure notice identified the affected stretch as between Exit 174: Tomah Road and Exit 181: Plum Creek Parkway at Mile Point 180.7 and warned motorists to expect delays. Traffic piled up as far back as the Tomah Road exit, and authorities advised northbound travelers to exit at Tomah Road and use the frontage road into Castle Rock.

Colorado State Patrol led the investigation into the wreck. CSP reported that a Ram pickup and a semi collided and that the driver of the Ram was transported to an area hospital. A Colorado State Patrol message shared on social media said, "even though this truck is in horrible shape, this crash was not fatal. The driver of this crash is lucky to be alive." Video and photos from the scene showed heavy law enforcement presence and a badly damaged pickup.

Officials worked to reopen lanes during the 6:10 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. window; agencies and local traffic reporters gave slightly different timestamps for partial and full reopenings, but all accounts placed the duration of the closure at roughly two hours. Denver traffic experts estimated it would take another 15 to 20 minutes for the resulting bottleneck to clear after lanes reopened.

Investigators have not released a cause or assigned fault. At the time of initial reports it remained unclear what led up to the collision and whether the semi driver sustained injuries. Colorado State Patrol asks that anyone who witnessed the crash call dispatch at 303-239-4501 and reference case number 1C260283. As an on-scene detour suggestion put it, "Jump off Tomah, take Frontage onto Plum Creek!"

For Castle Rock commuters, the crash is a reminder that even early-morning incidents can produce significant delays on I-25 and that alternative routes such as Tomah Road and the frontage road are critical during closures. Drivers should monitor CDOT updates for real-time lane status and contact Colorado State Patrol with any information that could assist the ongoing investigation.