High-wind brownout causes deadly multi-vehicle pileup on I-25 south of Pueblo

A violent wind-driven brownout on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo produced near-zero visibility just after 10 a.m. on Tuesday and sparked a multi-vehicle pileup that left five people dead and 29 hospitalized, Colorado State Patrol officials and the Pueblo County Coroner reported. Maj. Brian Lyons of the Colorado State Patrol summarized the scene: "Visibility was next to nothing."

The crash occurred at about mile marker 92, roughly three miles south of Pueblo Boulevard, where dozens of vehicles collided across both directions of I-25. State Patrol investigators initially described "over 30 vehicles, including six semitrailers," while a subsequent on-scene account put the total at 36 vehicles and seven semis; officials say the larger, northbound crash produced the fatalities and injuries, while a separate southbound crash resulted in property damage only.

Twenty-nine people were taken to area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to severe, authorities said. Local updates provided a more detailed breakdown: seven people arrived with serious injuries, one was listed in critical condition, and 21 sustained moderate to minor injuries. Colorado State Patrol announced a fifth death Wednesday morning; the Pueblo County Coroner later identified the five victims as David Kirscht of Walsenburg, Scott L. Kirscht of Walsenburg, Mary Sue Thayer of Rye, Thomas Thayer of Rye, and Karen Ann Marsh of Pueblo.

One truck involved was hauling animals: a pickup with a trailer carrying 32 goats, four of which died in the crash scene, according to county and state reports. A Colorado State Patrol photograph and a COTrip traffic camera captured parts of the wreckage and scene control, officials said.

Investigators have tied the collisions chiefly to blowing dirt and extreme winds that created the brownout conditions, but they are keeping the probe open to other factors. Trooper Sherri Mendez, a State Patrol spokesperson, cautioned that "the lack of visibility will be considered as one of the factors, but others may also be involved." The preliminary State Patrol summary said the fatalities and 29 injured came from the northbound pileup.

Meteorological analysis placed severe gusts over the plains as the immediate trigger: the FOX Forecast Center reported wind gusts near 60 mph in the area at the time of the crash and noted gust potential up to 70 mph across parts of eastern Colorado. The combination of high winds and extremely dry conditions also placed the entire I-25 corridor under red flag fire warnings until Tuesday evening, and authorities urged motorists to postpone travel while blowing dust continued to lower visibility from Pueblo south to Trinidad.

Both directions of I-25 were closed at the crash site in the hours after the collisions; law enforcement reported the interstate south of Pueblo fully reopened by Wednesday morning as cleanup and investigation continued. Colorado State Patrol is compiling a final collision report and coordinating with the Pueblo County Coroner to complete notifications and release any additional findings.