Vehicle Rolls Off Trailer at 5th & Jackson in Sterling

A professional tow truck had to be called to the intersection of 5th Street and Jackson Street in Sterling after a vehicle rolled off its trailer and into the truck hauling it Sunday, and an initial attempt to dislodge it using a second vehicle failed. No injuries were reported.

Sterling Police responded after the towed vehicle shifted and struck the towing truck following sudden braking. When a second vehicle brought to the scene could not separate the two, crews called in a professional tow to clear the intersection.

The department used the incident to remind drivers of their legal obligation to secure loads before hitting the road. Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 42-4-1407, no vehicle may travel on any highway unless cargo is securely fastened or covered to prevent it from dropping, shifting, sifting, leaking, or otherwise escaping. Drivers who violate those standards face fines between $50 and $500, and repeat offenders can face jail time.

Those penalties are in line with enforcement across the country: all U.S. states carry fines for unsecured loads, ranging from $10 to $5,000 depending on the jurisdiction and severity of the incident.

Sterling handles significant commercial traffic as the largest city on Colorado's Eastern Plains and the county seat of Logan County. The city serves as a regional hub for an estimated 70,000 people across northeastern Colorado, sitting roughly two hours northeast of Denver along Interstate 76.

Sterling Police take non-emergency calls at (970) 522-3512. The department is located at 421 N. 4th St.