An accident occurred near Pueblo, Colorado, when a coal train derailment seemingly caused a railroad bridge to collapse over Interstate 25 on Sunday afternoon, October 15, 2023. The incident led to the death of a 60-year-old semi-truck driver from California, who was crushed beneath the bridge.
Reports indicate that approximately 30 cars out of 124 from the coal train derailed. No injuries among the train personnel were reported. Investigations are ongoing, and it is unclear if any other vehicles were involved or the reasons behind the derailment. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has taken charge of the case and is investigating the accident’s circumstances.
An initial assessment, though speculative, indicates that the bridge might have collapsed because the train crashed into it, which resulted in the movement of the bridge’s support beams.
Due to the collapse, transportation on the affected stretch of Interstate 25, which spans about nine miles, has been disrupted. The reopening date remains uncertain as teams diligently work to clear the wreckage and ensure the safety of the route.
The Colorado Department of Transportation claims that the BNSF Railway owns the bridge, but the BNSF asserts that the state is the rightful owner.
As the investigations progress, the local community is hoping for a resolution to the transportation challenges and clarity regarding the cause of the incident.
