BERTHOUD, Colo. — Five firefighters were taken to a hospital after they were involved in a crash on Interstate 25 on Thursday afternoon, the Colorado State Patrol said.
A U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman said they were on their way to the Hayden Pass Fire in Fremont County when their truck was involved in a chain-reaction incident with four other vehicles, including another fire truck. The spokeswoman said the firefighters are an interagency crew.
“We are thankful to report that the five firefighters only sustained minor injuries and are in good spirits,” acting regional forester Jacque Buchanan said.
All five were treated and released from Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland. They spent the night in a hotel there and will go home to see their families on Friday.
The Colorado State Patrol said two fire trucks were traveling southbound around exit 250 near Berthoud when traffic quickly stopped. The fire truck slowed and the second fire truck swerved to the left.
A box truck behind the second fire truck swerved to the right and hit a flat-bed truck. A semitrailer behind tried to stop but hit the right rear of the second fire truck.
The semitruck jackknifed and began leaking diesel fuel from the saddle tank. Hazardous materials crews were called out to clean up the diesel.
The Colorado Department of Transportation said the left lanes of I-25 going in both directions were during the crash investigation and cleanup.
No other injuries were reported.
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