DENVER — All 42,000 guardrail end caps along highways in the state of Colorado will be inspected for safety issues after a FOX31 Problem Solvers investigation.
Following the story, the state department of transportation says it found several guardrail end caps had been installed incorrectly near the site of a crash that seriously injured a Fort Collins woman.
The Problems Solvers shared the story of Kristen Gerhard, 31, who slammed into a guardrail end cap terminal in June along Interstate 25 near Johnstown.
Experts told the FOX31 Problem Solvers the mechanism jammed up.
Instead of slowing Gerhard’s car in a controlled fashion, a segment of mangled guardrail flew around Gerhard’s SUV, through the door and inside her vehicle. The guardrail nearly amputated her foot.
Three different engineers with knowledge of CDOT’s guardrail system contacted the Problem Solvers.
They had reviewed pictures and video from before and after the crash of the terminal design and determined CDOT had installed “mix and match” parts.
Tuesday afternoon, CDOT held a question and answer session about its plan to review guardrails. The FOX31 Problems Solvers will have a full report on FOX31 News at 5 p.m.