Deadly 30-Vehicle Crash Shuts Down I-25 in Pueblo, Colorado

PUEBLO, Colo. — Four people died and 29 others were injured in a massive crash involving at least 30 vehicles on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo, Colorado, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The crash caused a complete closure of the highway in both directions, creating significant travel disruptions.

Crash Details

The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) responded to the scene at approximately 10:02 a.m. At milepost 92, just south of Pueblo Boulevard. The incident involved a combination of commercial motor vehicles, pickup trucks with horse trailers, SUVs, and passenger vehicles . Initial reports indicated crashes occurred on both the northbound and southbound lanes, with the larger pile-up taking place in the northbound lanes.

Cause of the Crash

CSP Major Brian Lyons attributed the crash to sudden and severely reduced visibility caused by strong winds and dry conditions. “This was one of those storms that came through and the wind picked up very quickly,” Lyons said. “That location down there unfortunately due to the lack of moisture…the dirt and everything just traversed all the way across I-25 and created just what I’ll call is a dirt or a brownout.” Visibility was described as “next to nothing.”

Injuries and Fatalities

Four people were confirmed dead, and 29 others were transported to hospitals with injuries. UCHealth Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo received 13 patients, while CommonSpirit health system hospitals received 11 patients . The extent of the injuries remains unknown. Ten individuals involved in the crash were uninjured and remained at the scene, being transported to another location via school buses.

Highway Status and Detours

The southbound lanes of I-25 reopened around 2:30 p.m. However, the northbound lanes remained closed for an extended period, with a detour in place from Exit 91 to Exit 94 . A wind restriction was also implemented for I-25 from Pueblo to the New Mexico state line, requiring high-profile vehicles to park or turn around to prevent rollovers.

Ongoing Investigation

CSP is currently investigating the exact cause of the crash, analyzing vehicle damage and positions to determine the initial impact and subsequent events . The Pueblo County Coroner’s Office will release the identities of the deceased at a later time.

The incident also required the assistance of specialty vehicles to remove animals from the scene, as one of the involved vehicles was transporting goats and sheep .