- Toyota pickup lost control on icy road near Castle Rock tunnel exit
- Jackknifed tractor-trailer blocked both lanes, triggering multi-vehicle pileup
- Post-crash fire trapped driver in burning vehicle
- 3 fatalities and 20 injuries reported in preliminary NTSB findings
Federal investigators revealed new details Wednesday about the catastrophic February 14 collisions along Interstate 80 near Green River, Wyoming. The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed a single vehicle spin-out initiated a deadly domino effect inside the snow-dusted Castle Rock tunnel. As morning commuters navigated the slick roadway, a westbound Toyota Tacoma exited the tunnel and skidded into guardrails - partially blocking both travel lanes.
Multiple commercial vehicles attempted evasive maneuvers in the confined tunnel space. A semi-truck jackknifed approximately 200 feet from the exit, creating an impassable barrier. Subsequent collisions involved a Dodge Ram pickup, two additional tractor-trailers, and several passenger vehicles. The NTSB report indicates entangled trucks struck multiple stationary vehicles before flames engulfed the crash site.
Transportation safety experts emphasize three critical infrastructure concerns revealed by the disaster. First, 87% of U.S. mountain tunnels lack temperature-controlled road surfaces to prevent ice formation. Second, Wyoming's crash rate in inclement weather is 42% higher than national averages. Third, emergency vehicle access times in rural tunnels often exceed 15 minutes - a critical window for fire containment.
The regional impact mirrors 2018's Sherman Hill tunnel incident where icy conditions caused a 14-vehicle collision. Wyoming DOT has since installed 23 new weather stations along I-80, though none monitor tunnel microclimates specifically. Proposed safety upgrades include heated lane markers and real-time friction measurement systems already implemented in Colorado's Eisenhower Tunnel.
Survivors described chaotic scenes as black smoke filled the tunnel. We heard metal crunching, then saw flames shooting from the semi ahead,recounted Green River resident Melissa Torres, who escaped her SUV through a maintenance hatch. First responders required specialized equipment to extract victims from twisted wreckage in the narrow passage.
The NTSB's final report, expected in 2025, will address unanswered questions about fire suppression capabilities and evacuation protocols. Meanwhile, transportation officials urge drivers to maintain double following distances in tunnels and carry emergency oxygen masks - a practice required in European alpine routes but uncommon in U.S. states.
