23-Year-Old Driver Dies After Semi Careens Down Steep Mountain Pass Where 3 Other Truckers Have Died

A 23-year-old truck driver was killed after his semi-truck plunged down the side of a mountain in Colorado, ejecting him from the vehicle.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, the crash occurred around 8:21 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 3, when a Freightliner truck hauling a trailer of canned drinks lost control on Highway 160 near Wolf Creek Pass in the San Juan Mountains. The vehicle, traveling south toward Pagosa Springs in Mineral County, struck a barrier on the right side of the highway before ricocheting through a guardrail on the left and tumbling down a steep embankment.

The cab and trailer were completely destroyed as they rolled down the mountainside. Wolf Creek Pass, located on the Continental Divide, reaches an elevation of 10,857 feet and is known for its challenging terrain.

Rescue teams faced difficulty locating the driver due to the extensive debris scattered across the area. The young man, who was from New York State, was eventually found deceased after being ejected from the cab.

The Colorado Department of Transportation used heavy equipment, including a plow, to clear wreckage and spilled cargo from the highway.

A preliminary investigation revealed that the semi had been traveling at an excessive speed, with smoke visible from the brakes before the crash. Authorities noted that the driver did not utilize the runaway truck ramp located about one and a half miles from where the vehicle went off the road.

Officials described the recovery effort as “extended,” as crews worked to remove the truck and trailer from the mountainside. The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional details have been released.

Wolf Creek Pass is known for its sharp curves and a 7% downhill grade on the west side. Commercial trucks are required to maintain speeds of 25 mph on the eight-mile descent from the summit to the base, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Between 2015 and 2019, 47 semi-trucks have crashed along this stretch, with three fatalities reported. Most accidents occur near the switchback curve by the Wolf Creek scenic outlook area, officials said.