Sudden Freeze, Slick Roads Slow Southern Colorado Drivers

Drivers eager to get home to begin their weekend Friday night ran into several accidents and long delays due to icy roads.

Many accidents on South Academy Boulevard resulted from icy stretches on the bridge over Highway 85/87. Firefighters said approximately 100 cars were stuck on the bridge at one point about 6 p.m. One of those wrecks involved a Mountain Metro bus headed south. Other cars hit icy stretches and ended up sliding into the guardrail or into the median.

A bad accident along Highway 85/87 near Venetucci Farms sent several people to the hospital. The highway was closed for more than one hour to due the emergency response and the investigation. There is no word yet on the severity of the injuries of those involved in that wreck.

Slick spots and other wrecks also closed another stretch of Highway 85/87 between Mesa Ridge Parkway and Comanche Village Drive.

Another wreck happened at Star Ranch Road at about 5:30 p.m. Thirty cars ran into trouble on Star Ranch Road, off Highway 115, according to firefighters. Icy roads caused dozens of cars to run into the curb and hit each other as they were going down or up a very steep hill heading into the Broadmoor Bluffs neighborhood.

Firefighters closed the hill for about two hours so road crews could work on the road. No serious injuries were reported on Star Ranch.