I-25 reopens at Abriendo Avenue in Pueblo after semi-truck crash, debris cleanup Friday

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) - A single-vehicle crash Friday morning led authorities to close I-25 in both directions in the middle of the Steel City.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, the crash happened just before 4:30 a.m. between Exit 97A and Exit 97B, just under the Abriendo Avenue interchange.

Pueblo police said that a semi-truck hauling a trailer full of sawdust was traveling northbound on the freeway when the driver hit part of the bridge support; the impact resulted in the semi flipping onto one side -- blocking the northbound lanes -- and covering the southbound lanes with debris.

Sgt. Franklyn Ortega said that the driver was treated at a hospital for minor injuries.

"As far as the reason for the accident, it's still under investigation, but preliminary information indicates that speed and possibly the conditions -- as you can see, it's raining -- were factors," he explained.

Ortega initially believed that traffic wouldn't return to normal until later in the day, but crews finished cleanup and reopened all lanes of traffic by noon.