Highway 6 Reopens After Train Strikes Semi-Truck in Rifle

Highway 6 was closed for nearly eight hours Wednesday after a Canyon Spirit passenger train struck a semi-truck carrying 6,000 gallons of hot asphalt tar, derailing six cars and two locomotives near Mile Pond Road.

The collision happened at 9:40 a.m. The truck driver sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. Thirty-one passengers on the train reported no injuries. They were bused out of the area.

The question is whether the closure will disrupt the daily commute for folks in Rifle and Garfield County. The road reopened at 5:07 p.m., but the tracks remain damaged. That means delays are likely for any future rail traffic.

Trooper Hunter Mathews with the Colorado State Patrol said the primary concern right now is the tar itself. It’s hot. It’s slick. And the weather is turning.

“We do have our hazmat team out there right now cleaning up the roadway of the oil,” Mathews said. “The primary concern is ensuring the road is not slick for drivers and that the material does not freeze with incoming weather, which could create a ‘huge mess.’”

The semi-truck was split during the impact. The tar spilled onto the roadway. The Colorado State Patrol is leading the investigation. They’re looking at why the truck was on the tracks when the train hit it.

Mathews noted that larger trucks can get stuck. He advised drivers to take an extra beat. Look both ways. Don’t just rush across.

The Canyon Spirit train was traveling from Denver to Utah. It had 310 passengers on board. The company released a statement acknowledging the incident.

“We are aware of an incident taken place on our Canyon Spirit train this morning, which has caused the train to come to the stop,” the company said. “Our team is responding as quickly as possible. At this point, thankfully, no injuries have been reported by our guests or employees. Our thoughts are with everyone involved.”

The crash damaged the tracks significantly. Mathews said the tracks “have been damaged and split in some places.” That damage will likely lead to an extended closure. The railroad needs to fix the line before it can handle regular traffic again.

Highway 6 is a major artery for the Western Slope. It connects Rifle to Glenwood Springs and beyond. A closure like this ripples through the local economy. It affects commuters. It affects freight. It affects the timing of deliveries for businesses that rely on that route.

The Garfield County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the road reopened in the evening. But the real work is just starting. The tar needs to be cleaned. The tracks need to be repaired. The investigation needs to conclude.

The duration of the rail line shutdown depends on the extent of the track repairs. If the tracks need major work, it could be days. If it’s a quick patch, it could be hours. For now, the focus is on clearing the mess and getting the road open for the evening rush.

As Mathews put it, the immediate goal is safety. Make sure the road isn’t slick. Make sure the tar doesn’t freeze into a permanent hazard. Once that’s done, the cleanup crews can move on.

The driver of the semi-truck is recovering. The passengers are home. The road is open. But the question remains: what caused the truck to be on the tracks? And will the same thing happen again?