WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO — At least seven semi-trucks crashed across Colorado's Front Range on Thursday, March 12, 2026, as powerful winds created hazardous road conditions, prompting veteran truck drivers and industry leaders to urge commercial drivers to prioritize safety over schedules, according to Denver7.

The closures stranded motorists for hours. Claudia Gold spent the afternoon with her mother in a Maverick parking lot off Exit 269 waiting for I-25 to reopen. "It's frustrating. I get that it's windy out and all that, but we're just trying to get back home," Gold said.

Carol Ratcliff and her husband ultimately gave up waiting and booked a hotel room for the night. "We left Aurora on our way to Cheyenne to deliver my mom to an assisted living center. We got this far and they closed the roads. We grabbed the first hotel we could get," Ratcliff said.

Veteran truck driver Joe Jackson, who has more than four decades of experience behind the wheel, had a clear message for drivers facing similar conditions. "For truck drivers facing such winds, find a safe place to wait until conditions improve," Jackson said.

Jackson also explained why wind is uniquely dangerous for large commercial vehicles. "A tractor-trailer's large mass and low center of gravity mean 40-60 mph winds can tip it, whether loaded or not," he said.

Fellow driver Nelson D'Aoust, who has driven more than 3 million miles, shared his own approach to managing crosswinds on the road. "In high winds, I drive beside another vehicle to block the wind and prevent rollovers," D'Aoust said.

Colorado Motor Carriers Association President and CEO Greg Felton echoed the call for caution, reminding drivers that stopping is always the safer and ultimately less costly option. "If the truck and tractor blow over, you're really going to be delayed. It's going to be expensive to tow that truck, and people can get hurt in that situation as well," Felton said.

Jackson said the crashes hit close to home for everyone in the industry. "The first thing that goes through my mind is praying and hoping and praying that the driver made it," Jackson said.

Motorists are encouraged to check the Colorado Department of Transportation's website for real-time road conditions. High-profile vehicles are advised to review wind advisories and travel restrictions before traveling.

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