Teen Girl Traumatized as Father Dies in Colorado Hockey Crash

Multiple children and adults injured after van collides with snowplow on icy Colorado highway

Jan. 30, 2026 at 11:47am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A youth hockey team from Southern California was involved in a tragic crash in Colorado, killing the father of one of the players and leaving several others injured. The Sprinter van carrying the 12-and-under Santa Clarita Lady Flyers hockey team collided head-on with a Colorado Department of Transportation snowplow on a snowy stretch of Interstate 70, resulting in a violent impact that flipped the van off the road. The driver, who was the father of one of the players, was pronounced dead at the scene, while eight of the 10 people in the van were hospitalized, including one girl in critical condition.

Why it matters

The devastating crash has left the tight-knit Santa Clarita Valley hockey community reeling, with parents struggling to explain the tragedy to their young daughters. The incident highlights the risks of winter travel and the importance of road safety, especially for youth sports teams making long trips to tournaments.

The details

The collision occurred just before 9 a.m. on Thursday on a snowy section of I-70 about 55 miles west of Denver. The impact was so severe that the snowplow's blade was ripped off and the van was flipped off the side of the interstate. Of the 10 people in the van, the driver - the father of one of the players - was killed, while eight others were injured, including one girl who was airlifted to a nearby trauma center in critical condition. Seven other passengers, including four children and three adults, were transported by ambulance to area hospitals.

  • The crash happened just before 9 a.m. on Thursday, January 30, 2026.

The players

Santa Clarita Lady Flyers

A 12-and-under girls ice hockey team from the Santa Clarita Valley in Southern California.

Colorado Department of Transportation

The state agency responsible for the snowplow involved in the collision with the hockey team's van.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“She was distraught. It's understandable. It's hard for them. It's hard on grownups. It's even harder for the kids.”

— Serge Zarubin, Hockey dad

“It hits everybody hard — it's just so tragic. There is a child without a parent now. It's just really disheartening to think about those families.”

— Kelly Lytle, Hockey mom

“This is the kind of thing you hear about on the news, but it's never someone you know or people you know. It just completely knocked me back, knocked the wind out of me.”

— Prescott Littlefield, President, Santa Clarita Flyers (NBC)

What’s next

The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, and authorities will likely examine factors such as road conditions, vehicle maintenance, and driver behavior. The hockey community is rallying to support the affected families as they grieve the loss of the player's father and cope with the aftermath of the traumatic incident.

The takeaway

This tragic accident serves as a somber reminder of the risks inherent in winter travel, especially for youth sports teams making long road trips. It highlights the importance of road safety, proper vehicle maintenance, and the need for communities to come together to support families affected by such devastating events.