Colorado snow plow driver charged in fatal I-70 crash with youth hockey team

Colton A. Wiedman faces multiple misdemeanor charges after his plow crossed the median and hit several vehicles, including a van carrying a California hockey team.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:53pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a snow plow's twisted metal frame and shattered headlight lens, creating a stark, gritty, investigative aesthetic.The wreckage of the CDOT snow plow involved in the fatal I-70 crash serves as a grim reminder of the tragic consequences of driver negligence.Denver Today

A 29-year-old Colorado Department of Transportation snow plow driver has been charged with multiple misdemeanors, including careless driving causing death, after his plow crashed through the median on Interstate 70 in January and collided with several vehicles, including a van carrying a youth hockey team from California. The crash resulted in one fatality and several serious injuries.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the dangers that snow plow operators and other commercial drivers can pose on the roads, especially during inclement weather conditions. The charges against Wiedman could set a precedent for how such crashes are handled and may prompt further scrutiny of CDOT's safety protocols and driver training.

The details

According to investigators, Colton A. Wiedman was driving a CDOT snow plow westbound on I-70 near Herman Gulch on the morning of January 29th when he lost control of the vehicle, crashed through the median, and hit several eastbound vehicles. One of those vehicles was a van carrying a girls' hockey team from the Santa Clarita Flyers club in California, who were traveling to Denver for a tournament. The van's driver, 38-year-old Manuel Alejandro Lorenzana Villegas, was killed in the crash. Three adults and five children from the hockey team were taken to the hospital, some with serious injuries.

  • The crash occurred on the morning of January 29, 2026 on Interstate 70 near Herman Gulch.
  • Wiedman was placed on administrative leave by CDOT in February 2026 during the investigation.

The players

Colton A. Wiedman

A 29-year-old Colorado Department of Transportation snow plow driver who has been charged with multiple misdemeanors, including careless driving causing death, in relation to the fatal I-70 crash.

Manuel Alejandro Lorenzana Villegas

The 38-year-old driver of the van carrying the youth hockey team who was killed in the crash.

Santa Clarita Flyers

The California-based girls' hockey club whose team was traveling to Denver for a tournament when their van was involved in the fatal I-70 crash.

Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)

The state agency that employed the snow plow driver involved in the crash.

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What’s next

Wiedman is scheduled to appear in court on April 15th, where a judge will decide whether to allow him to be released on bail during the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings.

The takeaway

This crash serves as a sobering reminder of the critical importance of snow plow operators and other commercial drivers exercising the utmost caution and care when operating large vehicles in hazardous winter driving conditions. The charges against Wiedman underscore the legal consequences that can arise from careless driving that results in tragic loss of life.