Colorado state trooper Nathan Parks, middle, watches with the owner of the car, middle, as a tow truck driver with Marv’s Towing, right, pulls a car out of Boulder Creek on Feb. 23, 2017 in Boulder, Colorado. The occupants of the car, who were driving east down Boulder canyon, were hit by an out of control car going westbound and were pushed into the creek. The couple was scared but unhurt from the accident. Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
After weeks of weather that seemed more summer-like, winter came back with a vengeance today. It started early this morning with those first few flakes of snow wafting from the sky. Not even an inch had fallen by the time people headed off for work — no big deal. But by the time Nederlanders headed home for the evening, mayhem ensued.
The canyon is filled with twists and turns that on an ordinary day, Nederland commuters zip along at around 50 miles per hour. But throw in some snow on roads that have been warm for several weeks, and that same road becomes precarious as a bobsled run on a layer of ice. A 35 mile per hour curve on a 10% grade can strike fear in your heart, especially if a car is careening down the road at you, back end fishtailing.
This is what happened to some motorists earlier today as they made their way down the canyon. An out of control car coming the other way smacked into them, sending their vehicle tumbling into the icy waters of Boulder Creek. Fortunately for them, they were wearing seat belts, and though shaken, were for the most part unharmed.
Later, the entire canyon shut down as the RTD Nederland bus had a collision with two other vehicles. Buses getting stuck in the canyon are a common sight during the early stages of snow storms, before the patrol has decided that buses and trucks are required to use chains.
One of my personal stories of a fearful drive home including getting trapped in the canyon behind a bus that had slid sideways blocking most of the road. There was a small opening on the downhill side, but since we were on a blind curve, I didn’t know whether to try and squeeze through or not. In the end, I took the chance, praying that a car wasn’t coming the other way and managed to get around to continue my journey home.
The mayhem in the canyon significantly extended resident’s commutes home to Nederland. Bryon normally drives 50 minutes and ended up with a 2 1/2 hour drive as he sought to find alternate routes. While he was able to find another canyon route home, it was nonetheless scary and slippery.
I’m reminded on days like today that getting home five minutes earlier really isn’t that important. I believe, we as mountain residents, get used to driving a mountain road at certain speeds. When we ignore Mother Nature and insist on rushing up or down the road, is when calamity can strike. It’s okay to take it easy, take a breath, and resign yourself to the slower speeds that will make for a safe drive home.
