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Loveland Pass closed for avalanche; second time in 1 week

Avalanche also closed the pass on March 16
Loveland Pass avalanche_March 23 2022
Loveland Pass at night
Posted at 11:08 AM, Mar 23, 2022
and last updated 2022-03-23 19:09:41-04

An avalanche has closed down Loveland Pass, exactly one week after a slide closed the pass for several hours.

Loveland Pass (US 6) closed between Interstate 70 and Montezuma Road in Keystone, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. The pass stayed closed while crews completed avalanche mitigation work. It reopened around 3:45 p.m. after closing at 10:45 a.m.

The Summit County Sheriff’s Office said one car was partially covered in the avalanche, which slid about a half mile from the top of the pass, but CDOT crews were able to clear a path for it to free it. The driver of the Nissan Pathfinder was able to drive away afterward.

No ambulances were requested, the sheriff's office said, adding that CDOT is taking the lead on this incident and did not need extra assistance.

Shortly after this avalanche was reported, a second one was reported at Berthoud Pass. Nobody was injured in that slide.

The pass also closed on March 16 as search and rescue groups investigated if anybody was caught in an avalanche in the area. Nobody was found and nobody was reported missing following that slide, which occurred on Peak 12479 west of the parking lot at the top of the pass, according to the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. The road was closed from 8 a.m. until 1:45 p.m.