Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 11:06PM MDT expiring April 21 at 12:00PM MDT in effect for: Alamosa, Chaffee, Costilla, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Pueblo, Saguache, Teller
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 11:06PM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Chaffee, Lake, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 9:03PM MDT expiring April 21 at 12:00PM MDT in effect for: Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Jefferson, Larimer, Park, Summit
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 9:03PM MDT expiring April 21 at 12:00PM MDT in effect for: Grand, Jackson
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 9:03PM MDT expiring April 21 at 12:00PM MDT in effect for: Boulder, Clear Creek, Douglas, Gilpin, Jefferson, Larimer, Park
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 7:13PM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 7:13PM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Chaffee, Lake, Saguache
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 7:13PM MDT expiring April 21 at 12:00PM MDT in effect for: Alamosa, Costilla, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Saguache, Teller
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 6:10PM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray, San Miguel
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 6:10PM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Eagle, Garfield, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 6:10PM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Gunnison, Montrose, Pitkin
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 6:10PM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Delta, Garfield, Mesa
Winter Storm Warning issued April 20 at 5:58PM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Chaffee, Lake, Saguache
Winter Storm Warning issued April 20 at 5:58PM MDT expiring April 21 at 12:00PM MDT in effect for: Alamosa, Costilla, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Saguache, Teller
Winter Storm Warning issued April 20 at 12:30PM MDT expiring April 21 at 12:00PM MDT in effect for: Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Jefferson, Larimer, Park, Summit
Winter Storm Warning issued April 20 at 10:20AM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Archuleta, Dolores, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, San Miguel
Winter Storm Warning issued April 20 at 10:20AM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Gunnison, Montrose, Pitkin
Winter Storm Warning issued April 20 at 10:11AM MDT expiring April 21 at 3:00PM MDT in effect for: Alamosa, Chaffee, Costilla, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Lake, Saguache, Teller
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 20 at 10:11AM MDT expiring April 21 at 3:00PM MDT in effect for: Alamosa, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Las Animas, Mineral, Pueblo, Rio Grande, Saguache, Teller
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 19 at 3:09PM MDT expiring April 21 at 3:00PM MDT in effect for: Alamosa, Chaffee, Costilla, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Las Animas, Pueblo, Saguache, Teller
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 19 at 3:09PM MDT expiring April 21 at 3:00PM MDT in effect for: Conejos, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache
Winter Storm Warning issued April 19 at 2:53PM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Delta, Gunnison, Montrose
Winter Storm Warning issued April 19 at 2:53PM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Eagle, Garfield, Pitkin
Winter Storm Watch issued April 19 at 12:39PM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Chaffee, Conejos, Lake, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache
Winter Storm Watch issued April 19 at 12:39PM MDT expiring April 21 at 3:00PM MDT in effect for: Alamosa, Chaffee, Costilla, Custer, El Paso, Fremont, Huerfano, Las Animas, Pueblo, Saguache, Teller
Winter Weather Advisory issued April 19 at 9:24AM MDT expiring April 21 at 6:00AM MDT in effect for: Eagle, Garfield, Moffat, Pitkin, Rio Blanco, Routt
Winter Storm Watch issued April 19 at 4:41AM MDT expiring April 21 at 12:00PM MDT in effect for: Boulder, Clear Creek, Douglas, Gilpin, Grand, Jackson, Jefferson, Larimer, Park, Summit
No one ever plans to be broken down on the side of I-70, but as snow descended on the Denver Metro, many stranded drivers really didn’t expect what would happen next.
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DENVER—No one ever plans to be broken down on the side of I-70, but as snow descended on the Denver Metro, many stranded drivers really didn’t expect what would happen next.
"If you've got a spare, I can go ahead and change it, get you out of here and get you safe,” Tom McDowell, a service assist driver with the CDOT State Farm Safety Patrol, told one driver whose tire had just blown out.
Safety Patrol drivers proactively roam the highways in the Denver metro area to help motorists in need free of charge.
"I was worried about getting hit by a car until he pulled up, so it's pretty good,” said Mike Niesen, whose tire blew out on the I-70 during the storm. “He’s finished before my roadside assistance has even given me an ETA.”
Meanwhile, several tow truck drivers are also part of the service, which offers free, limited roadside assistance to drivers in need, including providing fuel, changing flat tires, jump-starting vehicles, providing lockout assistance, and moving vehicles to the shoulder or nearest interchange.
The CDOT State Farm Safety Patrol is expected to assist more than 30,000 motorists in 2017 alone, according to State Farm.
"I was slammed this morning. I mean, stop after stop after stop," said Alan Schlup, a tow truck driver with Extreme Towing and Recovery working for the Safety Patrol.
He said tow truck drivers don’t always get to be the hero, but on snow days like Thursday, they do.
"They always think there's a charge, and when we tell them it's a free service, they're actually more surprised. So, it's pretty sweet," he said.