Update (February 2, 2026): Authorities have identified the person killed in this crash as van driver Manuel "Manny" Alejandro Lorenzana-Villegas, 38, of Chatsworth, CA. He is the father of one of the middle school hockey players traveling in the van.

The van was struck by a westbound snowplow that lost control and crashed through the cable median barrier, according to authorities. The impact knocked the eastbound van, which was carrying three youth hockey players from California and their families, down an embankment. A Toyota Tacoma and a BMW sedan were damaged in the crash as well.

Despite the crash, the Santa Clarita Lady Flyers won the Western Girls Hockey League championship on February 1, according to news reports.

Clear Creek County, CO — January 29, 2026, one person was killed and eight others were injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a snowplow just before 9 a.m. on Interstate 70.

Authorities said a Colorado Department Transportation snowplow, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van and two other vehicles collided near mile marker 218.

The van driver, whose name has not been made public yet, died in the crash near Herman Gulch, according to authorities. The van was carrying a youth hockey team from California.

Eight other people in the van, five juveniles and three adults, were hospitalized after the crash, authorities said. One juvenile suffered critical injuries, while an adult was in serious condition.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Clear Creek County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a crash like this, the first question is simple: how does a snowplow end up crossing a median and hitting oncoming traffic? Until that question is answered, it’s impossible to know who is actually responsible or whether this collision was preventable.

We have the basic outline of what happened in this crash, but the information available at this time leaves out the details that matter most.

It’s not clear why the snowplow lost control. Was it traveling too fast for conditions? Did the plow catch or lift, causing a sudden loss of steering? Was there ice buildup, a mechanical failure or an evasive maneuver that went wrong? Without those answers, blaming weather alone would be premature.

Another unanswered question is the role of the median barrier. Cable barriers are designed to reduce cross-median crashes, but they are not fail-proof. We don’t yet know whether the barrier was struck at a shallow angle, whether it was properly tensioned or whether the speed and weight of the snowplow exceeded what the system could reasonably contain. Those details matter, because they help explain whether this was an unavoidable incident or the result of earlier decisions.

Any serious investigation should also look closely at the snowplow itself. Government fleet vehicles often carry detailed data. The engine control module can show speed, braking, throttle input and whether traction control or ABS was engaged. If the plow had GPS or telematics, that data can help reconstruct what happened in the moments before it crossed the median. Depending on the setup, in-cab cameras or maintenance records may also shed light on whether equipment condition played a role.

Driver factors can’t be assumed, but they can’t be ignored either. We don’t yet know how long the driver had been on duty, what training they had for the specific conditions that morning or whether fatigue or distraction was an issue. Those are standard questions in any commercial vehicle investigation, including one involving a state-operated snowplow.

Finally, there are unanswered questions about the van’s movement after impact. The reports say it was knocked down an embankment, but we don’t know its speed at the time, whether it had any opportunity to avoid the collision or how the forces of the crash contributed to the injuries. That kind of reconstruction work is essential to understanding causation, not just outcome.

Crashes involving maintenance vehicles are often quickly written off as “bad weather accidents.” In my experience, that shortcut skips over the evidence that actually explains what went wrong. The truth usually comes from data, vehicle inspections and a careful reconstruction, not assumptions.

Key Takeaways

• It’s not yet clear why the snowplow lost control and crossed the median.
• Data from the snowplow’s ECM, GPS and maintenance records will be critical to understanding what happened.
• The condition and performance of the cable median barrier raise important unanswered questions.
• Weather alone doesn’t explain responsibility; decisions, equipment and timing all matter.
• Real accountability depends on following the evidence, not settling for early conclusions.