Updated: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 1:15 pm
(PUEBLO, Colo.) – The Pueblo County Coroner has identified the fifth person killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo on Tuesday, February 17, as Thomas Thayer of Rye. Thayer was pronounced dead at 5:48 p.m. Tuesday.
Next of kin have been notified. The coroner’s office said the cause and manner of death are pending autopsy results.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 10:55 am
The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) has confirmed that another person was killed in a fatal crash involving nearly 40 vehicles on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo on Tuesday, February 17.
According to the CSP, the deceased was one of 29 people taken to hospital, but later died of his injuries. The accident brings the total number of fatalities to five.
Of the four other people killed in Tuesday’s crash, two were men from Walsenburg and two were women. One is from Rye and the other is from Pueblo.
UPDATE: NB I-25 reopens after overnight cleanup
The latest update also confirmed that all lanes of northbound I-25 had reopened around 11:30 Tuesday night. The southbound lanes of the interstate reopened around 2:30 p.m.
CSP, along with the Pueblo Fire Department (PFD), Pueblo Police Department (PPD) and the Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), reported its first response just after 10 a.m. Tuesday to Interstate 25 southbound at milepost 92 south of Pueblo Boulevard. A total of 23 agencies responded to the incident, with more than 50 responders on scene.
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Photo provided by FOX21 Chief Photojournalist Dez Rowe
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Courtesy: Colorado State Patrol
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Courtesy: Colorado State Patrol
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Photo provided by FOX21 Chief Photojournalist Dez Rowe
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Courtesy: Colorado State Patrol
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Courtesy: Colorado State Patrol
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Courtesy of Colorado State Patrol
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Courtesy of Colorado State Patrol
The State Patrol noted that high winds carrying mud created “dark” conditions Tuesday morning and there was little visibility at the time of the crash. In the end, 29 cars and 7 semi-trailer trucks were involved, bringing the total to 36 vehicles.
More than 20 agencies respond to fatal crash on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo
At least one of the vehicles involved was a livestock trailer, and the Animal Enforcement Division (ALE) said approximately 30 sheep and a goat were either loose at the scene of the accident or trapped in the wreckage of the trailer. Multiple agencies helped collect the animals and safely place them in trailers so they could be reunited with their caregivers. Unfortunately, four of the sheep were too injured to recover, according to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR).
In addition to the efforts of the first responders, Pueblo School District 60 provided buses to help transport uninjured individuals from the scene of the accident to the reunion site at Pueblo South High School.
“My heart goes out to the families and loved ones affected by the tragic accident on Interstate 25 south of Pueblo. I am grateful to the Colorado State Patrol and first responders who worked quickly in dangerous conditions. This incident reminds us how dangerous traveling can become in high winds and blackout conditions. I urge Coloradans to prioritize safety and avoid traveling during high winds or low visibility.”
Colorado Governor Jared Polis
CSP said the crash remains under investigation and officers will provide updates as information becomes available.
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