SALIDA, CO, May 19th, 2026: The Salida Fire Department (SFD) command staff and crews were dispatched to a reported motor vehicle accident at Mile Marker 227 on Highway 50 involving a semi-truck and passenger vehicle at 9:10 p.m. with fire personnel arriving quickly.
Upon arrival, responders found a head-on collision between a semi-truck and a passenger car. One patient sustained a leg injury and was treated and transported from the scene. Tragically, one fatality was confirmed.
Agencies responding to the incident included Chaffee County EMS, Arkansas Valley Ambulance, Salida Police Department, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), Howard Volunteer Fire Department and Colorado State Patrol.
Due to the severity of the crash and ongoing investigation, the roadway was closed for an extended period. The road was fully reopened at approximately 4:19 a.m.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation by the Colorado State Patrol.
