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Drivers, Truckers Survive Dangerous Drive During Storm

LIMON, Colo. (CBS4)- A blizzard that struck Colorado Monday night into Tuesday kept a 150-mile stretch of Interstate 70 closed for most of Tuesday. Truckers and drivers stopped in Limon to wait out the storm.

"It's been rough like this since I came out of Kansas," said trucker Leroy Gunter.

A truck stop in Limon turned into an oasis for truckers and drivers who couldn't go any further. The Colorado Department of Transportation closed I-70 between Burlington to E-470 on Tuesday because of blowing snow and strong winds.

EASTERN PLAINS SNOW
A snowplow in Limon during the snowstorm (credit: CBS)

"I'd say all the way back in Topeka it started getting rough," said Gunter.

He stopped for coffee and knew it was time to call it and wait out the storm.

"Can't hold the truck in the road. There's ice everywhere. I saw a couple of flip-overs and I said, 'That's it,'" said Gunter.

With I-70 closed, people had no choice but to wait it out.

Truck in snow
(credit: CBS)

One driver told CBS4 that a few hours at the truck stop was better than trying to muscle a big rig through the dangerous conditions.

"Kind of like holding onto a greased pig. You just gotta mind your speed and when it's blowing like this, it's really best to stop like we are right now," said truck driver Mike Wooldridge.

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