The Georgetown-Dumont Descent on I-70: A Dangerous Stretch for Colorado Drivers

Interstate 70 may be one of the most well-known routes through the Rocky Mountains, but its fame does not make it an easy drive. The highway climbs up steep mountain passes and travels through deep canyons as it carries millions of vacationers, commuters, and commercial drivers across the Continental Divide every year.

One particularly demanding stretch of the I-70 Mountain Corridor runs east from Georgetown and Dumont down to Idaho Springs. Just as the climb west toward the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel (EJMT) challenges motorists, this descent down the eastern slope of the Rockies can be dangerous and requires skill to navigate safely.

Those who must take this route can expect steep elevation drops, commercial vehicle traffic, and other geographical features that can contribute to motor vehicle crashes.

The Anatomy of the Descent from Georgetown to Dumont and Beyond

Drivers traveling east on I-70 may feel an initial sense of relief as they exit the mountain basins at higher elevations and begin to descend through Clear Creek County. Passing by Georgetown (approximately mile marker 228) and heading toward Dumont (approximately mile marker 234), I-70 follows Clear Creek through narrow canyon walls at an average declining grade of 5% to 6%.

At this grade, gravity accelerates vehicles as they travel downhill, especially heavier commercial vehicles and personal vehicles towing trailers. Motorists who are not careful can quickly lose control of their momentum, traveling at dangerous speeds through narrow canyons and with other cars and trucks nearby.

The Danger of Brake Fade (and Its Solution)

When a vehicle descending from Georgetown to Dumont attempts to control its speed through brakes alone, the components of the brake system – the pads, rotors, and drums – quickly heat up. As the components continue to overheat, the brakes lose their effectiveness: they become spongy and increasingly unable to slow the vehicle. This phenomenon is known as “brake fade.”

Once a truck or large vehicle’s brakes fail, it becomes impossible to safely control its speed with brakes alone. This can lead to severe rear-end collisions with slower or stopped traffic or crashes along the narrow, winding canyon stretches.

Shifting into a lower gear or Jake-braking saves wear and tear on a truck’s brake system and prevents the truck from accelerating out of control on the descent from Georgetown to Dumont. Even though the grade is steep, all drivers operating any type of vehicle are responsible for knowing how to safely control the vehicle’s speed.

Semis and Trailers Present Additional Dangers

Controlling the descent of a cab or SUV by itself can be challenging; trying to do so while also maintaining control of a trailer requires skill and attention. If a trailer accelerates more quickly than the cab, a jackknife accident can result. This is when the trailer pushes the cab, causing the trucker to lose control. These accidents can occur suddenly and affect traffic behind and to the side of the jackknifed vehicle.

What Other Hazards Can Happen On the Georgetown-Dumont Descent?

A car or truck that is unable to control its speed due to brake fade or mechanical failure becomes a speeding bullet that is difficult to slow or control. This can lead to:

• Rear-end collisions: The speeding vehicle may not be able to stop in time before overtaking and colliding with stopped or slowed traffic ahead of it.
• Overturn accidents: A driver may attempt to turn their speeding, uncontrollable vehicle to the side to attempt to avoid a crash with a vehicle ahead of them. This, too, can be dangerous, especially for commercial trucks and high-profile vehicles, and can cause these vehicles to topple over.
• Fires or explosions: Drivers who try to apply their brakes even after the onset of brake fade can cause equipment fires as their brake systems overheat to dangerous levels. Depending on the cargo being transported or other nearby vehicles, the heat can spark a fire that can engulf the vehicle and others nearby.

Speed and weight contribute to a crash’s severity and the likelihood of severe injuries. The heavier a vehicle is, the more severe the harm it will inflict when it crashes into another car or truck. Similarly, the faster a car or truck is traveling at the moment of impact, the more damage it can inflict on other motor vehicles and people.

Winter Weather and Its Impact on the Dumont-Georgetown Descent

Speed and brake failure are not the only factors that can endanger lives on the Dumont-Georgetown descent. Winter weather can bring black ice, heavy snowfall, and snowdrifts that can compromise the highway’s traction.

Motorists traveling this route should also keep in mind that not all parts of the highway between Dumont and Georgetown receive the same amounts of sunlight on sunny days. Even if other, more exposed parts of I-70 appear dry after winter weather, drivers should still remain alert for black ice or slick spots.

Driving during inclement winter weather at normal speeds is difficult enough. When winter weather is combined with excessive speed, the likelihood of a crash increases significantly.

Who Is Responsible for Vehicle Accidents Along the Dumont-Georgetown Descent?

Unraveling the sequence of events that led to an injury crash along the Dumont-Georgetown descent and who is responsible for paying damages begins by examining whether any driver engaged in negligent driving. Poor weather alone does not excuse truckers or other motorists who are careless by:

• Failing to shift to a lower gear or use a Jake brake to slow down on steep descents
• Operating a vehicle with worn brakes, defective equipment, or tires that are worn and have no traction
• Speeding excessively along the descent without reasonably trying to control their vehicle’s speed
• Following other traffic too closely and leaving too little room in case other traffic slows or stops
• Failing to take account for the possibility of black ice or other weather-related hazards

It can also be considered negligent to violate traffic laws and other rules of the road, including the state’s chain laws. At certain times of the year and during inclement winter weather, vehicles must be equipped with either tire chains or alternate traction devices. Failure to abide by these or other laws can be considered negligence.

What Else is Necessary to Recover Compensation after a Crash?

Negligent driving is not enough: that careless behavior must also have contributed to the crash. That is, a driver, a trucker’s employer, or another negligent person is not responsible for damages unless their behavior caused or contributed to the wreck.

Finally, as the injured party, you must establish that you suffered injuries – including noneconomic injuries like pain and suffering – and the cost of those injuries. You must also prove that those injuries are a direct result of the other person’s negligent actions.

Do Not Delay Seeking Experienced Legal Advice

With only three years within which to bring most car accident injury claims in Colorado, time is of the essence. At the Law Office of Steve Roberts, our knowledgeable team of Denver truck accident lawyers will work diligently to assemble the evidence in your case and file your injury claim quickly so you can be compensated promptly.

Hurt in a crash between Dumont and Georgetown, or elsewhere along the I-70 M

ountain Corridor? Contact the Law Office of Steve Roberts immediately. Write to us or call 720.515.7058.