Water truck rolls into river near DeBeque

PARACHUTE, Colorado — The brakes of a water truck servicing the oil and gas industry apparently failed Sunday night, leading the vehicle to roll into the Colorado River between DeBeque and Parachute.

Colorado State Patrol Sgt. Mike Armstrong said the truck rolled off a road near the Highway 6 Unabridge about 8:40 p.m. Sunday. The driver of the truck was apparently filling it up with water when the vehicle’s brakes failed.

The driver, a 56-year-old man, tried to stop the vehicle from rolling but the brakes would not work and the vehicle rolled into the river, Armstrong said. Soon after the truck fell into the water, it later washed about 80 yards downstream completely covered in water.

“It is amazing what a fast current will do,” Armstrong said.

The Colorado River near Glenwood Springs was flowing at about 13,700 cubic-feet-per-second late Sunday. On June 4, the river was flowing at about 20,000 cfs.

Armstrong said the Colorado State Patrol Hazardous Material Unit responded to the scene. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment was also informed of the crash. He said a small amount of diesel fuel appeared to have been spilled from the truck, but that officials don’t think the vehicle’s fuel tank was breached.

The CSP was still investigating the crash on Monday, Armstrong said.

Contact Phillip Yates: 384-9117
pyates@postindependent.com