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Photo by Bridget Manley

Emergency agencies responded Thursday to the scene of a one-vehicle wreck involving a tractor-trailer hauling a substance believed to be crude oil, Trooper Heather Cobler, a Colorado State Patrol public information officer, reported. The substance runoff ignited and started a small fire that consumed less than an acre.

Photo by Bridget Manley

Emergency response crews gather at the site of a tractor-trailer crash Thursday morning near Colowyo Mine. Officials from the Colorado State Patrol, Moffat County Sheriff’s Office, State Patrol Hazmat Team, The Memorial Hospital ambulance service, Craig Fire/Rescue and the Moffat County Hazmat Team responded to the one-vehicle wreck.

Emergency responders pour water on a hot spot in the wreckage of a tractor-trailer Thursday morning near Colowyo Mine. Craig Fire/Rescue firefighters arrived on the scene about 9:30 a.m. and found the vehicle engulfed in flames, Battalion Chief Dennis Jones said.

A tractor-trailer rollover Thursday morning near Colowyo Mine left one man dead and sparked a wildland fire, officials from Craig Fire/Rescue and the Colorado State Patrol reported.

The one-vehicle wreck was called in at 9:04 a.m. and took place at the intersection of Moffat County roads 51 and 32, according to a news release from Craig/Fire Rescue.

The driver, an adult male, died on the scene, Trooper Heather Cobler, a State Patrol public information officer, wrote in an email.

The name, age and residence of the driver could not be confirmed Thursday afternoon.

Dennis Jones, battalion chief with Craig Fire/Rescue, said firefighters, including him, arrived on the scene at about 9:30 a.m. By the time they arrived, he said, the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames.

It’s believed the driver lost control as he drove around a corner, said Lt. Matt Beckett of Craig Fire/Rescue.

The vehicle was towing a tanker trailer carrying what may have been crude oil, Cobler said, although the substance had not been positively identified Thursday afternoon. The substance caught fire in the wreck and started a small wildland fire, which was extinguished by noon.

The blaze burned less than an acre around the truck, Beckett said.

Crews from the Colorado State Patrol, State Patrol Hazmat team, Moffat County Sheriff’s Office and Moffat County Hazmat Team also responded to the scene, he added.

The Memorial Hospital’s ambulance service was called out to the scene, but no one was transported to the hospital.

As of Thursday, it was unknown if any passengers were in the vehicle.

The extent of the fire made it difficult to piece together details of the crash, responders said.

Crews were unable to determine what company the truck was driving for or what type of vehicle it was because the fire had effaced all identifying marks.

“It’s an unfortunate accident,” Jones said, “especially on a holiday.”

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