Fatal crash, wildfire near Kremmling closed US 40 over Rabbit Ears Pass Wednesday afternoon

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — U.S. Highway 40 has reopened over Rabbit Ears Pass after a fatal crash and related wildfire about five miles west of Kremmling.

The crash involved a semitrailer and an SUV. The driver of the SUV died at the scene, said Lt. Dan Mayer of the Grand County Sheriff’s Department. The semitrailer ignited and started a small grass fire near the crash site.

Fire crews from the Kremmling and Hot Sulphur Springs fire departments quickly extinguished the grass fire, but the tractor-trailer continued to burn, Mayer said. It is unknown how the crash occurred and whether there were any other injuries.

The collision closed Rabbit Ears Pass for several hours Thursday. During the closure, eastbound traffic from Steamboat Springs was diverted to Colorado Highway 131 and Interstate 70.