Driver swept away by floodwaters in Weld County dies after driving past road closure

A motorist died in Weld County Friday morning when a vehicle was swept away by floodwaters. The driver had disregarded a road safety closure, the sheriff’s office said.

The incident happened about 9 a.m. in the area of Weld County roads 73 and 16 south of Roggen, according to a Weld County Sheriff’s Office news release.

“The occupant of the car drove past the roadblocks that are there to prevent vehicles from entering the dangerous floodwaters in the area,” the release said.

The driver was pulled from the car by witnesses on scene and life-saving measures were attempted, the sheriff’s office said.

Keenesburg police responded to the incident and one officer’s vehicle was swept away by floodwater. The officer was able to escape the vehicle and was uninjured.

In Weld County on Friday, six vehicles were disabled in floodwaters and six people were rescued, the sheriff’s office said. On Friday evening, barricades remain at the incident site and a deputy was stationed in the area.

“Drivers have been disregarding these barricades and going around them because although the road appears to be clear just beyond the barricades, within a mile after the barricades the road is washed out, and as a result vehicles have got swept away by the river,” the release said.

County officials plan to put more “hard barricades” at the location.

“We ask drivers to please stay out of this area, and to obey traffic barricades because they are there for their safety!”

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