Semi Rollover Spills Stone at La Porte Roundabout, Closes US 287 Intersection
Poudre Fire Authority crews responded to a semi-truck rollover at the US 287 and West County Road 54G roundabout on October 23, treating the driver and coordinating cleanup of stone debris scattered across the roadway.
Engine 7 and Engine 12 arrived to find the commercial vehicle overturned with a large amount of stone material spilled throughout the intersection. Firefighters provided medical attention to the driver and established a safety perimeter around the scene while cleanup operations began.
The incident occurred at the roundabout connecting US 287, a major north-south arterial, with West County Road 54G near La Porte in northern Larimer County.
PFA did not release information about the driver's condition or specify the extent of injuries sustained in the rollover.
Roundabout Built to Improve Safety on High-Traffic Corridor
The roundabout at US 287 and West County Road 54G was constructed as part of intersection improvements prioritized in Larimer County's 2017 Transportation Master Plan to reduce crash risks and improve traffic flow in the region north of Fort Collins, according to county planning documents.
Intersection improvements along US 287, particularly near Ted's Place and corridors including County Roads 72 and 80C, have been identified as high-priority projects due to collision frequency and congestion on the rural-to-urban commuter route.
The roundabout was designed to accommodate semi-trailers and large commercial vehicles with increased diameter, truck aprons, channelized approaches and heavy-duty pavement meeting Colorado Department of Transportation standards.
Commercial Vehicle Crashes Require Multi-Agency Coordination
Hazardous material spills and debris incidents involving commercial vehicles on state highways fall under CDOT jurisdiction for roadway safety, containment and cleanup coordination, according to state regulations.
Poudre Fire Authority leads emergency response, site safety assessment and hazardous material evaluation during initial containment operations. Law enforcement, typically Colorado State Patrol for highway incidents, secures accident scenes and investigates causes.
Commercial vehicle operators and their insurance carriers bear financial responsibility for cleanup costs and environmental restoration under Colorado law and CDOT policies. Private cleanup contractors engaged by operators must comply with state and county disposal and remediation requirements.
PFA serves more than 230 square miles across northern Larimer County, including Fort Collins, La Porte, Bellvue and adjacent unincorporated areas. The authority operates 13 stations with firefighters trained for all-hazards response including technical rescue and emergency medical services.
The authority was established in 1981 through consolidation of Fort Collins Fire Department and Poudre Valley Fire Protection District to improve emergency response and reduce service duplication.