Woman Calls Clear Creek Canyon Rock Slide 'Absolutely Terrifying'
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4) - Officials have reopened Highway 6 after a rock slide in Clear Creek Canyon.
The slide closed the road about five miles west of Golden on Tuesday after rocks fell and hit two cars.
"A number of rocks slid off the canyon wall, about six miles west of Golden, west of Tunnel 1," officials with the Colorado Department of Transportation said in a statement. "Two larger rocks did not hit the vehicle but did damage the roadway, creating an approximate 4 foot by 4 foot 'dent' in the road surface."
Two people in the car shown below were narrowly missed by a boulder estimated to be 8 feet by 8 feet, "That's larger than the car itself."
Officials with Jefferson County said one passenger in that car -- a female -- sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital.
The driver of a second car told CBS4 she and her husband were heading to Black Hawk to celebrate his birthday when their car was hit.
"This big rock split off of it and came tumbling down, hit in front of the car, behind the car, and the car that was behind us," the woman said. "It was just absolutely terrifying because it just shattered everywhere."
An engineer was sent to examine the stability of rocks on the hillside and CDOT sent out a notice that the road reopened at approximately 3 p.m.
Crews had to bring in asphalt to repair the damaged road.