Colorado highway pileup involving 70 vehicles sends 8 to hospital

About 70 vehicles were involved in a major pileup on a section of a Colorado highway, sending eight people to the hospital, amidhazardous cold weather, authorities said.

Troopers responded to an area of Interstate 70 near the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel on Tuesday, April 14, after receiving reports of a large multi-vehicle crash at around 2:50 p.m. local time, according to the Colorado State Patrol. The roadway was initially closed in both directions.

Further investigation revealed that the pileup occurred only on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70, the Colorado State Patrol said in a statement. The westbound left lane of the highway was closed for medical staging, while the westbound right lane remained open and was moving slowly.

In an update, the Colorado State Patrol said an estimate from responders at the scene showed that about 70 vehicles were involved in the incident. Nineteen people were evaluated for injuries, including 11 people who declined to be taken to the hospital and eight who were transported to nearby area hospitals.

Of the eight people who were taken to area hospitals, the Colorado State Patrol said one person sustained "serious bodily injuries. The agency told USA TODAY on Wednesday, April 15, that it did not have additional updates on the incident or the conditions of those injured.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said ina statementthat his office was "closely monitoring the serious multi-vehicle crash" and asked the public to follow official guidance and to avoid the area as emergency crews responded to the scene.

The Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel, located about 60 miles west of Denver on Interstate 70, is a key connection for motorists traveling from the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains to the western slope, according to theColorado Department of Transportation.

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Massive pileup occurred during a series of crashes on Colorado highway

Before the large pileup, the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office said six crashes had occurred on the morning of April 14. Five crashes occurred on a section of westbound Interstate 70, and another happened on Highway 40.

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"Some have been single vehicle; others, multiple," the sheriff's office said in astatement on social media. "Bottom line, we need folks to slow down, increase following distance, and make it to their destination safely."

The sheriff's officethen reportedat around 3 p.m. local time that a "multi-vehicle, injury crash" had occurred on the eastbound lanes of Highway 6 on-ramp to Interstate 70 by the Loveland Ski Area. At the time, the sheriff's office had estimated that at least 75 vehicles were involved in the incident, and the crash was blocking a section of the highway.

"The closure is due to a severe multi-vehicle crash on the east side of Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel that took place this afternoon," the Colorado Department of Transportation said ina statement. "However, due to the severity of the crash, drivers approaching the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel should expect to be turned around for the next several hours."

Following the incident, the Colorado State Patrol said all eastbound Interstate 70 was estimated to be closed for four to six hours. By around 8:10 p.m. local time, the sheriff's office said the section of the highway had reopened.

The sheriff's office later reported that the westbound Interstate 70 at the Eisenhower-Johnson Memorial Tunnel was briefly closed for an unrelated incident involving a "pickup truck and trailer that jack-knifed." All westbound lanes were then reopened.

Crash happened amid snowy weather

The Colorado Department of Transportation previously warned motorists that winter driving conditions were being reported throughout the Interstate 70 Mountain Corridor on April 14. The department advised motorists to exercise caution and prepare for delays.

Snow showers were expected in the mountains through the evening of April 14, according to theNational Weather Service's office in Boulder, Colorado.

"Snow showers, a few briefly heavy, for the mountains through this evening,"the weather service said on Xon the morning of April 14. "Some slick travel over higher mountain passes early this morning and again this evening."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Several injured in Colorado highway crash involving 70 vehicles

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April 19, 2026

Colorado highway pileup involving 70 vehicles sends 8 to hospital

About 70 vehicles were involved in a major pileup on a section of a Colorado highway, sending eight people to the hospital, amidhazardo...

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The unlikeliest of weathermen followed by more than a million on Facebook

TheJammu–Srinagar NationalHighwayis the lifeline of theKashmirValley. It’s the only all-weather link connecting the region to the rest ofIndiaand has carried the economic and social pulse of the Valley for decades.

While two alternative routes, the Sinthan Road and the Mughal Road, exist, both remain closed during winter due to heavysnowfall, making the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway the sole supply corridor through which essential commodities reach Kashmir.

Last August, severe flash floods forced the highway to remain closed for 15 days. This caused a near standstill in life and trade. The closure resulted in significant economic losses, particularly for the horticulture sector, which relies heavily on timely transportation.

Trucks brimming with apples, pears and other fruits were stranded for days, resulting in significant financial losses for growers and traders.

In this challenging terrain, a local figure has become an invaluable source of information and reassurance for travellers: Tahir Ahmad Giri, better known as Tahir Banihali.

Tahir, a resident of Banihal, a town on the highway about 94 kilometres from Srinagar, has become a trusted voice for thousands who travel this route daily. His influence now reaches far beyond, boasting approximately 1.1 millionFacebookfollowers and nearly 197,000 Instagram followers.

Initially working with a construction company, Tahir frequently travelled between Banihal and Ramban, another town on the highway which has the most challenging stretch.

During these trips, he witnessed the constant hardships faced by commuters. Landslide accidents, shooting stones and sudden weather changes caused long traffic jams. Drivers would often be stuck for hours with no clear idea of what lay ahead.

Tahir had an idea. Tahir began posting updates about road conditions on his personal Facebook profile. His updates were simple and grounded in firsthand observation. They quickly gained attention.

Travellers appreciated the accuracy and timeliness of his posts. Encouraged by the positive response, he eventually created a dedicated page under the name ‘National Highway Updates’ to provide road users with reliable information about conditions.

Today, his live videos and posts are often the first source of information for passengers, truck drivers, and families planning journeys between Kashmir and Jammu.

During winter, when snow and landslides frequently disrupt traffic, people traveling to Jammu routinely check Tahir’s updates before finalising their plans.

For many, his word carries more weight than official bulletins because he reports directly from the ground.

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“I receive many calls every day, and I try my best to respond to all of them. If a driver needs a Hydra or any recovery machine to pull out a stranded vehicle, I personally contact the operator and even travel with them to the exact spot,” Tahir says.

Despite his immense popularity, Tahir operates without any specialised equipment or official resources. He relies solely on his smartphone.

Whenever there is a landslide, traffic jam, or road damage, he reaches the location and goes live, showing viewers the exact situation. His real-time coverage allows drivers to make informed decisions.

“Tahir is our guide. Whenever we call him, he is available day or night, even in harsh weather. Before social media, we would get stuck without knowing what was ahead. Now, we check his updates first,” says Mohammad Amin, a cab driver.

“He gives us confidence, and his information helps us keep our passengers safe.”

Over time, Tahir has made another unexpected contribution. The mountainous terrain along the highway previously lacked clear names, making it difficult for travellers to pinpoint locations during emergencies.

To improve communication, Tahir started naming certain spots himself, such as “Chinar Point”. Remarkably, even traffic police and official advisories have adopted some of his names.

For truck drivers, especially those transporting perishable goods like fruits and vegetables, Tahir’s updates are invaluable. Timely delivery is critical in the horticulture trade, and delays can lead to spoilage and financial losses.

One truck driver explained that before Tahir’s page rose to prominence, they relied solely on official information, which sometimes lacked detailed, real-time updates. Now, they primarily follow his live updates and decide when to load their trucks and when to hold back.

“Earlier, before Tahir’s updates, we depended only on the official traffic plan. Now we mainly follow his live videos and then decide when to load our trucks. When we are carrying fruits or vegetables, timely delivery is very important,” says Omar, who plies his truck on this highway frequently.

“If a landslide happens, he shows us the exact situation live. If it’s major, we wait. If it’s minor, we move ahead. His updates save us from huge losses.”

In earlier times, if a landslide occurred, drivers would unknowingly drive toward it and end up stranded for hours or even days. There was no immediate way to assess the severity of the situation.

Now, Tahir’s live videos show the exact scale of a landslide, whether it is minor and likely to be cleared soon or major and potentially blocking the road for an extended period.

“This highway is our lifeline, and if I can help someone reach safely, that is my biggest satisfaction,” Tahir says.

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April 19, 2026

The unlikeliest of weathermen followed by more than a million on Facebook

TheJammu–Srinagar NationalHighwayis the lifeline of theKashmirValley. It’s the only all-weather link connecting the region to the rest ...

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Charlize Theron Recalls Her Mom Fatally Shooting Her Father When She Was a Teen, Says She's 'Not Haunted' by the Tragedy

Charlize Theron is opening up about the night her father was shot and killed by her mother in self-defense when she was a teen

NEED TO KNOW

• Her father, Charles Theron, drunkenly threatened her and her mother, Gerda, at their home in South Africa in 1991 when she was 15 years old

• "I think these things should be talked about because it makes other people not feel alone," Charlize said of the incident

Charlize Theronis opening up about the night her father was shot and killed by her mother in self-defense when she was a teen.

In a new interview withThe New York Times Magazine,published on Saturday, April 18, theOld Guard 2actress, 50, recounted the harrowing incident and explained why she isn't "haunted" by it today.

Charlize shared that her father,Charles Theron, drunkenly threatened her and her mother,Gerda, at their home in South Africa in 1991 when she was 15 years old.

She said the incident began when her father became angry at her when she entered her uncle's house without greeting him. Her father was there drinking with his brother at the time.

"I had to pee really badly. So I ran into the house to get to the toilet, and he took that as me being rude, because I didn’t stop and say hello to everybody," Charlize explained. "Big thing in South Africa, the kind of respect that you have to have for elders. And he was in a state where he just spiraled. Like: 'Why didn’t you stop? Who do you think you are?' "

TheMad Max: Fury Roadstar and her mother then went back home. As soon as they walked into the house, Charlize told her mother, "I think you should separate from him," as this was the latest of numerous incidents involving her dad. "Leaving that house, I knew something was just different. She knew it, too," she explained.

That night, Charlize asked her mother to say she was sleeping to avoid a confrontation with her father when he returned home.

"I went into my room, I turned my lights off, and I was scared," she told theTimes. "My window faced the driveway, and I could tell the level of anger, frustration or unhappiness by the way he drove in. The way that he drove into that property that night, I can’t explain it to you. I just knew something bad was going to happen."

Her father then "broke into the house" by shooting through the steel doors, common in South Africa at the time "because that’s the kind of violence that we were living in," Charlize said, explaining, "Our country was on the brink of civil war."

"He shot through the steel doors to get in, making it very clear that he was going to kill us. His brother was with him as well," she recounted. "We knew it was serious, and so by the time he broke into the first gate, my mom ran to the safe to get her gun. She came into my bedroom. The two of us were holding the door with our bodies because there wasn’t a lock on it. And he just stepped back and started shooting through the door."

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"And this is the crazy thing: Not one bullet hit us," she continued. "It’s insane when you think about it that way. But the messaging was very clear. I’m going to kill you tonight. You think I can’t come into this door? Watch me. I’m going to go to the safe. I’m going to get the shotgun."

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"He walked to the safe, and my mom pulled the door open while the brother was still standing there," Charlize said. "The brother ran down the hallway, and she shot one bullet down the hallway that ricocheted seven times and shot him in the hand. It’s stuff you can’t explain. And then she followed my father, who was by then opening the safe to get more weapons out, and she shot him."

Charlize shared that she has always been candid about the incident because she wants to help "other people not feel alone."

"Unfortunately, this is not an isolated story," she told theTimes. "These things are prevalent in a lot of homes. Women really get a very, very unfair shake, even in this country. Nobody takes it seriously, the situation that they’re in. And I don’t think anybody took my mom seriously."

Charlize has been passionate in her advocacy for women who have experienced domestic violence.

In 2020, she worked alongside the humanitarian organization CARE and the Entertainment Industry Foundation to launch Together For Her,a campaign to deploy funds and other resources to fight domestic violenceamid the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2008, she was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace, with a goal to advocate for the elimination of violence against women.

"I think these things should be talked about because it makes other people not feel alone," Charlize told theTimesabout that night in 1991. "I never knew about a story like that. When this happened to us, I thought we were the only people. I’m not haunted by this stuff anymore."

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Read the original article onPeople

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April 19, 2026

Charlize Theron Recalls Her Mom Fatally Shooting Her Father When She Was a Teen, Says She's 'Not Haunted' by the Tragedy

Charlize Theron is opening up about the night her father was shot and killed by her mother in self-defense when she was a teen NE...

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Needham Astronaut Sunita Williams Reflects on Artemis II and Space Exploration, Prepares for Boston Marathon

Retired astronaut Sunita Williams is running the Boston Marathon for the first time in over a decade

NEED TO KNOW

• Williams previously ran the Boston Marathon in space in 2007 and completed it on Earth in 2008

• After retiring from NASA, she plans to stay involved in space exploration and STEM education opportunities

Retired astronaut Sunita Williams worked for NASA for 27 years and has been on multiple spacewalks.

Now, she's gearing up to run the Boston Marathon for the first time in a decade.

“I'm gonna be trying to run the marathon, we'll see if I finish,” she told theBoston Globe.

Williams and her crewmate, Butch Wilmore, were among the first to fly on Boeing's Starliner. They traveled to the International Space Station in June 2024.

However, after the Starliner experienced problems, she and Wilmore were stuck there longer than expected.

They ultimately returned in March 2025. “Uncertainty is always uncomfortable,” she said. “Everybody wants the answer ... and that just took a long time.”

She has spent the past year recovering from the journey.

While in space, Williams frequently worked out on the treadmill — and ran the length of the Boston Marathon on it once back in 2007. She became the first person to run a marathon while in space, and she finished in four hours and 24 minutes.

The following year, she participated in the Boston Marathon in person, completing the 26.2-mile race with a time of four hours and 20 minutes.

“We're strong because we have exercise equipment when we're up there,” she told the Boston Globe. “But the things we lose are like your agility, your ability to do things fast, all those little muscles aren't getting exercise when you're up there."

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"If you're diligent when you're up in space, and you put in the work and use the nutrition the right way, you're gonna come back and be okay," Williams added.

Williams also spoke about the recent Artemis II mission, which saw astronauts make a lunar flyby, their first one in 50 years, according to NASA'swebsite. They launched on April 1 and returned on April 10.

NASA's last moon expedition was with 1972's Apollo 17.

“We needed to get this one right,” she said. “I'm excited for this next generation of explorers.”

“When we put our heads together ... we can make the impossible possible,” she added.

While she is now in retirement, she still plans on participating in space exploration and STEM education in other ways, according to the outlet.

“There's opportunities out there, maybe to work with some of these commercial companies,” she said. “If those opportunities come up, I'd love to be a part of that.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Williams, who now lives in Maine, will be joining the runners in the Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20.

She said, “I'm a little slow, but I feel good and am happy to get out there to try it."

Read the original article onPeople

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April 19, 2026

Needham Astronaut Sunita Williams Reflects on Artemis II and Space Exploration, Prepares for Boston Marathon

Retired astronaut Sunita Williams is running the Boston Marathon for the first time in over a decade NEED TO KNOW ...

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Obama and Mamdani sing Wheels on the Bus together to preschoolers

FormerPresidentBarack ObamaandNew YorkMayorZohran Mamdanimet for the first time Saturday (April 18) at a New York child care center leading preschoolers in a singalong to “Wheels on theBus”.

The former two-term president and standard-bearer for the Democratic Party has offered to be a sounding board for Mamdani, 34, whose star power and progressive agenda has made him stand out in Democratic politics.

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Mamdani's meeting with Obama comes after he's already met twice with Trump at the White House in November and February to discuss issues affecting New York City.

Despite those friendly meetings, their relationship has shown signs of strain recently, with Trump posting on Truth Social Thursday that Mamdani was “DESTROYING New York” with his taxing policies and threatened to pull federal funding for the city.

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April 19, 2026

Obama and Mamdani sing Wheels on the Bus together to preschoolers

FormerPresidentBarack ObamaandNew YorkMayorZohran Mamdanimet for the first time Saturday (April 18) at a New York child care center lea...

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'She keeps getting better and better': Umpire Jen Pawol stands tall in first MLB ABS game

WASHINGTON –Jen Pawolwas behind the plate for her first major league game in the automated balls and strikes challenge system era. And the first woman to serve as an ump in a Major League Baseball game stood her ground against the so-called robots.

Pawol called balls and strikes for theSan Francisco Giants-Washington Nationalsgame Friday, April 17 and withstood a pair of challenges from Giants catcher Daniel Susac, with a pair of ball calls upheld quickly by the ABS system.

By the third inning, the Giants were out of challenges, while the Nationals successfully appealed a pair of calls during San Francisco’s 10-5 victory.

To be sure, this was a solid standoff early in this ABS era.

Entering Friday’s game, players were successful on 54% of their challenges to umpires, and the typical game averaged 4.05 challenges. Pawol saw exactly four challenges and won two of them.

Of course, ABS is relatively old news for those umpiring in Class AAA in recent years, where ABS was first deployed on a trial basis.

Pawol is technically still in the Class AAA ranks. She is on MLB’s list of call-up umpires who are based in Class AAA yet work major league games as fill-ins in the event of injuries, illnesses, vacations, or other forms of absence by the 76 full-time umps.

And her strong performance was no surprise to Susac, who caught several games at Class AAA that Pawol umped. As Susac assumes more of the Giants' catching duties as incumbent Patrick Bailey struggles at the plate, Friday was a big game for both of them.

"In my opinion, she keeps getting better and better," Susac tells USA TODAY Sports. "And I thought she did a really good job. She’s always great to have back there. We always have a good conversation, especially at the start of games and I thought she did a great job tonight."

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Pawol debuted as an MLB fill-in in 2025 and on Aug. 10became the first woman to call balls and strikesfor a major league game. She called six games behind the plate last season and, according to the umpire tracking website Umpire Scorecards, maintained a 92.9% accuracy rate.

Susac tried and failed twice in the early innings, challenging a full-count ball call to Luis Garcia Jr. He was off by an inch and the Giants were out of challenges by the third inning.

"The second one, I probably had a little more emotion to it. Probably knew it was a ball, but wanted to get one there," he says.

Nationals third baseman Brady House successfully challenged a strike call in the bottom of the eighth, while a strike call in the top of the ninth was successfully overturned to a ball.

In the meantime, Pawol punched out Nationals slugger James Wood twice on called third strikes and did the same to Giants first baseman Rafael Devers in the seventh. Both retreated to the dugout rapidly.

While the more in-depth scorecards of Pawol’s first big league foray behind the plate in 2026 will have to wait, she withstood the rigors of ABS just fine: Two wins, two losses, a little better than average.

And another step toward making the notion of a woman calling balls and strikes in a big league game a little more unremarkable.

"It’s a good way that she blends in," says Susac. "She’s done a great job and she keeps getting better, which is awesome to see."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Giants catcher Daniel Susac loses both ABS challenges vs ump Jen Pawol

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April 19, 2026

'She keeps getting better and better': Umpire Jen Pawol stands tall in first MLB ABS game

WASHINGTON –Jen Pawolwas behind the plate for her first major league game in the automated balls and strikes challenge system era. And ...

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Chizzy Iwai ties course record, leads by 2 at LA Championship

Japan's Chizzy Iwai posted a bogey-free 9-under-par round of 63 on Thursday to grab a two-stroke lead at the LA Championship in Tarzana, Calif.

Iwai tied the course record in pristine conditions at the El Caballero Country Club. Sweden's Ingrid Lindblad and South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai each carded 63 at the 2025 event. Lindblad went on to earn her first LPGA victory in the tournament, posting a 21-under four-day total.

Korea's Sei Young Kim and a pair of players from Thailand are two strokes behind Iwai at 7 under. Patty Tavatanakit completed her round early in the day while countrywoman Suvichaya Vinijchaitham and Kim were part of the afternoon groups.

Nine players finished tied for fifth at 6 under, including recent winner Lauren Coughlin and countrywoman Jessica Porvasnik.

Iwai, the 20th-ranked player in the Women's World Golf Rankings, produced an incredible stretch of golf on the back nine, where she started her round. She birdied holes 11 through 15, then eagled the par-5 16th hole and posted a score of 29 on the inward half of the course.

She birdied Nos. 1 and 5 and played the four par-fives on the course at 4 under.

Iwai, who won the Mexico Riviera Maya Open in her rookie season of 2025, credited an early start to her excellent round.

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"Good time tee time in morning, so very peaceful and I feel comfortable so I had a feeling so relaxing," said Iwai. "I had good feeling. I had fun."

After the brilliant run on the back nine, Iwai admitted to thinking about an extraordinary round.

"A little bit thinking 58 or 9 score," she said. "But golf is not easy. That's why I focus my routine. I try myself. I don't think too much."

Tavatanakit was only 1 under after bogeying the par-5 seventh hole. But she closed the outward half birdie-birdie and then birdied four of her last six holes on the day. She has missed two of three cuts to date and realizes there is a lot of golf left this weekend.

"I think that's what I find hard to adjust coming back into like full season tournament play," said Tavatanakit. "When you stop for a while just kind of been working on your swing and stuff, but you just kind of, you know, not think about hitting the numbers.

"I feel like I've been kind of building that ever since San Francisco, when we were there. I mean, I feel like my game has always been there. Just a little bit here and there is just kind of rusty."

Coughlin just won two handily weeks ago at the Aramco Championship, defeating runner-up Nelly Korda by five strokes. She played bogey-free golf on Thursday, closing with a 32 on the inward half.

--Field Level Media

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April 18, 2026

Chizzy Iwai ties course record, leads by 2 at LA Championship

Japan's Chizzy Iwai posted a bogey-free 9-under-par round of 63 on Thursday to grab a two-stroke lead at the LA Championship in Tar...

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