Colorado Driver Left with $8,880 Bill After I-70 Gate Swings Open, CDOT Refuses Liability
A Colorado family is frustrated after their truck was severely damaged when a road closure gate unexpectedly swung open on Interstate 70, striking their vehicle. Despite clear dashcam footage of the incident, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has denied their claim, stating they had no prior knowledge of the issue.
The incident occurred near the Aurora/Watkins line as Heather Rogge’s husband was driving her home from work. The dashcam footage captured the moment the gate suddenly swung open in high winds, slamming into their Silverado as it traveled at highway speeds. With no time to react safely, the gate scraped down the entire side of the truck, leaving behind extensive damage estimated at $8,880.
Initially, the couple believed CDOT would cover the repair costs after a roadside worker assured them they would be taken care of. However, weeks later, they received a letter stating CDOT was not responsible since they had no prior reports of issues with the gate. The letter cited a lack of prior knowledge and CDOT’s inability to predict the gate’s failure as reasons for denying liability.
Rogge expressed frustration, arguing that CDOT should be accountable for infrastructure failures that pose a danger to drivers. She also noted that their full-sized truck likely prevented more severe injuries, saying, “Had we been in a smaller car or a motorcycle, I’m sure there would have been some serious injury.”
FOX31 reached out to CDOT for comment, providing the video evidence and details of the incident. As of now, there has been no response from the agency regarding the denied claim or potential action to prevent future accidents.
