Man facing life-threatening injuries after hitting horse on I-70 near Fruita identified

February 10, 2026 3oliver

KREX

Man facing life-threatening injuries after hitting horse on I-70 near Fruita identified

Marj Tobin

Mon, February 9, 2026 at 11:31 PM UTC

2 min read

GRAND JUNCTION Colo. (KREX)- A 41-year-old Grand Junction man suffered life-threatening injuries early Sunday when his vehicle rolled after striking a horse on Interstate 70 near Fruita, authorities said.

The crash happened around 1:37 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-70 at mile marker 22, according to the Colorado State Patrol. Troopers said a horse entered the roadway and was struck by multiple vehicles.

The man, driving a Toyota Land Cruiser, was the first to hit the horse. His vehicle rolled and came to rest on its roof, trapping him inside, state patrol officials said. He was taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.

“After impact, the Land Cruiser ended up rolling, coming to rest on its roof,” a Colorado State Patrol Trooper Gabriel Moltrer said. “That driver was transported to an area hospital for life-threatening injuries.”

The driver has been identified through a GoFundMe as Kyle Freud out of Grand Junction, who friends describe as a husband, father and longtime member of the Land Cruiser and off-road community.

A second vehicle, a Ford F-250 driven by a 17-year-old male from Peyton, also struck the horse. That driver was not injured, authorities said. The horse died at the scene.

Eastbound lanes of I-70 were closed for several hours while crews worked to remove the vehicles and clear the roadway. The Colorado Department of Transportation assisted with the cleanup, and the highway reopened shortly before 5 a.m.

Officials urge drivers to use caution on rural highways, especially during overnight and early morning hours when animals are more active.

“When you see an animal in the roadway, brake firmly. Don’t swerve,” said Chuck Marsh, regional communications manager for CDOT. “The last thing you want to do is end up in oncoming traffic or off the road.”

State patrol officials have not confirmed where the horse came from. The crash remains under investigation.