A 66-year-old man from Grand Junction died in a three-vehicle crash Friday night that closed the mountain passes between Durango and Silverton for about five hours.

Colorado State Patrol Capt. Adrian Driscoll said a 1994 Isuzu Trooper headed south on U.S. Highway 550 lost control about 5:30 p.m. near milepost 61, just before the bend in the road at Lime Creek, and went into oncoming traffic.

The Isuzu struck a 2020 Ram truck pulling a trailer that was headed north, Driscoll said. The Ram then went on to strike a 2011 Nissan Titan that was headed south, just behind the Isuzu.

The driver of the Isuzu, identified as Roy Nicodemus, died in the crash. Driscoll said there were no other significant injuries in the crash. Everyone was wearing a seat belt, he said.

Driscoll said Highway 550 in that area was experiencing bad driving conditions because of a winter storm that caused whiteout conditions, the likely cause of the Isuzu losing control.

Driscoll said the highway was reopened around 10:30 p.m.

jromeo@durangoherald.com