The following is a summary of information provided by the
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (the Department) via email:
On September 11, 2025, at approximately 1930 MDT, the Department received a phone call from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office regarding a vehicle that was stolen in Silverthorne, CO. Within the vehicle was a InstroTek Model 3500 portable nuclear density gauge (SN:5664). The vehicle was involved in a police chase and eventually crashed on Interstate-70 East, near mile marker 258.
Photos of the gauge were sent to the Department and the gauge was inside of the transport case, which did not appear to be damaged. Colorado State Patrol was also on scene and recorded a reading of 4mR/hr on contact of the transport container. Additional information about the meter that was used to record that value was not available at the time of the call as the scene was unfolding.
At approximately 2114, the Department reached out to the Branch Manager of CTL/Thompson, Inc. The Branch Manager informed the Department that a technician was on route to retrieve the portable nuclear density gauge.
At approximately 2138, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office called and notified the department that the technician was now in possession of the gauge.
The licensing information for the InstroTek Model 3500 was reviewed to verify that the surface readings taken at the scene did not exceed the expected dose rate.
Based on the information provided by law enforcement, no exposures above public dose limits are expected. The department will follow-up with the licensee to verify the gauge was not damaged in the incident and review subsequent leak tests.
Radioactive material summary: Make/Model: InstroTek, Inc. Model 3500 moisture density gauge radionuclide/activity: not more than 408 MBq (11 mCi) of cesium-137 and 1.63 GBq (44 mCi) of americium-241:beryllium. Serial Number: 5664.
Colorado Event Report ID No.:
CO250028