Injured Snowmass construction worker taken to Grand Junction

SNOWMASS VILLAGE ” A worker injured in a crane collapse Tuesday morning in Snowmass Village has been airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction.

The man, whose name has not been made public, was taken from Aspen Valley Hospital to St. Mary’s as a precaution, according to Steve Alldredge, spokesman for Related WestPac, the developer of the hotel construction site where the accident occurred.

Aspen’s trauma team was activated before the worker was taken to AVH, said Snowmass firefighter/paramedic Brandon Potter. Officials have confirmed the man apparently suffered a head injury, but the extent of his injuries are not yet known.

The accident occurred at the Viceroy Hotel construction site within the new base village being built at the ski resort. The crane was lifting a pot of waterproofing tar that weighed close to 10,000 pounds when it toppled over. An official at the scene initially blamed mechanical failure, but Alldredge said it’s too early to determine the cause of the accident.

The crane is owned and operated by Rocky Mountain Structures for Rocky Mountain Precast, both of Denver.

The falling crane struck an iron crossbeam, on which the injured man was working. He was wearing a safety harness, but fell six to eight feet and hit his head, said authorities at the scene. He was extricated from the fifth floor of the partially constructed building.

The crane also hit a small welding tank, causing an explosion, but the fire was quickly extinguished, according to authorites.

The accident occurred just hours before Related WestPac had scheduled a barbecue to celebrate the completion of the first phase of construction at the Viceroy. The celebration will be rescheduled, according to Alldredge.