JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — A contract employee working on a rockfall mitigation project in Clear Creek Canyon was killed Tuesday afternoon after falling nearly 70 feet.
The accident occurred around 12:50 p.m. near mile marker 258 on U.S. Highway 6. Both directions of the highway remain closed.
The victim has been identified as 39-year-old Jaime Sarinana-Herrera. He worked for Apex Rockfall Mitigation, a Grand Junction-based company CDOT has contracted out for the project.
According to a statement from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the accident did not appear to be suspicious. Investigators are looking into what caused Sarinana-Herrera to fall.
The $3 million project started in late February. Crews are removing scaled rock and installing mesh anchors to prevent future rockfalls.
