A falling rock killed a construction worker in the Little Blue Creek Canyon area of Hwy. 50 on Tuesday, prompting an emergency closure. Crews were able to re-open the work zone to traffic on Tuesday evening.
Ricardo Batista, 69, of Florissant, was killed instantly when a large rock fell on him as he operated a mini-excavator, according to Gunnison County Coroner Michael Barnes. Batista died of multiple traumatic injuries.
The accident led to the closure of Hwy. 50 during a mid-day time window when one-way traffic is typically allowed to pass through the work zone. Crews re-opened the route to traffic at 5:30 p.m. for the regular two-hour evening traffic period.
The death came as workers at the site prepared to open the 3.8-mile work zone, located halfway between Montrose and Gunnison, for the Fourth of July weekend.
The Little Blue Creek Canyon construction area between Gunnison and Montrose on Hwy. 50.
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