Friday crash on Highway 135 sends two to hospital

Sheriff received serious injuries

[ By Mark Reaman ]

A serious car accident on Friday, February 26 near Almont put the local sheriff in the hospital. 71-year-old John Gallowich, the Gunnison County sheriff, was heading north from Gunnison toward Crested Butte on Highway 135 about 1 o’clock in the afternoon when his county vehicle was struck by someone heading south.

According to Colorado State Patrol trooper Josh Lewis the accident occurred at mile marker 10.6. He said a 2008 Infinity Q35 being driven by 61-year-old Lori Holgate of Crested Butte failed to negotiate a curve and crossed the centerline into the northbound lane. Gallowich was in his 2015 Dodge pick-up when the Infinity struck him pretty much head-on.

Lewis said both drivers were the only people in each vehicle and both were wearing seatbelts. Holgate was determined to have minor injuries while Gallowich was categorized as having serious injuries. Both were taken to Gunnison Valley Hospital and have since been released.

Lewis said drugs and alcohol were not suspected to be factors in the crash but speed is being looked at as contributing to the cause.