Almont kitchen hit by vehicle, resulting in fire

Life-threatening burns 

By Kristy Acuff

An unlikely and unfortunate accident occurred Friday, June 22, just after noon when an unoccupied van rolled into the Almont Resort’s exterior wall, causing a grease fire in the kitchen that sent two resort employees to the hospital, one with life-threatening burns.

According to Colorado State Patrol trooper Josh Lewis, the vehicle, a 2015 Ford Utility van, was parked on the opposite side of Highway 135 from the Almont Resort while its driver inspected the vehicle. The vehicle suddenly started rolling backwards and downhill across the highway towards the Almont Resort and, though the driver attempted to stop it, failed to do so before it crashed into the exterior wall of the kitchen.

The impact caused the grease in the kitchen to overturn and set fire, leading to injuries of two employees inside. One employee, a 47-year old male, sustained life-threatening burns and was transported first to Gunnison Valley Hospital and then via helicopter to Denver’s Swedish Medical Center. The second, a 28-year old male, sustained moderate injuries and was treated at Gunnison Valley Hospital. Both were residents of Almont, according to Lewis.

Pending an ongoing mechanical inspection of the van, charges may be forthcoming, according to Lewis.