Local News in Brief, September 14 | News

2 Basalt residents flown to Denver by helicopter after accident on Highway 82

Two Basalt residents were flown by helicopter to Denver with “serious bodily injuries” following a two-vehicle collision on Highway 82 at the intersection with Cattle Creek Road on Friday morning.

The Colorado State Patrol responded to the incident at 9:11 a.m., said Sherri Mendez, CSP spokeswoman. The highway was completely closed before reopening one lane in each direction in the early afternoon. Cleanup of 25 gallons of diesel fuel spilled, presumably from one of the vehicles' fuel tanks, delayed operations.

Images posted on social media showed a Dodge Ram towing a two-axle camper trailer skidding on the median and a commercial dump truck driving parallel to the road across the eastbound lanes.

According to Mendez, the two injured people were in the Ram, a 61-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman.

The driver of the other vehicle was identified as a 54-year-old male resident of Glenwood Springs.

No information on the citations was available as of Friday afternoon pending further investigation into the incident. The names of the injured Basalt residents were not released by authorities.

Nonprofit organization receives grant to combat mental health problems

Aspen Family Connections has received a five-year grant from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

AFC has formed a new community collaborative – the Aspen-Pitkin Healthy Futures Coalition – encompassing 12 community areas as part of the Drug Free Coalition Program. The coalition will work to improve the long-term well-being of young people in the Upper Roaring Fork Valley, according to a news release from the local nonprofit.

The DFC Support Program awards grants of $125,000 per year for five years to community coalitions to strengthen infrastructure among local partners to achieve and sustain reductions in youth drug use.

According to AFC Director Katherine Sand, data and experience show that children growing up in the high valley face great pressure and that mental health problems and early onset of drug use are a reality for many.

“This prestigious grant will help us develop conversations, engagement and new activities to help young people navigate their communities. And we will use the voices of the entire community – especially youth – to guide our efforts,” she said in the press release.

CDOT: Highways will be crowded with leaf-peepers

As summer turns to fall, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CORT) is advising drivers to expect additional traffic in high elevation areas over the next few weekends as people head out to admire the fall foliage.

When the aspens turn their red-gold color, there is more traffic on the mountain roads, so drivers and photographers standing or walking along the side of the road need to watch out for each other, according to a CDOT news release.

CDOT has the following advice for leaf peepers and others on the highways:

• Be aware of other vehicles that may be traveling slower.

• Watch for vehicles driving off the road or parked on the side of the road.

• Look for safe, designated parking spaces.

• Drivers, watch out for pedestrians! People get out of their vehicles and often take photos.

• Pedestrians should also be extremely alert and watch out for passing vehicles.

CDOT also reminds drivers that highway construction may occur on weekends. Although most construction sites remain closed on weekends, some may take advantage of the beautiful fall weather to continue their construction work before winter weather shuts down work until spring.

Travelers should do their research before traveling. Before traveling, check weather forecasts, expected travel impacts, and current road conditions. For more information, visit COtrip.org.