IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. (KDVR) — The woman who died in a climbing accident over the weekend has been identified.
“I’ve been here for about four and a half years, this is the first time we’ve had something like this in our community,” Idaho Springs Police Chief Nathan Buseck said. “Colorado is a place that really enjoys its outdoor activities, whether it’s rafting, climbing, these things that can sometimes have really tragic outcomes. And we just, our thoughts are with the family.”
Buseck shared new details about a climbing accident over the weekend. Around 3:05 p.m. Saturday, the Idaho Springs Police Department, Clear Creek Fire Authority, Clear Creek EMS, Clear Creek Sheriff’s Office and Alpine Rescue Team responded to a climbing accident at 431 Highway 103.
A Flight for Life helicopter was also immediately dispatched. According to the police department, AVA Rafting and Zipline is located at that address.
“We had a guide who works for AVA Rafting and Zipline, was guiding a group of people through the Via Ferrata course, which is basically a course that’s up on the side of the mountain,” Buseck said. “And unfortunately, it was during a rappelling part of that course where this person fell and sustained injuries that took her life.”
The employee and victim was identified as 26-year-old Olivia Copeland of Fort Collins. According to Buseck, preliminary information suggests Copeland was guiding a group of AVA customers on the Mount Blue Sky Via Ferrata course when the incident occurred.
“This young lady was 26 years old, you know, had her whole life ahead of her, it’s just a horrible, tragic event,” Buseck said. “The person had fallen and was on a sort of on a ledge. And so we were hoping for the best. But by the time Alpine Rescue also came and rappelled down the mountain to try to render aid for her, unfortunately, she succumbed to her injuries.”
FOX31 reached out to AVA. The CEO shared the company’s heartbreak for Copeland, her loved ones and fellow coworkers but declined to make an official comment at this time.
Buseck tells FOX31 the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, the Division of Oil and Public Safety, Amusement Rides and Devices Regulations have been notified and will investigate the accident.
“We’ll provide all of our documentation and reports to those agencies,” Buseck said. “And then really, they’re the experts on determining if there was an equipment issue or if it was an accident, you know, if she didn’t do something correctly or what the nature is.”
According to the police department, AVA is also required to notify the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of this incident.
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