Forklift accident leads to temporary closure of Highway 119

Heavy Equipment Rollover Jeramy Meyers (right) of Meyers Services discusses with another excavation contractor the incident that caused a forklift to roll off a trailer and close the highway on May 23.

On May 23, traffic on Highway 119 near Lump Gulch came to a standstill in both directions after a forklift rolled off a trailer while negotiating a tight curve. The incident occurred at approximately 11:22 a.m. and required a rapid response from local authorities and the public.

Jeramy Meyers of Meyers Services was one of the first on the scene and worked diligently to remove the machinery from the road. Although Meyers and Earthworks, another excavation company, were competitors, they joined forces and volunteered their time and resources to assist local law enforcement in clearing the blockage.

“We just came to help a company in need,” Meyers said. “Actually, there were three excavation companies there, and even though we’re all competing with each other, it didn’t matter.” Meyers was referring to High Performance Excavating (which hauled away the overturned trailer), Earthworks and his own team, who worked together on the recovery.

Meyers said the accident was not caused by carelessness; rather, the chains that attached the forklift to the trailer broke, causing it to roll onto its side onto the road. Meyers was called to help because his large front loader was an important tool in safely recovering the forklift.

The Timberline Volunteer Fire Department played a key role in the incident. Firefighter Alex Hinojosa reported that no one was injured. Timberline also directed traffic and ensured the safety of everyone involved.

The Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office has provided an official report to The Mountain-Ear. At 11:22 a.m., the sheriff’s dispatch center received a call about the incident involving a flatbed truck carrying a forklift on Highway 119 at Lump Gulch Road.

A Gilpin County officer arrived at the scene at 11:36 a.m. and found the forklift upside down on the side of the road. It appeared that the trailer and load had tipped to the right as the vehicle made a left turn, but the pickup truck remained upright.

The Colorado State Patrol was notified but did not respond, advising the driver to file a counter-charge instead. Timberline Fire was alerted to a hydraulic fluid leak on the forklift and responded immediately to repair the leak. The highway was closed for approximately 30 minutes during cleanup. The Gilpin trooper assisted with traffic control until the accident scene was cleared and the forklift was removed by its owner.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of the Gilpin County Sheriff’s Office, Timberline Fire Department, and local earthmoving contractors, the road was cleared and safe for traffic in less than an hour. This incident highlights the strong sense of community and cooperation between local businesses and emergency responders in Gilpin County.