Executive Summary
- A Fort Collins city employee died after a Zamboni collided with a partially open overhead door.
- The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon at the Edora Pool Ice Center.
- City Manager Kelly DiMartino announced a pause in operations to review safety policies.
- The facility will remain closed through Thursday for staff support and investigation.
A municipal employee in Northern Colorado has died following a workplace accident involving an ice-resurfacing machine at the Edora Pool Ice Center (EPIC). The incident, which occurred on Tuesday afternoon in Fort Collins, resulted in the immediate closure of the facility while city officials and authorities launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatality.
According to a formal release from the City of Fort Collins, the employee was operating a Zamboni at the time of the accident. City officials stated that the driver was backing the vehicle up when they collided with a partially open overhead door. Emergency responders transported the driver to a nearby hospital for treatment, but the employee ultimately succumbed to their injuries.
The City of Fort Collins confirmed that no other staff members or visitors were injured during the incident. As of Wednesday, officials have declined to release the identity of the deceased employee out of respect for the family’s privacy. Operations at the ice rink have been suspended through the end of business on Thursday, Jan. 30, to allow for staff support and a preliminary inquiry.
City Manager Kelly DiMartino issued a statement describing the event as tragic and emphasized the administration’s commitment to understanding the sequence of events. “This pause in our ice rink operations is out of an abundance of caution, to allow for staff support, and to provide time and space to understand the circumstances surrounding the event,” DiMartino said. The city has committed to a comprehensive review of safety policies and practices in the wake of the collision.
Occupational Safety Inquiry
Workplace fatalities involving heavy machinery typically necessitate a multi-agency investigation involving local law enforcement and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The focus of such inquiries generally centers on operational protocols, equipment maintenance records, and potential mechanical failures—in this case, specifically regarding the positioning of the overhead door and the visibility available to the Zamboni operator. The review will likely determine whether existing safety measures were sufficient or if procedural changes are required to prevent future industrial accidents.
