Such heartbreaking news to share. Conifer High School's science teacher, Mr. Bunnell, was snowboarding with his 3 sons on Monday and they were all caught in an avalanche. Mr. Bunnell and one of his sons was buried, his son was found and pulled out by his brothers. Sadly, Mr Bunnell was not found in time and perished. He was a great teacher who really bonded with his students, and he will be greatly missed. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.
"Just the shock of someone taken away in such a tragic situation as the avalanche and being there with his family," said Wes Paxton, Jefferson County Schools Community Superintendent. "His sons were with him and that just hit me really hard."
Paxton hired Bunnell as a science teacher at Conifer High School seven years ago when Paxton was principal. Paxton said Bunnell was great in engaging students.
Not only was Bunnell a teacher at Conifer High School, he was also a Mountain Biking coach at Green Mountain High School in Lakewood where he lived.
A news release from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office read that the department, along with Grand County EMS, Grand County Search and Rescue, Alpine Search and Rescue, East Grand Fire Department, Flight For Life and the avalanche information center responded to the incident around 12:50 p.m.
The slide happened on the west side of Berthoud Pass in unincorporated Grand County near the town of Winter Park.
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
