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SUV Accident Off Rocky Mountain’s Trail Ridge Road Causes Temporary Closure

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Published Date

September 3, 2022

View of the vehicle off road approximately 500 feet below Trail Ridge Road, Rocky Mountain National Park / NPS

At approximately 8:50 p.m. on Thursday, September 1, 2022, Rocky Mountain National Park received a call from a visitor traveling on Trail Ridge Road who saw a vehicle off road. A small SUV with one occupant had driven off Trail Ridge Road east of Gore Range Overlook, and the vehicle came to rest approximately 500-feet down the steep slope.  While the occupant was being rescued, Trail Ridge Road was temporarily closed for two hours.  

The occupant, a 54-year old man from Florida, walked up from the vehicle with assistance from park staff and the Estes Valley Fire Protection District and was transported out of the park by Estes Park Health ambulance.   

Trail Ridge Road was temporarily closed again this morning, September 2, for approximately 4 hours as park staff and Monarch Towing Company worked to extract the vehicle and all associated debris.  

In addition to the park's Search and Rescue team and law enforcement staff, partner agencies provided key support on this incident, including the Estes Valley Fire Protection District and Estes Park Health.  

This incident is under investigation. No further information is available. 

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Comments

Submitted by Jerry Swanson on September 3, 2022 - 12:17pm.

We appreciate all the Search and Rescue and Sherriffs office and all others who sacrifice their time and efforts to help .. God bless. 

 


Submitted by Glad2bretired on September 4, 2022 - 6:17pm.

Kudos to the responders and very fortunate the driver survived.  I patrolled this area in the early 1980's.  The lack of guardrails on this section of road unnerved some drivers, and on one occasion I had to arrange a tow for a lady who froze at the wheel and refused to drive any further.  In my opinion, Trail Ridge is the most beautiful high-altitude road I've ever driven.


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