UPDATE: According to the Denver Gazette: “A 23-year-old male is in custody Monday after speeding and recklessly driving through Rocky Mountain National Park along U.S. Highway 34 (Trail Ridge Road) late Sunday, park officials said Monday morning. He has been identified at Wayde Thyfault from Hudson, Colorado, and was apprehended in the High Drive area outside Rocky Mountain National Park late Monday morning, Park officials said.”
Late yesterday afternoon, a 23-year-old man sped through the Grand Lake entrance on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park. Park Law Enforcement Rangers were notified and attempted to pull the man over.
He failed to yield and continued to drive recklessly on U.S. Highway 34 (Trail Ridge Road) passing vehicles at high rates of speeds over the 48-mile stretch of the mountain highway through the park. Because of his high rates of speed and recklessness, law enforcement rangers backed off on the pursuit.
Park law enforcement rangers were assisted by Estes Park Police Department and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
Law enforcement personnel attempted to slow the vehicle at Deer Ridge Junction and placed strip sticks near Beaver Meadows Entrance. The suspect continued to travel at a high rate of speed south past the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and hit another vehicle with three individuals inside. All three individuals were transported by ambulance to Estes Park Health, one with critical injuries.
After the collision, the suspect exited his vehicle and ran on foot northeast toward homes along High Drive in the town of Estes Park. Law enforcement agencies including Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park Police Department and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office provided instructions to area residents to shelter in place.
The suspect is identified as a white male, 5 foot 9 inches, 165 pounds, bald, reported to be wearing blue jeans and no shirt or shoes. He appeared to have a head injury from the motor vehicle crash.
He was last seen fleeing from his vehicle in Rocky Mountain National Park south of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on U.S. Highway 36 toward High Drive. It was determined Sunday evening that the individual was believed to be a suspect in a felony burglary case in Grand County that remains under investigation.
The suspect is still at large as of this morning. If you have information of the whereabouts of this person, immediately call 911. Because this is an active investigation and evolving incident, no further information is available at this time.
##RVT1174b
Was he driving an rv? Pulling a trailer or 5th. wheel??
A bit too light on information for this report to come out maybe?
Bill, yeah. . . not much information to go with here, but maybe just someone saw or heard something that may help the police. And, no, no RV involved. But anyone who has driven this popular high mountain road knows it is a dangerous place to speed, and in this case recklessly. And Estes Park is a small town, where word of mouth discussion travels fast.
All so true, thanks.
If it is known that he is 23 there must be a name and picture somewhere.
The driver has been arrested.👍 The post has been updated accordingly. Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you, RV Travel! 🙂 Hmm, … well … that was extremely dangerous, reckless, and egregious behavior. I don’t know how long it will take before his court date, but there will be a lot of charges, especially if those taken to the hospital have long-term injuries (sounds as though one or more may). I do wonder if he was terribly late for something, in which case he certainly missed whatever it was as he hid from the police. Perhaps he was angry and it effectively was an instance of road rage? Whatever, it was certainly could have been managed eminently better. Thanks again, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂