Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Father Dies Trying To Save Son In Rolling Car
The Denver Channel ^

Posted on 09/13/2005 1:27:09 PM PDT by Millee

A tourist from New Hampshire was killed Monday as he attempted to stop a car carrying his 2½ old son from rolling down an embankment.

Park rangers said John Whatmough, 32, of Nashua had gotten out of their Hyundai Santa Fe on Old Fall River Road about one-half mile above Chasm Falls. He and his wife left their son in the back seat, restrained in a child safety seat, while they were taking photos.

According to investigators, the vehicle began to roll backwards and Whatmough attempted to stop the car by opening the driver's door.

The car rolled backward, pulling him 25 feet down a steep, rocky embankment.

The vehicle came to a rest on all four wheels and the child was not injured.

Whatmough died at the accident scene from multiple traumatic injuries, rangers said.

Old Fall River Road is a narrow, unpaved one-way road that leads to the Alpine Visitors Center on Trail Ridge Road.


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last
How tragic. Prayers for the family.
1 posted on 09/13/2005 1:27:11 PM PDT by Millee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Millee
Johnny Carson's son died in a similar incident on the California coastal highway.
2 posted on 09/13/2005 1:29:29 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Islam Factoid:After forcing young girls to watch his men execute their fathers, Muhammad raped them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Millee

Truly sad - Prayers Up.


3 posted on 09/13/2005 1:29:36 PM PDT by Sax
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Millee
Awful.
4 posted on 09/13/2005 1:30:09 PM PDT by b4its2late (FOOTBALL REFEREES: It's tough playing with us, but you can't play the game without us.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Millee
the vehicle began to roll backwards and Whatmough attempted to stop the car by opening the driver's door

Is that pronounced like what muff? I feel sorry for any daughter he may have had with that name.

Sad story.

5 posted on 09/13/2005 1:30:21 PM PDT by ctlpdad (What IS our exit policy in the War on Poverty?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Millee

I've been there. It's beautiful. What a terrible thing to have happen.


6 posted on 09/13/2005 1:30:41 PM PDT by JenB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

I don't think he was in a carseat.


7 posted on 09/13/2005 1:31:46 PM PDT by sine_nomine (Protect the weakest of the weak - the unborn babies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Millee

That's awful.


8 posted on 09/13/2005 1:32:00 PM PDT by SittinYonder (Nemo me impune lacessit)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Millee

That poor kid lost one great dad who was willing to do anything for him.


9 posted on 09/13/2005 1:33:20 PM PDT by wideawake (God bless our brave troops and their Commander in Chief)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: sine_nomine
I don't think he was in a carseat.

What a coincidence. Neither was this guy.

10 posted on 09/13/2005 1:33:24 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Islam Factoid:After forcing young girls to watch his men execute their fathers, Muhammad raped them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: JenB

where is this? I live in NH and I don't know where this is...


11 posted on 09/13/2005 1:33:45 PM PDT by NormB (Yes, but watch your cookies!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: NormB

Estes Park Colorado


12 posted on 09/13/2005 1:35:38 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: NormB

North-Central Colorado. Rocky Mountain National Park. It's gorgeous there.


13 posted on 09/13/2005 1:36:02 PM PDT by JenB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: JenB

Oh! Thought it was Estes. Sorry.


14 posted on 09/13/2005 1:37:00 PM PDT by RadioAstronomer (Senior member of Darwin Central)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Millee

Someone should teach Ted Kennedy how to at least try and save someone else in a rolled or sinking vehicle

Sorry to hear.


15 posted on 09/13/2005 1:37:47 PM PDT by jw777
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Millee

Very sad. Tell the child he had a hero for a father.


16 posted on 09/13/2005 1:40:17 PM PDT by Nachum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Millee
A father doing what a father is supposed to do. Prayers for the family.

His son has a gift from his father from this act of love more than many sons have from fathers who hang around their whole lives and give nothing.

Something for all of us fathers to ponder on.

17 posted on 09/13/2005 1:41:11 PM PDT by Ghengis (Alexander was a wuss!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RadioAstronomer

Estes Park is the nearest town to RMNP. Quaint little place, very pretty.


18 posted on 09/13/2005 1:42:06 PM PDT by JenB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Millee
According to investigators, the vehicle began to roll backwards and Whatmough attempted to stop the car by opening the driver's door.

More likely, he attempted to stop the car by opening the driver's door and getting in to hit the brakes. I guess he only got half-way to that goal.

19 posted on 09/13/2005 1:43:22 PM PDT by theDentist (The Dems have put all their eggs in one basket-case: Howard "Belltower" Dean.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wideawake
That poor kid lost one great dad who was willing to do anything for him.

Except, apparently, to set the parking brake and leave the car in gear. Tragic, to be sure, and also noble -- but it took a very stupid mistake to set it up.

20 posted on 09/13/2005 1:44:03 PM PDT by r9etb
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-31 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson