Man killed when car plunges into Grand Canyon

CNN ^ | July 14, 2009

[rdl6989]

A man died after his car plunged 600 feet off the edge of the Grand Canyon's South Rim, authorities said Tuesday. The Arizona park's regional communications center received several reports of a car driving off the edge about 6 a.m. Monday, according to a written statement.

"Upon arriving at the scene, investigators found tire tracks leading to the edge behind the Thunderbird Lodge and received reports of a single occupant in a blue passenger car driving over the edge," the statement said.

Rescue personnel descended on ropes and found the vehicle about 600 feet into the canyon. The man's body was recovered shortly afterward, the statement said.

The incident occurred near the El Tovar hotel in a village on the canyon's South Rim, park spokeswoman Shannan Marcak said.

Authorities have not ruled the death a suicide, she said. "It has not been ruled anything at this time."

The statement said the National Park Service is investigating. Typically, Marcak said, such investigations take at least a few days.

[Celerity]

The only retirement plan left.

[Puppage]

When I die I want to go like my Grandfather, in my sleep. Not screaming & yelling like the people in the backseat.

[bill1952]

Boy. Think about that last ride - those last seconds...

[Moose4]

Thelma and Louise.

}:-)4

[ChocChipCookie]

My 6 yo son refused to go within 20 feet of the Canyon’s edge. LOL I have family photos with the rest of us standing at different points near the Canyon and one little boy standing far, far away!

[umgud]

Grand exit?

[Kartographer]

Someone saw Thelma and Louise one to many times! This is clearly the fault of the movie industry and their violent movies! :-)

But it is also a good example of the fall not killing someone it was that sudden stop when he reached the bottom!

[FreepShop1]

Boy. Think about that last ride - those last seconds...

How many seconds did he have, assuming he was going at least 40 mph?

[Abathar]

Was he being chased by a understanding cop?

[TSgt]

Area where this would have occured...

[Renegade]

I think that car is STILL at the bottom of the canyon as a tourist attraction .

[laterldf]

poor guy probably watched Thelma & Louise one too many times

laterldf

[TSgt]

600ft at 40mph

1 mile = 5280 feet so he went .11 miles

Time = Distance ÷ Speed

.16 seconds?

How’d I do?

[bill1952]

58.6 feet per second at 40MPH

A little over 10 seconds assuming no increase in speed during the fall...

[ErnBatavia]

I would stay even farther back than that....I told wifey - who was gleefully leaning over the rail for a better look - that if she slipped, she was on her own, ‘cause I wasn’t getting any closer.

[Aria]

I’m with your son! I can’t even stand photos of high places...like construction workers at the top of a skyscraper looking down. Gives me the CREEPS!

[B-Chan]

I’ve had many happy times there, especially on Super Sunday — no one’s in the park, but it’s not a holiday, so you get the Canyon to yourself sans crowds.

[Uncle George]

Watch out for Federally mandated parachutes, seatbelts and wraparound air bags in Obama’s next proclamation.

[Kartographer]

Tank of gas $60.00
Three day pass to the Grand Canyon National Park $25.00
Going out like Thelma and Louise PRICELESS!