Multiple Fatality Rollover in Gladiator - Near Ouray

[At Risk Ute]

Happened on Camp Bird Road (backside of Imogene Pass coming into Ouray).

I’m wondering if it was one of those tours where the customers are sitting in the pickup bed of a Gladiator.

https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/three-die-in-jeep-rollover-near-ouray/

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[TROYXTROY]

Tragic. Prayers to their loved ones....

 

[beachbumm78]

It says the two passengers were buckled in inside the vehicle. Either way so sad. I read it happened right at this point on Camp Bird Road.

 

[aldo98229]

Tragic. But many people see others going over these passes on YouTube and Instagram, and don't grasp the seriousness of the task involved.

Whenever I get on a well-used trail, unfortunately I get to see too many drivers with their own ideas of what is acceptable off-road etiquette and behavior.

At this rate, these Colorado passes will get permanently shut down before I get to be on any of them.

 

[beachbumm78]

Tragic. But many people see others going over these passes on YouTube and Instagram, and don't grasp the seriousness of the risk that is involved.

At this rate, these Colorado passes will get permanently shut down before I get to be on them.

Yeah. But this one makes you wonder if maybe the driver may of had a medical issue or something. He’s older…report says it seems he drifted off the side of the road and over the cliff. He was a driver for a jeep tour company, and from Ouray, so I’m sure really familiar with these roads.
just sad to hear. It does seem many more accidents happening this year compared to recent.

 

[Bzinsky]

I’m wondering if it was one of those tours where the customers are sitting in the pickup bed of a Gladiator.

probably the safest place to sit with cliffs like that

 

[Bzinsky]

Yeah. But this one makes you wonder if maybe the driver may of had a medical issue or something. He’s older…report says it seems he drifted off the side of the road and over the cliff. He was a driver for a jeep tour company, and from Ouray, so I’m sure really familiar with these roads.
just sad to hear. It does seem many more accidents happening this year compared to recent.

Yeah thats a really wide road, not exactly threading the needle. +1 vote for medical issue.

 

[jbcrane]

Yeah. But this one makes you wonder if maybe the driver may of had a medical issue or something. He’s older…report says it seems he drifted off the side of the road and over the cliff. He was a driver for a jeep tour company, and from Ouray, so I’m sure really familiar with these roads.
just sad to hear. It does seem many more accidents happening this year compared to recent.

This was my first thought as well - a medical issue, but just speculation. I'm heading up there this weekend and this is sobering - but not deterring. Regarding increased frequency I'm betting it has to do with the perils accompanying increased traffic with inexperienced drivers on narrow, dangerous roads. Heart goes out to the families... that has to be so difficult.

 

[The Last Cowboy]

Or a tire failure, or evading another vehicle. It's all speculation at this point.

 

[tshaw2009]

The corner on that trail there is wide enough for almost three vehicles. This had to have been either a medical emergency or someone was too busy rubber-necking and not paying attention to their surroundings. A little more than a handful of the trails in CO are truly worthy of difficult or severe ratings, but even though they are on the easier side, shelf roads will kill you in a split second if you aren't paying attention.

 

[Heimkehr]

Requiescant in pace.

 

[jbcrane]

Happened on Camp Bird Road (backside of Imogene Pass coming into Ouray).

I’m wondering if it was one of those tours where the customers are sitting in the pickup bed of a Gladiator.

https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/three-die-in-jeep-rollover-near-ouray/

The map linked in the page shows the incident was 3.1 miles from Ouray, which is not quite to the Imogene turn-off. These maps are from google maps. Covered by the bubble is Thistledown Campground.

Second map shows a close-up of terrain approximately 3.1 miles from Ouray.

.

 

[Chocolate Thunder]

I saw this news yesterday. I was there just last Tuesday. It’s very sobering. We stayed directly across the street from this tour operator. A few thoughts.

The area where this occurred is NOT a 4WD Jeep trail, I t’s a relatively well maintained county dirt/gravel road that leads to Imogene and Yankee Boy basin. There aren’t guardrails here, but the road is wide enough as as not to be hazardous, opposing traffic can easily pass there with plenty of room. The area where it happened is known as “Drinking Cup” and is a popular photo op spot where people sometimes park very close to the cliff’s edge. In all of the wheeling we did in the area, the only thing that was particularly treacherous (other than The Wall on Poughkeepsie Gulch) was narrow roads/trails with close proximity to huge cliff drop offs.

Please be careful out there, and if in doubt use a spotter and go slow.

 

[beachbumm78]

This was my first thought as well - a medical issue, but just speculation. I'm heading up there this weekend and this is sobering - but not deterring. Regarding increased frequency I'm betting it has to do with the perils accompanying increased traffic with inexperienced drivers on narrow, dangerous roads. Heart goes out to the families... that has to be so difficult.

Agreed. Whatever happened it was an accident.
So many more people have been hitting the trails—many who are inexperienced and/or reckless. We’ve all seen it places. Look at Yellowstone—do people really have to be told not to try to pet the bison or get a selfie? Grand Canyon & horseshoe bend—people fall over edge for the perfect picture ?‍
Heart goes out to all the families.

 

[JSFoster75]

Happened on Camp Bird Road (backside of Imogene Pass coming into Ouray).

I’m wondering if it was one of those tours where the customers are sitting in the pickup bed of a Gladiator.

https://www.durangoherald.com/articles/three-die-in-jeep-rollover-near-ouray/

Article says they were in the vehicle wearing seatbelts (driver seatbelt status unknown), only the driver was ejected.

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