Reports have confirmed three people have died after a Jeep plunged over a cliff in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains on Monday.
The Montrose Daily Press has confirmed the victims as Arizona tourists Diana Robles, 28; Ofelia Figueroa-Perez, 60; and hired driver Don Fehd, 72.
Reports from police who attended the scene state the vehicle first plummeted 100 feet to the bottom of a cliff, before rolling about 140 feet down a rocky embankment, ejecting the driver. The bodies of the two sightseers were found in the car, which rested on its roof near the bank of a creek.
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Messages for the victims have already begun rolling in. A report from The Montrose Daily Press shared a message for the two sightseers: "We know they are in the merciful hands of our Lord as they themselves being nurses had healing hands in every life they touched."
Driver Fehd was described by colleagues at Colorado West Jeep Rentals and Tours, as having a 'quirky, genuine way' with his passengers, according to The Ouray County Plaindealer.
Monday’s accident marked the second deadly crash in the area in seven days. Last week, an Arizona man was killed and his wife was injured when their ATV rolled hundreds of feet.
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It's not just the roads that are considered deadly either. Reports have also been confirmed that this month three climbers who attempted to scale the mountain's rocky face have also lost their lives.
This month, 22-year-old Maya Humeau was confirmed as the third person to lose her life in that month alone while attempting to climb dangerous routes in the Colorado mountains.
The Black Wall climbing area north of Mount Evans has become a magnet for climbers wanting to push their skills, but it's also become deadly as it features 'long, committing' routes that are best for experienced climbers, according to Mountain Project.
Humeau is the third deadly report and comes just days after another climber plunged to his death from a nearby Colorado peak.
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The fallen hiker was killed after falling several hundred feet during a descent from Blanca Peak, in the Sangre de Cristo mountain range in southern Colorado. And this accident came days after yet another experienced climber died on Aspen-area Capitol Peak whilst horrified onlookers watched.
Officials said: "Capitol Peak is considered one of Colorado’s most difficult mountains to climb with extreme exposure and loose, crumbling rock."
Officials reminded hikers of the dangers of the Elk Mountains, the high rugged range in the Rocky Mountains.
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Officials also added: "The Elk Mountains are treacherous and that the loose, rotting terrain can lead to unstable conditions that can cause serious injuries or death."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677
Niamh Spence