Colorado man dies after car plunges over Grand Canyon rim near South Kaibab Trailhead

A Colorado man died Sunday after his car went over the edge of the rim at Grand Canyon National Park and plunged hundreds of feet, park officials said.

Rangers were notified at about 12:40 p.m. that a single-occupant vehicle had gone over the rim near the South Kaibab Trailhead, the National Park Service said Monday. Responders reached the scene and recovered the man’s body approximately 300 feet below the rim.

The victim was identified by the National Park Service as Steven “Drew” Bradley, 27, of Federal Heights, Colorado. A helicopter airlifted Bradley’s remains to the rim, and they were later transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office in Arizona.

The National Park Service said it did not have details on how the vehicle went over the rim and that the incident is under investigation by park officials in coordination with the Coconino County Medical Examiner. No further information was immediately provided.

The South Kaibab Trailhead is one of the Grand Canyon’s heavily visited access points, and its proximity to steep cliffs requires motorists and visitors to exercise caution. National Park Service personnel and search-and-rescue teams routinely respond to accidents and medical emergencies in the park, which spans nearly 1.2 million acres and sees millions of visitors annually.

The Park Service included contact information for those struggling with mental health issues in its statement, directing people to call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or to call 1-800-273-8255. Local resources cited for New York City residents were 1-888-NYC-WELL for confidential crisis counseling, and the Park Service reiterated the national hotline for those outside the New York area.

The Coconino County Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death as part of the ongoing investigation. The National Park Service and local authorities did not indicate whether any other vehicles or persons were involved in the incident.

Officials asked anyone with information about the crash to contact park authorities. The investigation remains active, and the park will release additional details as they become available.