A 27-year-old Colorado man died Sunday after his car went over the edge of the rim at Grand Canyon National Park and fell roughly 300 feet, park officials said.
Rangers were notified at about 12:40 p.m. that a vehicle with a single occupant had plunged over the rim near the South Kaibab Trailhead on the park’s South Rim, the National Park Service said Monday. Responding personnel recovered the occupant’s body from below the rim and a helicopter airlifted it back to the rim before it was transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The National Park Service identified the man as Steven "Drew" Bradley of Federal Heights, Colorado. Officials said Bradley was the sole occupant of the vehicle. NPS did not disclose how the vehicle went over the rim, and the incident remains under investigation by the National Park Service and the Coconino County Medical Examiner.
Park officials provided resources for those struggling with mental-health concerns, directing people to contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The National Park Service did not make further details about the crash public Monday.
The South Kaibab Trailhead is a popular access point for hikers on the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. Park staff routinely respond to emergencies and recoveries in areas with significant elevation changes and steep terrain. The park’s investigation will inform any further public releases about the circumstances surrounding the vehicle’s fall and the condition of the roadway or rim at the location.
No additional information was immediately available.