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Old 04-05-2011, 10:15 PM
 
18,732 posts, read 33,402,036 times
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This week's Ridgway newspaper (which I still get- can't shake the daydream!) reports that a young man drove his Jeep Cherokee right off 550 about 70 miles outside of Durango. Went down some 370 feet and landed on its roof. A passerby slid down and pulled him out, and Mountain Rescue arrived.
The young man was taken to Ouray by ambulance, then helicoptered to GJ, and then to Denver. No word on his condition.

I can just imagine driving right off that road.
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Old 04-05-2011, 11:47 PM
 
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Wink If remaining on US 550

Fantastic scenery of course. One also has to love a road where in many places there is perhaps an inch of asphalt beyond the thin white line along the edge, and then steep, long drops to hard rocks far below. Adds to the allure, but best to remain on the road . . . otherwise perhaps not much left to helicopter to Denver.
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Old 04-06-2011, 08:05 AM
 
Location: Western Colorado
12,858 posts, read 16,878,541 times
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He drove off the top of Red Mountain Pass, Jeep exploded and caught fire. It was interesting to listen to on my scanner.
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Old 04-06-2011, 08:19 AM
 
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If he was medivac'ed as described, his condition was undoubtedly pretty serious. I've seen plenty of nasty accidents on US550 over the years--simply because I used to drive it frequently. Ironically, it is one of the "safer" highways in Colorado in numbers of accidents and fatalities--probably because it is hair-raising enough that most people tend drive it with more caution. No question, though, make a mistake on that road, and it can be quite unforgiving.
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Old 04-06-2011, 09:11 AM
 
Location: Western Colorado
12,858 posts, read 16,878,541 times
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Here's the story with a photo:

Man survives fiery plunge off mountain pass - KDVR (http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-man-survives-fiery-plunge-off-mountain-pass-20110405,0,2514538.story - broken link)

http://durangoherald.com/article/201...-Mountain-Pass
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Old 04-06-2011, 09:56 AM
 
26,218 posts, read 49,060,172 times
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He had 2nd degree burns (blistering, etc) and is now back at work. What a LUCKY guy to have survived that wreck!
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Old 04-07-2011, 03:06 PM
 
18,732 posts, read 33,402,036 times
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Back at work?! There must be a word beyond "lucky!"
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Old 04-07-2011, 04:50 PM
 
Location: Greeley, Colorado
631 posts, read 1,575,734 times
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Scary road to be sure, though the scenery is wonderful. He's pretty darned lucky to have even lived through something like that.
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Old 04-08-2011, 08:55 AM
 
Location: Sun City West, Arizona
50,838 posts, read 24,347,720 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eon-krate32 View Post
Scary road to be sure, though the scenery is wonderful. He's pretty darned lucky to have even lived through something like that.
Is my memory correct from a few years ago that the worst drop-offs are mostly on the west side of the road?
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Old 04-08-2011, 09:38 AM
 
331 posts, read 990,238 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brightdoglover View Post
Back at work?! There must be a word beyond "lucky!"
Back at work with 2nd degree burns! This man eats grizzlies for breakfast.
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