August 2, 2006
OURAY - A 62-year-old Texas man died Sunday while driving on Ouray County Road 361 when he was hit in the head by a rock that rolled off a hillside.
The State Patrol reported that James Parker, of Rowlett, Texas, was driving a Jeep Rubicon on the four-wheel-drive road, also known as Yankee Boy Basin Road, when a large rock crashed through the top left of the driver's door, hitting Parker in the head and killing him.
Posted by Mark Ferguson on August 2, 2006 at 12:17 PM
I made the trip just a couple of weeks ago and was thinking about the possibility of this when I was driving under the large rock outcrop that covers part of the road. I'm sorry to hear that it became a reality for someone.
Mark
Posted by Mel Ladewig on August 2, 2006 at 2:50 PM
This is very sad news. I'm a moderator on a Rubicon Owners forum. I think there were some people from our forum up there right now. Though I checked and we don't have any news reported from any of our members. There is also the MHJC All for Fun event up there right now.
Mel-
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on August 2, 2006 at 3:17 PM
Sad. Other than not being there, I'm sure there is nothing he could have done differently.
I doubt this happend at the obvious rock overhang. Last August we were driving out after a great day climbing Sneffels. The afternoon monsoons were intense and the road that had been clear in the morning was covered with rocks, mud and branches that were being cleared with front-end loaders. We were sure glad that we were not coming down an hour earlier! Most of us just don't think about those risks when leaving on a beautiful blue-sky morning.
Discussion
4 repliesAugust 2, 2006
OURAY - A 62-year-old Texas man died Sunday while driving on Ouray County Road 361 when he was hit in the head by a rock that rolled off a hillside.
The State Patrol reported that James Parker, of Rowlett, Texas, was driving a Jeep Rubicon on the four-wheel-drive road, also known as Yankee Boy Basin Road, when a large rock crashed through the top left of the driver's door, hitting Parker in the head and killing him.
Mark
Mel-
I doubt this happend at the obvious rock overhang. Last August we were driving out after a great day climbing Sneffels. The afternoon monsoons were intense and the road that had been clear in the morning was covered with rocks, mud and branches that were being cleared with front-end loaders. We were sure glad that we were not coming down an hour earlier! Most of us just don't think about those risks when leaving on a beautiful blue-sky morning.