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Contact: Phil Zichterman, 970-641-2337 x227
A vehicle that plunged into the Black Canyon on Monday night will be removed next week. Praveen Daniel a native of India and resident of Chicago drove through a fence at the Tomichi Point overlook late Monday afternoon. The car came to rest nearly 500 feet below the rim. Two dozen rescuers from the National Park Service and local Montrose County rescue team members took four hours to retrieve Daniel and transport him to the Montrose County hospital. Mr. Daniel was released from the hospital this morning with minor injuries. Mr. Daniel rented the 2007 Kia in the Chicago area and drove to Colorado, where he visited both Rocky Mountain National Park and Black Canyon of the Gunnison. He was wearing a seatbelt and all of the vehicle’s airbags deployed in the crash. Hertz, the rental car company told National Park Service officials that they will pay for the expensive removal of the vehicle next week. It is anticipated that towing vehicles will be able to bring the vehicle to the rim, with little damage to the park. NPS Crews were already repairing the popular lookout’s fence today. 
NPS Photo 
NPS Photo 
NPS Photo |
Last updated: February 24, 2015