News Release

Motor Vehicle Accident Tuesday Began In Alpine Visitor Center Parking Lot

Date: September 4, 2019
Contact: Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer, [phone]
Contact: Park Information, [phone]

Yesterday afternoon, Tuesday, September 3, a vehicle was involved in an incident that began in the Alpine Visitor Center parking lot in Rocky Mountain National Park. The driver of the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed the wrong way in front of the Alpine Visitor Center when it struck a stopped vehicle. The stopped vehicle was then pushed up on to the sidewalk in front of the Alpine Visitor Center. Fortunately, there were no pedestrians that were injured when this occurred. The vehicle then continued out the inbound entrance lane, narrowly missing a park volunteer, over rocks in the small island separating the Alpine Visitor Center from Trail Ridge Road, crossed over Trail Ridge Road and flipped onto the tundra near the Ute Trail, eventually coming to rest on its tires approximately 75 feet off of Trail Ridge Road.

There were eight passengers in this vehicle. Five passengers, including two children, were taken by ambulance to Estes Park Health. The children were not properly restrained when the incident occurred.  Three of these individuals suffered serious injuries. The two passengers in the stopped vehicle in front of Alpine Visitor Center did not require further medical assistance.
   
The cause is under investigation. No further information is available at this time.