Couple expected to survive 450-foot plunge off mountain road

[bluedigger]

An “incredible” rescue mission Sunday for a Montrose couple whose Jeep plunged 450 feet down a mountain road between Ouray and Telluride likely saved the lives of the couple, authorities said.

“They are fortunate to be alive,” said San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Susan Lilly. “It was just a great outcome.”

According to authorities, Robert and Kay Scott, both 72 years old, were driving on Imogene Pass, a popular high-country road that connects Ouray and Telluride, when their Jeep went off the road and down the mountain, rolling several times.

While stuck in the vehicle 450 feet down in the canyon from the road, Kay Scott was able to get a phone and call 911 at 11:50 a.m. Sunday, Lilly said.

“It’s incredible they had cell service in the canyon,” Lilly said. “There’s not reliable cell service in that area.”

The first paramedic was on scene and made contact with the Scotts 450 feet down from the road within 30 minutes, Lilly said. It was determined both Robert and Kay Scott suffered critical injuries.

Because of the steep and narrow mountainous terrain, extracting the couple required a highly technical rescue, Lilly said.

More than 35 people from Telluride Fire Protection District EMS and Fire, San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office and San Miguel County Search and Rescue, as well as willing bystanders, helped during the nearly five-hour mission.

The first patient, Lilly said, reached the top of the road just after 3 p.m. and was taken to Telluride Medical Center. The second patient was extracted shortly after and also taken to the hospital.

Both Robert and Kay Scott were then flown to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. A spokeswoman for the hospital said, as of 11:20 a.m. Monday, the couple were in critical but stable condition.

https://the-journal.com/articles/149349-couple-expected-to-survive-450foot-plunge-off-mountain-road?fbclid=IwAR2lNmZbDuNPRrF5K2u07jxDZ75Ptfps1Ok0W2fXOxZy_AtVwvj4KxaPdlQ

I've driven this pass, with my dog, and while it is not technically difficult, the road is pretty narrow in a lot of spots. You drop a wheel over the edge, you're liable to keep going for a long ways. The response time by the emergency services was pretty incredible! (There's a photo of the Jeep, too. The roll cage held it's integrity. Impressive.)

Here's a link to a photolog I posted on DU of my trip across Imogene Pass as well - apologies for the photobucket crap on the images. https://www.democraticunderground.com/10367651

[randr]

1. Take that ride every 4th of July

Not for inexperienced drivers. Cell service was a rare fluke indeed.

[bluedigger]

3. Was it open this year on the Fourth?

I did it in early August and still had icy rain coming down to Telluride.

[randr]

7. Missed this year

I think it was open though

[bluedigger]

8. Didn't open until the end of July.

8/3/19 - The trail is fully open.No worse than in previous years.will most likely be very busy as it was on the 30th of July. No worse than previously.I did see a few stock 100 series Lexus and Landcruisers that were definitely going to get damaged trying.
7/28/19 - According to fellow 4wheelers from Ouray, opened today for the 1st time this season... Didn't run it but met these folks on the top of Ophir Pass....
7/19/19 - I emailed San Miguel road department and they said "The crews are still clearing Imogene and won't finish the San Miguel County side until later next week. They will then move the dozer to Black Bear Pass."
2/19/19 - Closed by snow.

http://www.bushducks.com/tripreps/passopen.htm#imogene

Crazy how we went from a record drought year to a record moisture year back to back.

[randr]

9. Did Black Bear many years ago

First time drove into Telluride, color weekend 1973?, dirt road all the way up valley. Don't remember what Dallas Divide was like as we came thru Ridgeway. Could have bought one or two of those houses on the main street for a couple of grand.

[bluedigger]

10. Really want to do Black Bear.

Maybe next Jeep...

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. And I'm going to go out on a limb here and suggest

they were both wearing seatbelts.

[bluedigger]

4. Oh, yeah.

God knows how many times they rolled, though. They must have got thrashed.

[MuseRider]

5. Those passes scare the crap outta me!

Imogene was awful, I had my eyes closed most of the time but the first one we did was Ophir pass. My husband convinced me we could do it. We knew NOTHING but he had a new Pathfinder and saw nothing wrong with taking me and our 2 kids up. He told me that they told him it was easy. Way up the top when there was barely room for our car and the footing was loose rock he killed the engine. We had 6 inches to the edge. We made it but it took me 2 hours after we got back to get my hands out of the clutched position. The kids were crying, I was angry as hell when he wanted to go back to Telluride that way, HAH! We drove the long way with him complaining the entire way back about me being a chicken. Damn right I was.

[bluedigger]

6. I won't say I wasn't scared coming down.

There's a 200' section along a cliff face with a blind turn at the end. I was praying not to meet anyone coming up until I got past it, but, that which does not kill you, makes you stronger. Totally worth it!

[MuseRider]

11. I will never do it again. NEVER!

We used to go to Telluride every year. It was a 14 hour drive or we could go all night when the kids were little so they could sleep through it. It was our favorite place in the world then. We considered not moving to a new house but spending the money buying a lot there. We decided not to. Bet you cannot guess what is on that lot now. God what a bad decision that was! We loved the place, it felt like home but then it started to change and the last time we were there it just was not quite the same but then neither were we.

[bluedigger]

12. We call the residents there "trustifarians".

Nothing but trust fund money in that town now.

[MuseRider]

13. Yeah.

It used to be so funky and fun and almost a step back into the 60's. The vibe was gone last time. It seemed like they were still trying but that Ski Resort kinda messed it all up. Still an awesome place if you have the money to spend there. We used to, not like it is now. Really made me sad. Kinda like Aspen, Crested Butte. I have not been back to Colorado in years. I miss it.

I have friends who go to Ouray every year. I watch for their pictures and feel jealous!