Death Prompts Safety Warning For Hikers Heading To Red Rocks
MORRISON, Colo. (CBS4) - Officials still haven't released the name of the woman who died in Red Rocks Park.
The woman was hiking on Friday afternoon when she fell 100 feet off the rocks and died. Officials say the accident is safety warning for anyone heading to Red Rocks.
"Somehow, on the trail, she either lost her balance, still unclear, but she went over the edge, and it was at least a 100 feet straight fall down to the ground," Mark Techmeyer with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department said.
The 20-year-old victim from Denver was walking near the Red Rocks Amphitheatre. She was joined by her sister and her sister's boyfriend.
"For them to witness this has got to be one of the most tragic things you can think of," Techmeyer said. "Everyone was shook up by this. It was a very far fall. Just a tragic, tragic accident."
Techmeyer says they were hiking in a restricted area, and the signs would have clearly shown that.
"It's a tragedy. You just wish she would have obeyed the rules and stayed out of that area. Obviously it can be very dangerous," Red Rocks visitor Ron Morris said.
Some concertgoers arriving for Saturday's event were shaken up by the news.
"I hike through all the time; I've taken my dog up here. I can't imagine having such a horrible thing," visitor Grace Evans said.
They hope other Red Rocks visitors will learn from this accident and heed the signs.
"Constantly, you just think about this woman and your heart just goes out to her and her family. I'll be thinking about her day in and day out, her family especially," visitor Leigh Mehlman said.
