by Kimberly Adams
TRINIDAD — The Las Animas County Sheriff’s office reported April 27 that a 53-year old man from Weston died last weekend from fatal injuries he sustained from a one-vehicle accident on Simpson’s Rest, the mountain where the “Trinidad” sign overlooks the city.
Law enforcement found a wrecked gray 1999 Dodge Durango and a conscious but incoherent male, later identified as William Phillips, 53, with serious bodily injury. Phillips was found nearly 50 yards from the crashed truck. Authorities speculate he was ejected from the truck as it tumbled down the mountainside.
Trinidad Ambulance transported Phillips to Mt. San Rafael Hospital where he was later pronounced dead by the county coroner.
Sheriff’s officials received the initial call Saturday, April 25 at approximately 3:30 pm reporting a vehicle driving off the cliff of Simpson’s Rest and landing at its base just north of State Street and Johnson Ave. Trinidad police officers and sheriff’s deputies were joined by Colorado State Patrol Troopers who located the vehicle acceleration marks at the top of Simpson’s Rest about 20-30 yards north of the mountain rim. “The vehicle’s tracks were followed south to the edge of the mountain where the vehicle appeared to drive over the edge, directly underneath the ‘Trinidad’ sign and coming to rest at the base of the mountain,” Las Animas County Sheriff James W. Casias said in a press release.
Trinidad Fire Department and Fisher’s Peak Volunteer Fire Department personnel were on the scene assessing the situation. “A search of the area was conducted and no other occupants from the vehicle could be located,” Sheriff Casias said in the release.
The incident remains under investigation by the state patrol and the sheriff’s office.
