Man in custody following pursuit, crash in Rocky Mountain National Park

DENVER ( KDVR ) — A man was taken into custody Monday after speeding through Rocky Mountain National Park and allegedly crashing into and injuring three people. A shelter-in-place order was also lifted in Estes Park .

The National Park Service said Wayde Thyfault of Hudson was taken into custody Monday morning in the High Drive area outside Rocky Mountain National Park.

Man driving ‘recklessly’ through national park

Late Sunday afternoon, the National Park Service said a 23-year-old man sped through the Grand Lake entrance on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park . National Park Law Enforcement Rangers attempted to pull over the man, but the rangers said he failed to yield.

Rangers said the man continued to drive recklessly on Trail Ridge Road, U.S. 34, which is a heavily traveled highway above tree line. Rangers said the man continued to pass vehicles at a fast speed for the entirety of the 48-mile stretch.

Eventually, the National Park Service said rangers were forced to back off their pursuit due to the suspect’s reckless driving.

Once the man reached Deer Ridge Junction on the east side of the national park, Estes Park police and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office attempted to slow him down using stop sticks near the Beaver Medows Entrance.

However, rangers said the man sped past the entrance and hit another car. Three people were taken to the hospital following the crash, with one person sustaining critical injuries, rangers said.

After crashing, rangers said the suspect got out of the car and ran on foot northeast towards homes along High Drive in Estes Park. A shelter-in-place was issued for those living in that area.

Just before 2 a.m. on Monday, the shelter-in-place for U.S. 36 and Elkhorn Avenue was lifted.

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