Fatal Rockfall in Glacier National Park Claims Life of Missouri Man
A 72-year-old Missouri man injured by a rockfall while driving through Montana’s Glacier National Park succumbed to his injuries at a hospital on July 16, marking the park’s first fatality of its kind since 2019. The Flathead County Coroner’s Office stated that Rex Schowengerdt was driving along the 50-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road on July 11 when a rock dislodged from a cliff face and penetrated the roof of his vehicle. The coroner’s office ruled the death accidental.
Investigation and Previous Park Fatalities
The Flathead County Coroner’s Office announced that it collaborated with Glacier National Park and other agencies during the investigation to ensure a coordinated response to the uncommon event. Fatal rockfalls involving park visitors are exceptionally rare. The previous fatal incident occurred in 2019, when a 14-year-old girl from Utah died after falling rocks struck her vehicle, injuring four others. Prior to that, in 1996, a 30-year-old student from Japan was killed and his wife was injured when rocks crushed a section of their rental car.
Weather Conditions and Route Safety
National Park Service officials noted that parts of the Going-to-the-Sun Road had been closed late last month due to heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding, before reopening on June 30. Heavy downpours can contribute to landslides because ground saturation weakens slopes and rocks. A warning posted last month on the park’s Facebook page cautioned visitors that rainfall and flooding can trigger dangerous conditions involving rockfalls and washouts.
History of the Popular Park Route
Constructed in the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Going-to-the-Sun Road has evolved into one of Glacier National Park’s most heavily visited areas, according to the Park Service. The landmark route provides motorists with sweeping views of alpine lakes, forests, and glacier-carved mountain peaks.
