Body Recovered After Vehicle Drove 300 Feet Over Grand Canyon Rim

On Sunday, September 7, Park Service officials received reports of a car driving over the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and then plunging 300 feet to the rocks below.

On September 8, the NPS published an official report on the incident, which claimed the life of a Colorado man.

NPS identified the individual as Steven (Drew) Bradly, 27, of Federal Heights, Colorado. Authorities said that Bradley drove his car into the canyon near the South Kaibab Trailhead at approximately 12:40 P.M.

“Park rangers responded immediately and recovered the body, which was located about 300 feet below the rim. It was transported to the rim by helicopter and then transferred to the Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office,” wrote NPS in a news release.

The NPS said it is investigating the incident alongside the local medical examiner. No additional information is currently available.

It’s not the first time this year that a driver has perished in a crash at the famed canyon. In February, a 20-year-old California man died after driving into the canyon just east of the Yavapai Geology Museum on the South Rim. Officials recovered the man’s body and his car 1,000 feet below the rim.

In October 2021, a man died after driving his car off the canyon’s western rim near the Grand Canyon Skywalk.

The South Kaibab Trailhead is a nine-minute bus ride from the park Visitor Center—no private vehicles are allowed at the trailhead. Located 15 miles from the iconic Phantom Ranch, the South Kaibab Trail is a popular tourist destination offering expansive views of the canyon.

According to the NPS, car accidents are the second leading cause of unintentional death in the national park system. On average, one person a week dies on NPS roadways. To reduce the risk of injury from a vehicle crash, NPS has compiled a list of safety tips.