by Rynski on Jul.20, 2009, under Day of the Dead, crash, life, suicide, update
Update – Drove over edge of Grand Canyon: Gheorghe Chiriac, 57
Ghoerghe Chiriac, 57, was found dead near a car he drove over the edge of the Grand Canyon on July 13, according to a news release from the National Park Service.
Chiriac, who lived in Apple Valley, Calif., emigrated from Romania 30 years ago. His death has been ruled a suicide.
Several witness contacted the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center around 6 a.m. to report a car had plunged over the edge near the El Tovar Hotel.
Tire tracks behind Thunderbird Lodge led to the south rim of the canyon, where a blue passenger car was found about 600 feet down. Chiriac’s body was found soon after.
Chiriac had driven from the curb of the loading area between the hotel and Kachina Lodge, veered left through grass behind the Kachina, and veered right at the Thunderbird where he drove over the edge, the release said.
Because Chiriac had driven quite a distance from the roadway, his plunge into the canyon was not inhibited by any wall or barriers.
Chiriac had been the only one in the vehicle.
His body was pulled up by a helicopter’s long-line operation and picked up by the Coconino County Medical Examiner.
No word on what happens to the car.
Do you know anything about this incident? Please comment below or e-mail rynski@tucsoncitizen.com
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July 14th, 2009 on 9:59 am
No, I know nothing but I hear a lot of folks want to end there life this away. My Brother, dying of cancer had planned his dimise this way and told me how he was going to do it with a 55 gallon drum of gas in the back seat of his Cadillac. I told him he’s a fool and it’s not going to explode like on T.V. and you’ll end up with some gas in your eyes and besides, gas is expensive and put a lit road flare in the glove box so it will ignite. He died in his sleep before he could do it.
July 14th, 2009 on 10:31 am
Yes, suicide is sadly too frequently the only option some see. I am glad your brother did not go through with it and I do hope he is now at peace.
July 14th, 2009 on 10:54 am
I wondered if this tragic death was prompted from that 1991 movie “Thelma and Louise”, but I hope I didn’t just give away that ending.
July 14th, 2009 on 10:59 am
I just bought that movie and I was going to watch it tonight, you mean they die in the end? Kidding, there are a whole lot of cars down there at the bottom of the G.C., too expensive to bring them back up. You’ll never believe what Captcha words they gave me, geeze-louise
July 14th, 2009 on 11:16 am
Very sad. Can you imagine how slow it would feel while you’re dropping 600 feet? The longest seconds ever.
July 14th, 2009 on 4:21 pm
Probably a suicide,(hard to miss that ‘caution-huge canyon ahead’-sign) Don’t feel bad az, it’s not the fall that gets ya, it’s the sudden stop.
July 14th, 2009 on 4:43 pm
You’re right, but I’ve never understood what could be so bad as to do something to yourself like that.
July 20th, 2009 on 10:15 am
i was thinking the same thing.
July 20th, 2009 on 8:13 am
NOTE – This story was updated 7/20 with the man’s name and the official ruling of suicide.
ryn.
July 27th, 2009 on 9:11 pm
I visited the GC South Rim just over a week ago on July 19th and could see a portion of the subject vehicle from the Lookout Studio viewing deck. I write only to mention that it was NOT likely that the vehicle flew off the canyon rim and dropped 600 ft before first hitting the sloping wall below… Very little running space to gain speed with the path taken on the rim surface to reach the small opening that does not have a stub-wall, so the poor sole probably tumbled most of the 600 ft. And, there is a lot more gorge to go there… it’s at least 1,000 ft deep in the immediate area.