Ongoing Law Enforcement Incident, Suspect At Large Following High Speed Reckless Driving Across Rocky Mountain National Park, Flees Scene Of Motor Vehicle Crash

Sept 9,2024
​Update: The subject is in custody.  He has been identified as Wayde Thyfault from Hudson, Colorado.  He was apprehended in the High Drive area outside of Rocky Mountain National Park.

​Sept 8, 2024
Late this afternoon a 23 year-old-male sped through the Grand Lake entrance on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park.  Park Law Enforcement Rangers were notified and attempted to pull the man over.  He failed to yield and continued to drive recklessly on US Highway 34 (Trail Ridge Road) passing vehicles at high rates of speeds over the 48 mile stretch of this mountain highway through the park.  Because of the suspect's high rates of speed and recklessness, law enforcement rangers backed off on the pursuit.  
 
Rocky Mountain National Park Law Enforcement Rangers were assisted by Estes Park Police Department and Larimer County Sheriff's Office.  Law enforcement personnel attempted to slow the vehicle at Deer Ridge Junction and placed strip sticks near Beaver Meadows Entrance.  The suspect continued to travel at a high rate of speed south past the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center and hit another vehicle with three individuals inside.  All three individuals were transported by ambulance to Estes Park Health, one with critical injuries.    
 
After the collision, the suspect exited his vehicle and ran on foot northeast toward homes along High Drive in the town of Estes Park.  Law enforcement agencies including Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park Police Department and Larimer County Sheriff's Office provided instructions to area residents, to shelter in place. 
 
The suspect is identified as a white male, 5 foot 9 inches, 165 pounds, bald, reported to be wearing blue jeans and no shirt or shoes. He appeared to have a head injury from the motor vehicle crash.  He was last seen fleeing from his vehicle in Rocky Mountain National Park south of the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center on US Highway 36 toward High Drive.  This evening, it was determined that this individual is believed to be a suspect in a felony burglary case out of Grand County that remains under investigation. The suspect is still at large. If you see this person, do not approach and immediately call 911. 
 
Because this is an active investigation and evolving incident, no further information is available at this time.