Wade Thyfault charged with reckless driving RMNP | News

Wade Thyfault, the man accused of driving recklessly through Rocky Mountain National Park, has been charged with assault causing serious injury, the Colorado District Attorney's Office announced Thursday.

Thyfault is accused of driving a Dodge Ram pickup truck through the Grand Lake entrance gate without stopping, then driving at a high rate of speed and recklessly along the entire 48-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 34 (Trail Ridge Road), and finally crashing his vehicle near the intersection of Mill's Drive and U.S. Highway 36 in Estes Park, Colorado.

Before the accident, Estes Park police officers had placed stubble sticks across the road at the intersection of Bear Lake Road and US 36 to deflate Thyfault's tires. However, the sticks apparently only punctured one tire.

Thyfault drove another two miles before colliding with a silver Toyota Corolla in Estes Park, injuring three people, one seriously.

Thyfault fled the scene on foot and local police authorities searched for him for some time before finding him the next day after a homeowner in Estes Park reported a burglary at his home.

Thyfault made his initial court appearance in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday before U.S. Military District Chief Judge Michael E. Hegarty.

The charges contained in the indictment are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The case is being investigated by the National Park Service.