Woman Falls to Her Death at the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado

Have you ever visited the suspension bridge at the Royal Gorge?

Earlier this week, a Texas woman fell to her death near the Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge in Canon City, Colorado.

On Monday, June 29, a 45-year-old woman from Wylie, Texas slipped and fell about 400 feet at the popular Royal Gorge Bridge. The Fremont County Coroner told media outlets that Denise McLean died of severe trauma from the fall. The death has been ruled accidental, no foul play is suspected.

Police were initially called in on a 'missing persons report' and had to suspend their search Monday night due to darkness. Search operations resumed Tuesday morning and McLean's body was found about 9 a.m.

The Royal Gorge held the record as the highest suspension bridge in the world from 1929, when it was built, until 2001 when it was surpassed by a bridge in China. It still is the highest suspension bridge in the United States. The bridge deck is 955 feet above the Arkansas River in Canon City.

I remember when we stopped there on a family vacation while growing up and I was terrified by how high up the bridge was. I was clinging to the edge, not wanting to let go or even move at all. That was the year I realized that I had a fear of heights. Maybe for a good reason.