Time Machine: 70 years ago, a mysterious death on Vail Pass

30 years ago

April 12, 1996

The speed limit on Interstate 70 in Eagle County was set to change following the passage of the National Highway System Designation Act, which, repealed the federal national maximum speed law, returning full authority to U.S. states to set their own speed limits.

“Using its new authority to set speed limits on interstate highways, the Colorado Department of Transportation plans to increase the speed limit to 75 mph from the east end of Glenwood Canyon to just before Dowd Junction,” the Vail Trail reported. “The speed limit from EagleVail to Vail Pass and Vail Pass to the outskirts of Denver is expected to remain at 65.”

40 years ago

April 11, 1986

After a ski season that saw heavy snow in October and November, followed by spring-like conditions in late December and early January, deer were being killed in large numbers along Interstate 70.

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“John Gray, a biologist with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, says that as of late March, 190 big-game animals had been reported killed along Interstate 70 between Glenwood Springs and Vail Pass … That compares with 16 the previous year, and 86, 45, and 62 in the years before that,” the Vail Trail reported. “Bill Heicher, wildlife officer for western Eagle County, thinks that those early snows forced deer down into the valleys sooner than in most years, and once at low elevations along the interstate, it was just a matter of the odds. Wildlife research has shown that one deer in every 200 that wanders onto a highway is killed.”

But it wasn’t the worst year for deer deaths along I-70 in Eagle County.

“Heicher said that 270 deer were killed between Wolcott and Eagle in the winter of 1972-73, the first year that segment of 1-70 was open. After that, the Highway Department put up eight-foot fences in the areas favored by deer.”

50 years ago

April 16, 1976

A new snowmobile trail opened near Camp Hale, helping to balance out the winter recreation opportunities offered in Eagle County, the Vail Trail reported.

“Ski-doo owners may have felt there was some favoritism after the Forest Service constructed marked ski-touring trails near Homestake, but there’s no longer cause for complaint since the snowmobilers now have their own trail near Camp Hale,” the Trail reported. “Pearl Creek Trail is a 12-mile loop that leaves Camp Hale on one road and circles back via a jeep track, all clearly marked with fluorescent orange diamonds. While the Forest Service coordinated the project, including approving the location and standardizing the signs, the Grouse Mountain Night Riders, under president Bob Riggle, deserve most of the credit for the actual work.”

60 years ago

April 15, 1966

After staying open throughout April the season before, Vail Mountain made the decision to close for the 1965-66 season on April 17, “which curtailed Vail’s season by half a month,” the Vail Trail reported.

“It isn’t the lack of snow or beautiful spring skiing weather … it’s the lack of people that brought the decision from Vail Associates to close down all the lifts at the end of skiing on Sunday, April 17,” the Trail reported.

The early closure was expected to force the cancellation of the 3rd National Hotel and Restaurant Ski Championships, which had been scheduled for April 25-26 in Vail, the Trail reported.

70 years ago

April 12, 1956

The death of a Lowry Air Force Base airman following a two-car accident on Vail Pass was not caused by injuries received in the accident, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.

“An autopsy was conducted at Fitzsimmons Army Hospital on the body of Airman 3C Philip R. Stocks, 21, of Moab, Utah,” the Enterprise reported. “Doctors said the exact cause of death was unknown pending results of toxicology tests.”

Fellow airman Terrence Furman was driving the car with Stocks. Furman told officials that Stocks started suffering convulsions, and in the attempt to rush him to the hospital, the car skidded on icy pavement on Vail Pass and crashed into the rear of another vehicle.

“Stocks was taken to Dillon, and moved from there by ambulance to Fitzsimmons,” the Enterprise reported. “He was dead upon arrival and officials said it was possible he may have been dead before the accident.”