Edgar Vargas, R.I.P.: Teen Who Vanished En Route to Prom Died in Colorado Crash

Update: Yesterday, we told you about the mysterious disappearance of Edgar Vargas, a teenager who disappeared while driving from Texas to Grand Junction in order to attend a friend's prom.

Unfortunately, the worst fears of those close to him have come true.

His body has been found in Colorado at the site of what appears to have been an accidental crash.

According to the Colorado State Patrol, the 2005 Ford F-150 pickup Vargas had been driving was found near mile marker 89 on Highway 550 in Ouray County.


The truck had been traveling eastbound on the highway when it appears to have lost control, crossing the westbound lanes and going off the left side of the roadway.

The CSP notes that the vehicle went down an embankment and went off a ridge before landing on the floor of the canyon. 

Vargas was declared dead at the scene.

Since receiving the terrible news, Vargas's family members have been posting remembrances and tributes like this one:


We send our sincere condolences to the friends, family and loved ones of Edgar Vargas.

See our previous coverage below.

Original post, 6:57 a.m. April 22: Eighteen-year-old Edgar Vargas set out last week to drive to Colorado for a friend's prom.

He never arrived, and now, his family is desperate to learn his whereabouts.


Vargas's Facebook page lists his residence as El Paso, Texas, and that was the starting point of his trip to Grand Junction.

However, much of his family is located in the Mesa, Arizona area — hence a report from Phoenix's KNXV-TV, on view below.

Vargas was active on Facebook, with the most recent post having been shared on April 16 — the same day his family last heard from him.

The page also includes a gallery of portraits, many of which are being circulated by family members. Here's one example....


...and another....



...and a third:


In addition, loved ones are also sharing an image of the truck Vargas was driving to Colorado.


Edgar last checked in  on the 16th from a gas station in Bloomfield, New Mexico. No one's heard from him since.

Vargas's Arizona-based uncle, Jose Vargas, began searching for the teen on Saturday, and at last report, he was still on the road, hoping for any sign of hope.

If you have information about Vargas's whereabouts, you're encouraged to contact local law enforcement. In the meantime, here's the aforementioned KNXV-TV report.

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.