Details Emerge About Friday's Death at Red Rocks

Two fans were climbing in a restricted area at Red Rocks Park after last Friday's Yonder Mountain String Band when they fell. One, 29-year-old Spencer Cooke, died of his injuries, according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office. The Denver Post reported the man's name yesterday. The other fan, who has...

By Kiernan Maletsky

August 25, 2015

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Two fans were climbing in a restricted area at Red Rocks Park after last Friday's Yonder Mountain String Band when they fell. One, 29-year-old Spencer Cooke, died of his injuries, according to the Jefferson County Coroner's Office.

The Denver Post reported the man's name yesterday. The other fan, who has not been named, suffered a concussion and was knocked unconscious. He crawled down to the parking lot, where visitors to the park found him on Saturday morning.

According to the Coroner's Office, Cooke may have fallen up to 100 feet before landing on a rock shelf.

Although they are rare, fatal climbing accidents have happened before at the park. In 2012, Alicia Brauer fell after a Ghostland Observatory concert. At the time, Westword spoke with Michael Murphy, deputy chief of operations at West Metro Fire Rescue. "Don't climb on the rocks," he said. "You just can't be too careful. It's a wilderness environment, and they put those signs there for a reason."

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