The Thunderbird Lodge has been running trucks of the type (modified Army deuce and a halfs) that wrecked for decades in the canyon without significant incidents and they have been very useful in traveling through de Chelly and del Muerto in all conditions. over the years they have been the most capable and versaatile vehicle running in the Canyon. There is nothing particularly hazardous about that stretch of road just below Mummy Cave, the turn around point for the usual trip up del Muerto Canyon - I, and others, have driven it many times without incident. One could speculate about mechanical failure, perhaps accelerated by wear from traveling in the silt laden waters of the canyon.

Interesting and gratifying response by civilians to this incident, despite having no steel toed boots or background checks (That is a backhanded response to Paramedic Pete's comment in the thread on "CERT expectations." Pete has a point, but I think this incident is a perfect example of why, when it hits the fan, you have to relax standards just a bit and simply cope.) It is quite surprising to me how often trained, often highly trained medical people seem to just pop up out of the woodwork at an incident.

Doubtless tours will be suspended for some time.