At approximately 2:13 a.m. Sunday morning, Ridgway resident Patrick G. Morris, 52, was one of 30 people in front of the courthouse in Telluride seeking transportation home via two Home Safe vehicles.

One of the vehicles had limited seating capacity, a 2008, 10-person Chevrolet passenger van, and a number of riders had to be asked to disembark before the van could leave the courthouse. Mr. Morris reportedly was one of the people unable to secure a seat, and exited as instructed by the Home Safe driver.

Inexplicably, Mr. Morris then took a prone position in the street in front of the right front passenger tire of the Home Safe van. Witnesses to his actions thought it was a prank, and failed to notify the driver. The driver, unable to see Mr. Morris, pulled away from the curb and felt a slight impact after driving several feet. Thinking he had struck a snow bank, he stopped and backed up. At that point, passers-by came to the aid of Mr. Morris who had been injured by the right front tire of the vehicle.

Mr. Morris was transported by ambulance to the Telluride Medical Center and the San Miguel County Coroner's Office reported he died from injuries sustained in the accident.

Friends and witnesses who had encountered Mr. Morris shortly before the accident reported that intoxication may have been a contributing factor to the incident.

Telluride Express has contracted with the Town of Telluride, and its regional sponsors, for a number of years to provide transportation for the Home Safe Program. Over 25,000 riders have participated in the free, late-evening transportation program since its inception in 2003.

Telluride Express has decided to suspend its agreement and discontinue this service indefinitely.