What began as a cherished family vacation to the breathtaking Glacier National Park in Montana turned into a heartbreaking tragedy last month. A boulder unexpectedly smashed through the roof of a Jeep, striking a grandfather’s head, as his stunned wife sat beside him.
Park officials reported to News Media that this tragic event unfolded on the afternoon of July 11 at Rimrocks along the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. This renowned 50-mile scenic highway, celebrated for its majestic curves and remarkable views, is also infamous for its sharp turns, steep drop-offs, and narrow lanes bordered by towering rock formations.
The Flathead County Coroner’s Office later identified the victim as Rex Schowengerdt, a 72-year-old resident of Missouri.
As detailed by a GoFundMe campaign initiated by the family, Schowengerdt sustained a “catastrophic brain injury” and tragically passed away five days later at a nearby medical facility.
“While my parents were riding in a hardtop Jeep along Going-to-the-Sun Road, a rock fell from above, piercing the roof and hitting my dad,” wrote the couple’s daughter, Amy Prince, on the fundraising page. “My mom sat right beside him, clinging to him as they endured the overwhelming horror of that moment.”
Missouri resident Rex Schowengerdt and his wife pose for a photo during an outdoors trip. (Amy Prince/GoFundMe)
Prince said her father began his trip extremely excited and was looking forward to revisiting all the places “that had meant so much” to the family. He was traveling with his wife of 50 years, his sister and brother-in-law.
“On July 11, 2026, I received the kind of phone call no one ever forgets. It was my mom calling from the mountain, her voice shaking in the wind, saying that something terrible had happened and that my dad would not survive,” the daughter said.
After the incident, Schowengerdt was airlifted from the mountain by helicopter to a nearby hospital.
After several days in the intensive care unit, the family was forced to make “unimaginable end-of-life decisions,” according to Prince.
Cars drive along the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park in West Glacier, Montana. (George Frey/Getty Images, File)
He died on July 16 as his wife and daughter held his hand, Prince said. The daughter’s brother, aunt and uncle were also nearby.
“My dad was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and someone who loved adventure, the outdoors, and his family deeply. He taught us all to cherish moments and when you are in nature and looking at something beautiful, to look twice and cherish the moment,” Prince said.
The Flathead County Coroner’s Office ruled the manner of death accidental.
Rex Schowengerdt, pictured right alongside his wife and daughter, tragically died following a devastating accident at Glacier National Park on July 11, 2026. (Amy Prince/GoFundMe)
Despite their grief, Prince said Schowengerdt’s eyes and tissues were viable for donation, allowing him to share his love of seeing the world with others even after his death.
His wife later reportedly received a letter from World Vision informing her that his donation helped restore the vision of two people.
“That brought a small measure of comfort in the middle of so much heartbreak,” Prince said.
She added that the family also made the difficult decision to cremate Schowengerdt “because bringing him home was too costly from Montana.” They also hope to honor his life with a memorial in his name.
Vehicles on the Going-to-the-Sun Road at Piegan Pass in Glacier National Park, Montana. (Ron Buskirk/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, File)
“Our family is deeply grateful to everyone who prayed, to the rescuers, and to the ICU staff at Logan Hospital who cared for my dad,” Prince said.
While millions of people travel Going-to-the-Sun Road safely, the steep alpine terrain can be prone to rockfall. Falling debris can damage vehicles and cause serious injuries.