National park trip turns tragic after falling rock pierces Jeep roof, fatally striking man in front of wife

A nostalgic family trip to Glacier National Park in Montana took a devastating turn last month when a falling rock suddenly crashed through the roof of a Jeep, violently striking a grandfather in the head as his wife watched in horror from the seat beside him.

Park officials told Fox News Digital that the incident happened the afternoon of July 11, at Rimrocks along Going-to-the-Sun Road, a popular 50-mile scenic highway that winds through the mountainous park. The road is known for its sharp curves, steep drop-offs, narrow lanes and towering rock faces.

The Flathead County Coroner's Office identified him as Rex Schowengerdt, a 72-year-old Missouri man. 

According to a GoFundMe page organized by the family, Schowengerdt suffered a "catastrophic brain injury" and died five days later at a nearby hospital. 

"While riding in a hardtop Jeep on Going-to-the-Sun Road, a falling rock came through the roof and struck my dad as my mom sat beside him and witnessed the entire heartbreaking moment, holding him through the horror of it all," the daughter, Amy Prince, wrote on the fundraising site.

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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. 

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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.

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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.