Man killed after driving over canyon rim

GRAND CANYON, Ariz., July 13 (UPI) -- A man was killed Monday after he drove his car over the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, National Park Service officials said.

Several calls were logged by the canyon communications center at about 6 a.m. MDT. The callers said a car drove over the edge of the canyon near the El Tovar Hotel, a National Park Service spokeswoman told the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff.

Shannan Marcak issued a statement saying a blue passenger car with a single occupant went over the canyon edge, The Arizona Republic reported.

National Park investigators discovered tire tracks leading to the canyon rim behind the Thunderbird Lodge.

Rescuers rappelled down the canyon wall and found the car about 600 feet below the rim. The Republic said the rescuers began attempts to remove the body.

The Park Service said the investigation is continuing and did not release any other information.