The man who fell off Lookout Mountain on Monday while taking photographs was identified today as Michael Rubbelke, 47, of Wheat Ridge.
“It is a really tragic and unfortunate accident,” said Jacki Kelley, spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.
“He stepped across the guardrail to take a photograph and, for whatever reason, lost his footing,” said Kelley.
Kelley said Rubbelke was with three other people, including family friends and his son.
She said not only was it extremely windy at the time, but the ground on the other side of the guardrail also was unsteady and treacherous.
Rubbelke fell 50 to 60 feet to his death, said Kelley.
Because of the conditions, it took rescuers a long time to reach him, she said.
The accident occurred in the 1000 block of Lookout Mountain Road.
She said that the Sheriff’s Department spoke at length to Rubbelke’s son and the family friends, who were grief-stricken over the tragedy.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
