On the evening of October 19, 2008, what began as a hunting trip in the high country north of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, ended in profound tragedy for the Blissett family. James 'Jimmy' F. Blissett, a 41-year-old father, and his 9-year-old son, Jessy J. Blissett, were killed when their vehicle plunged off a steep, 700-foot embankment along a rugged four-wheel-drive road known as Transfer Trail, near a spot called Windy Point.
Jimmy and his son had been at a hunting camp with his brother-in-law and two nephews earlier in the evening. For reasons that remain personal to the family, Jimmy became upset and decided to leave the camp with Jessy. It was on this departure that the fatal accident occurred. Both father and son were ejected from the vehicle and were pronounced dead at the scene late that night.
The weight of the tragedy was compounded by a somber anniversary. The following day, October 20th, marked six years since the unsolved murder of Jimmy's father, Jimmy Dale 'Big Jim' Blissett. The elder Blissett had been shot and killed from behind at his plumbing business in Wheat Ridge, a crime for which no one has ever been brought to justice. According to his wife, Melissa, this anniversary was undoubtedly weighing on Jimmy's mind.
Subsequent investigations into the accident revealed that Jimmy was severely intoxicated at the time of the crash. A toxicology report from the autopsy showed he had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.296 percent, nearly four times the legal limit. The report also indicated the presence of marijuana in his system. Authorities believed that his extreme level of impairment, possibly combined with his emotional state, led to the devastating decision to drive, culminating in the fatal accident that claimed his and his young son's lives. There were no other individuals or vehicles involved in the incident, and therefore no arrests or suspects.
