The former owner of Trimble Hot Springs was killed in a one-vehicle accident south of Mancos on Thursday evening.

The body of Ruedi Bear, 72, was discovered Friday morning in a field off Road J, according to Sgt. James Saunders, of the Colorado State Patrol.

Bear, of Mancos, had been ejected from his 2007 Audi, which left the roadway sometime Thursday evening, crashed through brush, struck a large rock and rolled. He was not wearing a seatbelt, Saunders said.

“Based on our investigation, alcohol is a suspected factor,” Saunders said.

When Bear did not arrive home, family members began searching for him, Saunders said, but the crash site was not visible from the roadway.

The fatal crash was discovered about 6:30 a.m. Friday by a passing driver.

“It is very unfortunate, and a hard loss,” Saunders said. “We all need to commit to wearing seatbelts to this does not happen in our community again.”

Bear was a longtime owner of Trimble Spa and Natural Hot Springs, north of Durango. He sold the business in 2006, according to a Trimble manager.