Tourist crashes vehicle into thermal pool

Five occupants escape with non-life-threatening injuries

Posted 7/18/24

A tourist sunk their SUV into one of Yellowstone National Park’s thermal features last week.

The incident occurred around 10:40 a.m. on July 11, when the driver “inadvertently” …

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Tourist crashes vehicle into thermal pool

Five occupants escape with non-life-threatening injuries

Posted

A tourist sunk their SUV into one of Yellowstone National Park’s thermal features last week.

The incident occurred around 10:40 a.m. on July 11, when the driver “inadvertently” went off the park’s Grand Loop Road near Roaring Mountain, north of Norris, the Park Service said in a release.

The SUV went down an embankment and crashed into the Semi-Centennial Geyser, ultimately becoming fully submerged in about 9 feet of hot, acidic water; according to the Park Service, the water ranges around 105 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface.

All five occupants were able to get out of the vehicle on their own. Although each person was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, their injuries were described as non-life-threatening.

Officials closed the road for roughly two hours on Friday, July 12, while they fished the car out of the Semi-Centennial Geyser.

In its release, the Park Service thanked Hanser’s Automotive, US Water Rescue Dive Team, HK Contractors, Resource Technologies Incorporated and Yellowstone Park Service Stations “for their collective expertise and professionalism in removing the car from the thermal feature in such an expeditious manner.”

As of Wednesday, the crash remained under investigation and the Park Service said it had no other information to share, including about whether any citations were issued or imminent.

“Please stay safe while exploring Yellowstone,” the park added in a message to visitors. “Protect yourself and protect the park.”

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