Last week, five people were hospitalized after their vehicle accidentally swerved into an inactive geyser at Yellowstone National Park. The group was driving a large SUV that lost control while navigating the Wyoming section of the park between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction, plunging into the Semi-Centennial Geyser, known for its hot, acidic waters.
Fortunately, the passengers were able to escape the 9-foot-deep acidic waters with near-scalding temperatures of approximately 105 degrees Fahrenheit. According to a spokesperson speaking on behalf of the famous national park, the individuals were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Furthermore, the National Park Service retrieved the submerged vehicle from the waters.
The National Park Service released a statement on the July 11 incident, reading, “On Thursday, July 11 at about 10:40 a.m. a car with five occupants inadvertently drove off the roadway and into the Semi-Centennial Geyser thermal feature near Roaring Mountain between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction in Yellowstone National Park.”
The park noted that occupants of the vehicle did not sustain serious injuries, “All five occupants exited the vehicle on their own, and each individual was transported via ambulance to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Today, July 12, law enforcement rangers temporarily closed both lanes of the roadway near the accident in order to safely lift the car out of the thermal feature (see photo).”
The announcement further acknowledged that the SUV was fully submerged in the water, where the road was closed for nearly two hours to successfully extract the vehicle. “The vehicle was fully submerged in about nine feet of water. The Semi-Centennial Geyser thermal feature has acidic and hot surface water temperatures (ranging around 105 degrees Fahrenheit). After being closed for about two hours, the roadway reopened,” the NPS continued.
“Yellowstone National Park would like to thank 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. This incident is under investigation and the park has no additional details to provide at this time,” the statement concluded.
The American Tribune further reported on other dangers encountered at America’s national parks, where the harsh summer conditions at the Grand Canyon National park have claimed the lives of three hikers in three weeks. The latest fatality was identified as a 50-year-old Texas hiker from San Angelo, Texas.
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A press release from the national park stated, “On July 7 at approximately 2 p.m., the Grand Canyon Regional Communications Center received a report of an unresponsive hiker on the Bright Angel Trail, approximately 100 feet below the Bright Angel Trailhead … Bystanders initiated CPR as Xanterra Fire and Security and National Park Service (NPS) medical personnel responded from the rim. All attempts by bystanders, Xanterra and NPS personnel to resuscitate the individual were unsuccessful. The hiker was a 50-year-old-male from San Angelo Texas who was attempting to reach the rim from an overnight stay at Havasupai Gardens.”
Featured image credit: National Park Service