Five individuals narrowly escaped serious injury when their vehicle inadvertently drove off the road and into a thermal feature on Thursday, July 11, at Yellowstone National Park. The accident occurred around 10:40 a.m. near Roaring Mountain, between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction.
The car became fully submerged in approximately nine feet of water in the Semi-Centennial Geyser thermal feature, known for its acidic and hot surface water temperatures, which average around 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite the potentially dangerous conditions, all five occupants managed to exit the vehicle on their own and were subsequently transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Park officials acted swiftly to address the situation. On Friday, July 12, law enforcement rangers temporarily closed both lanes of the roadway near the accident site to facilitate the safe removal of the vehicle from the thermal feature. The operation lasted about two hours and involved a collaborative effort from various organizations, including Hanser’s Automotive, US Water Rescue Dive Team, HK Contractors, Resource Technologies Incorporated, and Yellowstone Park Service Stations.
Yellowstone National Park expressed gratitude for the collective expertise and professionalism demonstrated by these organizations in efficiently extracting the car from the thermal feature. The incident is under investigation, and park authorities have not released additional details.
Tourists are urged to stay informed about current road conditions, temporary closures, and traffic delays by visiting the Park Roads website, calling the recorded information line, or signing up for mobile alerts.
