Vol 3, #69

   Friday, July 23, 1999

YELLOWSTONE
WEATHER
Highs 80s, Lows 40s
Mostly Sunny
 

Yellowstone Net Home Page
 

ROAD REPORT
All entrances
are now open.
There are some
construction
delays in the
Park.
 

TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN YELLOWSTONE
by National Park Service

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. -- Yellowstone National Park officials report the individual killed in a single-vehicle accident that occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Friday, July 16, near Tower Fall, is Anthony Donofrio, 22, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Donofrio was pronounced dead at the scene from multiple trauma, including extensive head and internal injuries. Donofrio had been employed as a seasonal by Amfac Parks and Resorts at Roosevelt Lodge in the northern portion of the park.

Apparently, the northbound vehicle, a 2-door Jeep Cherokee, was traveling too fast to negotiate the curve and the driver overcorrected, causing the vehicle to go off the edge of the road and fall about 100 feet over an embankment. The vehicle rolled several times before it came to a stop in Tower Creek, above Tower Fall.

The five other occupants of the vehicle were taken to Lake Hospital with a variety of minor injuries such as scrapes and bruises. Kevin Murphy, 21, of Woburn, Massachusetts, also an Amfac employee at Roosevelt, was transferred to West Park Hospital in Cody, Wyoming, but was treated and released. The other four occupants of the vehicle, Eric Schuemann, 21, (the driver of the vehicle) of Baltimore, Maryland and Paul (Thad) Whitmire, 19, of Barberton, Ohio (both Amfac employees at Roosevelt); Melinda Jackson,19, of Dayton, Kentucky (who was visiting from Colorado); and Holly Lindeman, 19, of Ft. Thomas, Kentucky (a Yellowstone Park Service Station employee at Roosevelt) were all examined and released from Lake Hospital on Friday night. None of the occupants of the vehicle were wearing seatbelts at the time of the accident.

At least 45 park personnel responded from Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower, Lamar, Northeast, Canyon, Norris and Madison. Two fire trucks with extrication gear, a rescue van, and four ambulances responded to the scene. Technical rescue (ropes, harnesses, belay systems) and water rescue (safety lines across the creek, wet suits, helmets and life jackets) techniques were required to remove the victims from the scene.

The vehicle will be removed from the scene when the water in the creek (which is currently running very high and fast) recedes. The investigation of the accident is ongoing.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS

Ralph Maughan
Kim Steinbacher
Kevin Sanders
Steve Brashear
Clint Wilkes
Tim Gourley
Hon. Bob Gammage
Ruth Colter-Frick
Lee Whittlesey
Tom Mazzarisi
Russ Finley
David Monteith
Denise Elmer
Dr. Bob Bara

In the midst of the ongoing controversy surrounding Yellowstone's wolves, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials have noted that the rapid growth of the transplanted wolf populations in Yellowstone, central Idaho and northwestern Montana may lead to the wolves being removed from the endangered species list as soon as 2002.

Indeed, the wolves in central Idaho and Yellowstone are reproducing rapidly, and thus are quickly approaching a stabilized population.   The wolves in northwestern Montana, are lagging behind in population growth, however.

The American public continues to express overwhelming support for the presence of wolves in Yellowstone and the surrounding area, but Montana and Idaho ranchers are trying to have the wolves removed.

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The number of people visiting Glacier National Park this year has dropped by nearly 10%, according to Park officials.  This continues a downward trend which has been in effect for several years now.  Officials continue to assess the reason for the ongoing decline, although such factors as construction projects on the Going-to-the-Sun Road and adverse seasonal weather have at times been noted as possible reasons for the decline.

Glacier National Park is located in northwestern Montana and is known for it's spectacular mountain scenery, which includes a number of active glaciers.

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Fishing season is now fully underway in Yellowstone, and the fishing is good throughout the Park, with the notable exception of the Firehole, as the water temperature there has risen considerably.   Salmonflies, caddis and black woolly buggers are reportedly doing well.   Visitors fishing Yellowstone's waterways can inquire at ranger stations, visitor centers or Hamilton Store's fishing sections to inquire about current conditions and recommended flies and lures.

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