Fatal Single Vehicle Rollover in GTNP

October 27, 2009

A 55-year-old man from Freedom, Idaho died this morning,
October 27, when he apparently lost control of his Chevy truck on icy conditions and slid off an embankment on Highway 26/89/191 just south of the Gros Ventre Bridge in Grand Teton National Park. After rolling over, the vehicle came to rest about 40 yards from the roadway. The single-occupant driver was ejected from his vehicle. It did not appear that he was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Other motorists witnessed the accident and called 911 for help. The Teton County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers then notified Teton Interagency Dispatch Center of the accident at 8:30 a.m. A member of Jackson Hole Fire/EMS arrived on the scene and park rangers, along with park emergency medical technicians, immediately responded from park headquarters at Moose. Although a passerby had initiated cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), those efforts were terminated due to the fatal nature of injuries. Park medics confirmed that the gentleman was deceased.

Rangers believe that the gentleman was driving southbound on Highway 89 when he encountered black ice near the Gros Ventre Bridge. His vehicle crossed the northbound lane and came to rest on the east side of the highway, after rolling over.

A German shepherd dog riding in the truck with the man was taken to Spring Creek Animal Hospital for evaluation of possible injuries. The dog was determined to be in good condition.