An Idaho teen was swept to his death by Haystack Creek as it passed beneath the Going-to-the-Sun Road/NPS file, Jacob W. Frank
A 15-year-old Idaho boy was swept to his death in a fall of about 100 feet after he slipped into Haystack Creek as it flowed beneath Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park in Montana.
Park staff said Spencer Flerchinger, of Kamiah, Idaho, was in the culvert that carried the creek beneath the road Tuesday evening, slipped into the creek, and "was carried through, falling approximately 100 feet below the roadway." He was visiting the park with his parents.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road was restricted to one lane for about three hours Tuesday evening near the incident, and temporarily closed for approximately 10 minutes to traffic in both directions while rangers secured the scene of the accident and recovered the boy's body from a ledge below the road via litter carryout.
A similar fatality occurred at that spot in July 2017 when a person fell into the creek above the culvert while taking a photograph, park staff recalled. While falls into water features are a common cause of injury and death, the recent occurrence of another fatality at the same location is not commonplace.
“It’s often the case that people hear about a tragic incident like this and think that it couldn’t happen to them,” said Glacier Chief Ranger Paul Austin. “The facts are that many people explore the park each day in ways that could result in a serious accident. Take a few minutes before your trip to public lands to identify significant hazards. Prepare for the possibility of getting lost on a trail or an unexpected animal encounter. Stay away from rushing creeks and sheer drops.”
Visitors are urged to use extreme caution while recreating in the park. Unpredictable wildlife, extreme natural features, and other hazards exist in nearly all locations, including areas that may seem relatively safe. Glacier has 42 named waterfalls in addition to unnamed creeks and falls, and tens of miles of roadway that border steep cliffs. Falls in and near water features are a leading cause of death and visitors should avoid areas with slippery rocks that might result in a significant fall.
Haystack Creek above Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park/NPS, Jacob W. Frank
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Comments
It is so sad when a time that should be a happy memory ends in tragedy especially when it could have been avoided.
I'm sorry this happened, but wonder why the child was in the culvert?
Because he was 15 and he was exploring.
I'm am so very sorry this happened. It was no body's fault. The nature in us wants to explore. It is a horrible accident. May God give you peace.
We drove by about My condolences to the parents and family of this young person. It is very easy to slip and fall, no matter how careful you are.
Whether or not this could have been avoided is not a question for any of us to ask....now.
The old question: How much should be spent to
"Save People from Themselves" Read:
https://www.press.umich.edu/9836321/mountains_without_handrails
Mountains Without Handrails
Reflections on the National Parks
With a New Foreword by Holly Doremus
By Joseph L. Sax
Just witnessed a young couple rig up a hammock beween two spindly
mountain hemlocks at Discovery Point Pullout, Crater Lake NP,
just a meter from a vertical drop where a Mother tunbled to her
Death while her children watched ! One visitor climbed into the
Hammock to lie down for her partner to photograph ! Of course,
both walked by and IGNORED the Sign Reading DO NOT ENTER ! So,
why should the Taxpayer Subsidize Such Stupidity through body retrieval ?
NPS Regulation Violators should pay all SEARCH AND RESCUE costs !
He was hiking past the rocks and slipped and was carried down
We were there yesterday and saw the terrain. Anyone in that situation can easily miss the danger. On the left side of the road going up one can miss the danger/steep fall on the right side of the road. Park service should do something about this particular location/spot. Very sad. My condolences to parent and family.