A group of tourists driving in Yellowstone National Park literally ended up in hot water when their car crashed into a hot, acidic pond created by a geyser.
The car swerved off the road and ended up fully submerged in nearly nine feet of water in the Semi-Centennial Geyser thermal feature, which is located near Roaring Mountain between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction in Yellowstone National Park. The temperature of the water in the thermal pond ranged around 105° Fahrenheit.
The incident happened around 10.40am last Thursday, and all five occupants managed to get out of the the car, and they were all later transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital, none with life-threatening injuries (though some minor ones).
Park officials could not remove the car from the geyser until Friday. Park crews closed the roadway temporarily while crews lifted the sport-utility vehicle out of the water, which took about two hours. The US Water Rescue Dive Team helped with the process, according to the press release.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation, and park officials have not released the names of those involved.
The geyser – or “thermal feature” as it’s since been redefined – was discovered in 1922, when it sent eruptions of water as high as 75 feet. Since then, no further eruptions have been witnessed, though there has been some “intermittent bubbling.”
In a press release, officials at Yellowstone thanked, “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.”
- A quick guide to hot spring safety in Yellowstone National Park
