Park Visitor Dies in Car Accident

Yellowstone National Park News Release, Feb 09, 2005

Park visitor Jerry R. Thomas, 63, of Lorain, Ohio, died after a single car accident Monday evening in the Old Faithful area.

Thomas and a passenger were on a one-way road between the Upper Old Faithful General Store and the Old Faithful Visitor Center about 7:50 p.m. The passenger said Thomas apparently suffered a seizure that caused him to push down on the accelerator. The large Ford van crashed into a small group of trees and rolled over onto the driver’s side near an intersection behind the Old Faithful Visitor Center.

Rangers, an ambulance, a fire engine and staff from the Old Faithful Clinic all immediately responded to the scene. Despite their efforts, Thomas was pronounced dead at 8:40 p.m. An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death.

The car’s airbags deployed. The passenger was not injured in the crash. The car did not hit any pedestrians or other vehicles.

This is the second death in Yellowstone National Park in 2004. Earlier in the year a hotel guest died of natural causes.