WEST YELLOWSTONE – A New York woman was thrown into the Madison River with a broken leg after crashing her snowmobile east of West Yellowstone Tuesday morning.
According to the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Yellowstone National Park received a 911 call around 10 a.m. Tuesday, reporting a snowmobile crash in the park near Riverside Drive aboutsix miles east of West Yellowstone.
The crash caused both the snowmobile and the 22-year-old woman from Garrison, N.Y. to end up in the Madison River. Yellowstone Rangers requested mutual aid from Sheriff’s Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone. Hebgen Basin Fire Department also responded to assist with the rescue.
When rescuers arrived on scene the woman had been removed from the water but was extremely cold and suffering from an apparent broken femur.
Rescuers immediately requested response from an Air Idaho Helicopter, which landed at the scene and ultimately transported the woman to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Gallatin County Sheriff Brian Gootkin issued a reminder to the public that snowmobiling on the trail systems can be challenging.
“Changing trail conditions along with other traffic can create unforeseen hazards. Inexperienced riders are advised to use extra caution to avoid a bad experience,” Gootkin said.
