PARK COUNTY, Wyo. — A 40-year-old man visiting from Russia sustained serious injuries in a snowmobile accident on U.S. Highway 212 near the Top of the World Store around 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 10, according to the Park County Sheriff’s Office. The incident highlights the inherent risks of winter recreation, even with safety precautions.
Snowmobile Crash Leads to Dramatic Rescue Near Island Lake
A quick response from fellow snowmobilers and rescue teams saved an injured man after a fall near Cody, Wyoming.
- The snowmobile left the roadway and struck a guardrail.
- The driver fell approximately 10–15 feet into a rocky creek bed.
- Bystanders, including members of a snowmobile safety class, provided immediate assistance.
- The man was airlifted to a trauma center in Billings, Montana.
The Park County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) reported that the snowmobile drifted off the highway and collided with a guardrail on a bridge. The driver was thrown over the guardrail, plummeting 10 to 15 feet into a creek bottom filled with boulders. Fortunately, members of the man’s group immediately began attending to him.
Another rider sought help at the Safety Shelter, conveniently located a short distance away at Island Lake Campground. In a stroke of luck, several members of the Cody Country Snowmobile Association, Park County Search and Rescue, and Park County Snow Search Team were already at the shelter, taking a lunch break during their annual avalanche safety class.
These groups swiftly responded to the scene and gained access to the injured man. Dr. Aaron Billin of Park County Search and Rescue quickly assessed the situation, determining the man had suffered a severe fracture of his lower tibia and fibula in his right leg. He also sustained a significant abdominal contusion and facial trauma.
Despite wearing a helmet, the impact with the boulders caused substantial damage, shattering the front of the protective gear. Rescue personnel carefully packaged the man using a full-body air mattress and a spinal board before transporting him via rescue sled back to the Safety Shelter.
The Park County Sheriff’s 911 Center requested assistance from First Flight of Wyoming’s medical helicopter. The helicopter responded to the Safety Shelter and transported the man to the trauma center at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Billings, Montana. His current condition remains unknown.
“Sheriff Steward would like to commend all those involved by stating that ‘through excellent teamwork and training, a severely injured man was quickly evacuated to higher care,’” the PCSO release stated.
