Young Girl Rescued After Snowmobile Accident Near W. Yellowstone

According to the Gallatin County Sheriff's Office, a 17-year-old girl was injured in a snowmobiling accident on Tuesday, December 29 near West Yellowstone, Montana.

At 10:11 a.m. on Tuesday, the West Yellowstone Police Department received a call from a group of snowmobilers reporting that a member of their party had been involved in a snowmobile crash southwest of West Yellowstone. A 17-year-old girl had suffered an upper leg injury when the snowmobile she was riding left the trail and struck multiple trees at high speed.

Search and Rescue crews from Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone and Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District responded to the call and assisted in the rescue.

Rescuers used coordinates retrieved from the 911 call to locate the injured girl and the party that she was riding with. After assessing her injuries, she was placed on a rescue sled. The injured girl was then transported back to West Yellowstone to an ambulance waiting at the Hebgen Basin Rural Fire District. Instead of taking the ambulance, the girl was transported to a hospital by family members.

Snowmobiling is a fun and exciting sport. However, winter offers certain challenges that require snowmobilers to take precautions.

Here are a few safety tips to consider before you go snowmobiling.

• Ride smart, be prepared, and stay in control.
• Check ice and weather conditions before riding. Dress appropriately.
• Practice Zero Tolerance with respect to impaired riding.
• Never travel alone and always let others know where you are going.
• Always be avalanche aware. Carry avalanche rescue equipment including a transceiver, probe pole and shovel, and know how to use them.