An Idaho teen was swept to his death by Haystack Creek as it passed beneath the Going-to-the-Sun Road/NPS file, Jacob W. Frank
A 15-year-old Idaho boy was swept to his death in a fall of about 100 feet after he slipped into Haystack Creek as it flowed beneath Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park in Montana.
Park staff said Spencer Flerchinger, of Kamiah, Idaho, was in the culvert that carried the creek beneath the road Tuesday evening, slipped into the creek, and "was carried through, falling approximately 100 feet below the roadway." He was visiting the park with his parents.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road was restricted to one lane for about three hours Tuesday evening near the incident, and temporarily closed for approximately 10 minutes to traffic in both directions while rangers secured the scene of the accident and recovered the boy's body from a ledge below the road via litter carryout.
A similar fatality occurred at that spot in July 2017 when a person fell into the creek above the culvert while taking a photograph, park staff recalled. While falls into water features are a common cause of injury and death, the recent occurrence of another fatality at the same location is not commonplace.
“It’s often the case that people hear about a tragic incident like this and think that it couldn’t happen to them,” said Glacier Chief Ranger Paul Austin. “The facts are that many people explore the park each day in ways that could result in a serious accident. Take a few minutes before your trip to public lands to identify significant hazards. Prepare for the possibility of getting lost on a trail or an unexpected animal encounter. Stay away from rushing creeks and sheer drops.”
Visitors are urged to use extreme caution while recreating in the park. Unpredictable wildlife, extreme natural features, and other hazards exist in nearly all locations, including areas that may seem relatively safe. Glacier has 42 named waterfalls in addition to unnamed creeks and falls, and tens of miles of roadway that border steep cliffs. Falls in and near water features are a leading cause of death and visitors should avoid areas with slippery rocks that might result in a significant fall.
Haystack Creek above Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park/NPS, Jacob W. Frank
Comments
There is aa time and place for identifying the cause of what happend. But, this is not the place and certainly not the time. Parents are having to bury their 15 year old son.
while these tragedies will never stop, its hard to find sympathy. I have worked in two national parks for a total of 10 years and this stuff happens all the time. You have got to be smart and try to never put yourself in harms way(ie. directly above a 100ft waterfall, close to a cliff for a picture, near a hot springs in Yellowstone, next to that elk or buffalo for a picture) people just don't use their brains while out of their element on vacation. So in that regard It's hard to find Sympathy. That family will never be the same. Make smart choices and usually it works in your favor!
This is an attractive hazord, people do not realize the danger because one side looks simple and the other deathly. Glacier could have prevented this after last years death by simply placing a grate over the opening. This death is on them.
Wow! I came across this article trying to determine the area this tragic incident happen. Why, because I was at this park just a few years ago and like most people that go to these kind of detinations I traversed the terrain, explored and tried to get that perfect photo. That is one of the reason our National Park system was developed. However, we all know with that beauty and natural preservation comes inherant dangers. However, that is not the reason for my post.
This boy is my cousin's son. This statement is not a debate or a cry for sympathy, it is simply this; "If the shoe fits, wear it"!
First let me say that unless you have personally been through a significant event like this, you have no idea of the catastrophic impact it has on so many more then you really know.
Unfortunately another tragedy that continues on a daily basis is that society has become so cold hearted as to latch on to stories like this and scrutinize the event and those involved without being there or having any true facts. So keep your social media Judge, Jury and Executioner opinions to yourselves and allow the familes of these kind of incidents the opportunity to grieve.
If you feel that strongly about your cause then take it up with Congress or write directly the Park service. This isn't about your right to free speech, it is about being a decent human.
Not for debate!
Bryan Batchelder --
At least you had the guts to sign your name to your uncaring comment. I would say that unless it was you in that situation and your child the one lost, that was pretty darn callous. I also have been involved in both search and rescue as well as search and [body] recovery. It is pretty easy to sit back at base camp and exchange grumps about the silliness of the perpetrators of the current incident, but that is brief and set aside because of the immediate need to do our jobs. You won't find someone involved in rescues making public accusatory comments while the family is still grieving.
I actually was there on Tuesday and watched the paramedic do cpr on your loved one. We got there before the park ranger and paramedic arrived. While I personally wouldn't have climbed the rocks in this area, I can see how some may not see the dangers due to being on the other side of the road and not knowing the falls go underneath and way down... I am terribly sorry for your families loss. I will never forget the scene and screams from the girl that was with him.
There should be danger signs or barricade keeping people out of culvert
I was a summer employee of the park years back. Every year either an employee or guest is fatally injured. Regardless of the exact location, which varies, the common denominator is that they wander off the trail. Attempting to jump over waterfalls/slip and fall on rocks/slip and fall into the river/slip and fall over a cliff while taking a selfie/mess with the wildlife/get close up photo of a bear. Staying on the trail does not guarantee 100% safety. It will however, greatly increase the odds of you making it back unharmed.