JACKSON, Wyo. — Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) is urging the public to be prepared on outdoor excursions following an especially busy start to the summer which was punctuated by a Fourth of July fatality on the Snake River.
Since June, TCSAR has responded to 12 calls for service. Ten of these calls have occurred in the last 13 days.
Within those last two weeks, volunteers have responded to two river fatalities and multiple victims with severe injuries.
Victims have been hikers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, off-road motorists, river rafters and recreationalists. They range in age from early 20s to late 80s, and include locals as well as visitors.
“While summer is always busy on the SAR front, these past few weeks have been especially so.”
Teton County Search and Rescue
In a statement released Tuesday, TCSAR expressed that they are “fully aware” of how and why people want to enjoy the great outdoor opportunities in Teton County. They also shared that they understand accidents can and do happen, and they stand ever ready to respond, no matter the circumstance and without judgment.
At the same time, the team advocates for preparedness, and encourages everyone to think of and plan for the consequences of their decisions.
During the five days from June 30 to July 4, TCSAR volunteers responded to four separate incidents.
Beginning Thursday evening, June 30, TCSAR was called to respond to a UTV accident in the Crescent H area. A man had rolled his off-road vehicle and become trapped inside with significant lower leg injuries. Volunteers arrived on scene via the RZR side-by-side. They packaged the man up and transported him in the RZR down the mountain to a waiting ambulance, completing the mission in 2 hours, 28 minutes.
On Saturday, July 2, TCSAR was alerted about an injured hiker north of Pacific Creek. A woman in her 60s had fallen while attempting to cross a creek in the Whetstone Mountain area. She experienced significant pain in her leg and was unable to walk. It was later learned that she had a broken femur. To alert first responders, the woman’s companion hiked out three miles to place a 911 call. A Teton County Sheriff Deputy responded to the trailhead, while TCSAR requested the interagency helicopter from the US Forest Service. The helicopter was fighting a fire near Pinedale, but was released to respond to this incident. The helicopter picked up two TCSAR volunteers and flew to the scene of the accident. Meanwhile, a ground team from TCSAR was dispatched to the trailhead as backup. The helicopter team was able to find the patient, assess her injuries and transport her out of the backcountry to a waiting ambulance, completing the callout in 4 hours, 36 minutes.
Just after 2 p.m. on July 4, Teton County dispatch received a 911 call regarding a young woman who had been injured in an ATV accident on Shadow Mountain. The woman was complaining of severe pain in her shoulder. Dispatch paged TCSAR to respond. Volunteers drove to the site in a truck with the RZR on the trailer. On scene, volunteers packaged the patient for transport via wheeled litter to a waiting ambulance at the trailhead, completing the mission in just under 3 hours.
As that mission was wrapping up, TCSAR was paged to respond to a river accident at King’s Wave on the Snake River. The individual did not survive.
“TCSAR extends its sincerest condolences to the man’s family and friends.”
