An SUV carrying five individuals crashed head-on into a geyser within Yellowstone National Park, submerging the vehicle completely in the water.
The vehicle “accidentally veered off the road” and descended 9 feet into the geyser with a temperature of 105 degrees on a Thursday morning.
The driver and passengers managed to escape the sinking SUV and were taken to the hospital, thankfully only sustaining “non-life-threatening injuries,” according to the National Parks Service.
The geyser, identified as the Semi-Centennial Geyser thermal feature, is located near the Grand Loop Road, between Mammoth Hot Springs and Norris Junction in Yellowstone National Park.
“The Semi-Centennial Geyser thermal feature has hot surface water temperatures of around 105 degrees Fahrenheit,” as stated by the NWS.
The geyser got its name when it erupted, projecting water approximately 300 feet high on Yellowstone’s 50th anniversary on August 14, 1922. Fortunately, even though the geyser’s temperature is akin to a hot tub, it contains acid.
In contrast to more renowned geysers like Old Faithful, the Semi-Centennial Geyser lacks a regular eruption pattern. Its activity has considerably decreased over the years, making it mostly dormant now.
The Upper Geyser Basin, home of the Semi-Centennial Geyser, hosts several famous geysers and hot springs such as Old Faithful Geyser, Steamboat Geyser, Castle Geyser, and Grand Geyser. Old Faithful is globally renowned for its relatively predictable eruptions occurring every 60 to 110 minutes.
The water and steam expelled by these geysers can surpass boiling temperatures, posing severe burn risks or even fatality. The ground around geysers and hot springs is delicate and thin, prone to breaking under pressure, leading to falls into scalding water or steam vents. Hence, sticking to designated paths and boardwalks is crucial.
“Law enforcement rangers closed both lanes of the road near the accident to safely remove the vehicle from the thermal feature,” NWS stated. “After a two-hour closure, the road was reopened.”
The cause of the accident remains unknown, with an ongoing investigation. This incident marks the second involving Yellowstone’s geysers in recent times following a June incident where Viktor Pyshniuk approached Steamboat Geyser and was penalized with seven days in jail and a $1,500 fine for veering off the boardwalk.