Pennsylvania woman drowns in Virginia Creek below Virginia Falls in Glacier National Park
Virginia Falls and Virginia Creek in this file photo.
Hungry Horse News
A 26-year-old woman drowned Sunday in Virginia Creek in Glacier National Park downstream from Virginia Falls.
She was identified by park officials as Gillian Tones from North Apollo, Pennsylvania.
It was first reported that Tones went into the water above St. Mary Falls but witnesses later clarified that she slipped on wet, slick rocks and fell into Virginia Creek between St. Mary and Virginia Falls, about 200 yards above the trail bridge. Tones was quickly swept up by the cold, fast moving water and went over a series of smaller waterfalls, then was pinned underwater by a log for several minutes until efforts by other park visitors led to pulling her from the creek.
Park streams are running high and fast from runoff. The hike is one of the most popular in the park.
Despite resuscitation efforts by bystanders, park rangers, ambulance personnel and ALERT helicopter medics, Tones never regained consciousness and was pronounced deceased by ALERT personnel at about 7 p.m.
The initial calls came in about 5:20 p.m. and rangers were on the scene about 20 minutes later as they had to hike to get to the scene of the accident.