Gallatin Media Center

On Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 2:22 p.m., the West Yellowstone Police Department dispatch center received a 911 call regarding a group of snowmobilers who were stuck and unable to extract their snowmobiles. The coordinates from the 911 call indicated that they were in steep, timbered terrain 11 miles west of West Yellowstone.

Due to the foreboding terrain, a group of skilled snowmobilers from Gallatin County Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, Custer Gallatin National Forest, and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks responded to assist with the rescue.

Rescuers made contact with the snowmobilers and assisted them to safety. Everyone in the group was uninjured and in good health.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to thank the group of passing skiers who provided assistance to the snowmobilers while waiting for the volunteers to arrive.

On Sunday, January 7, 2024, at 1:42 p.m., the West Yellowstone Police Department dispatch center received a 911 call regarding a snowmobiler who sustained knee and back injuries when their snowmobile left the trail and struck a tree. The crash location was 11 miles south of West Yellowstone near Black Bear Canyon.

Volunteers from Gallatin County Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire Department, Custer Gallatin National Forest, and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks responded to assist with the rescue.

Rescuers made contact with the patient who was complaining of significant knee and back pain. The patient was quickly packaged and transported back to West Yellowstone in a specialized Snow Ambulance. After being evaluated by the HBFD ambulance crew, the patient chose not to be transported.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to thank the group of passing snowmobilers who recognized the need for assistance and remained on scene with the patient until help arrived.

 

On Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 4:21 p.m., the West Yellowstone Police Department dispatch center received a 911 call regarding a snowmobiler who had struck a tree and suffered a head injury. The crash location was 4 miles west of West Yellowstone near Junction 8.

Volunteers from Gallatin County Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire Department, and the West Yellowstone Police Department responded to assist with the rescue.

Rescuers arrived on scene and made contact with the patient who was bleeding heavily from a gash above one eye. Rescuers quickly packaged and transported the patient to a waiting HBFD ambulance. The HBFD ambulance crew then transported the patient to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for evaluation.

 

For Immediate Release

On 1/4/2024, the Gallatin County Coroner’s Office responded to a head-on fatality crash on I-90, mile marker 278.  The accident involved a wrong way driver traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of travel on Interstate 90.  The wrong way driver struck the vehicle of female victim, Laysa Grewell, a 22-year-old resident of Belgrade.  Laysa Grewell was pronounced deceased on scene.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to express his deep condolences to Laysa Grewell’s family and friends.

Sam Clark, Deputy Coroner

 

For immediate release: Jan. 4, 2024

On the morning of Thursday, Jan. 4, the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office was notified that the Clerk of District Court’s Office received an anonymous email threat claiming that bombs were put into courtrooms in Gallatin County District Court, Justice Court, and Bozeman Municipal Court. Similar threats have been received by local and state agencies nationwide in the last two days.

Law enforcement performed sweeps of all courtrooms and did not find anything suspicious. In coordination with judges and court staff, courts were opened at regular hours.

The sheriff’s office appreciates the cooperation of all the courts in this matter.

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On January 4, 2024, at 1:26 am, Gallatin County Dispatch began receiving calls of a wrong way driver on Interstate 90 at mile marker 294.  The suspect vehicle was reportedly traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes.  The suspect vehicle subsequently caused a head on collision with another vehicle at mile marker 278.

Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office, Manhattan Police Department, Montana Highway Patrol and Three Forks Fire responded to the scene of the crash. The victim, a 22-year-old Townsend native currently residing in Belgrade, was the sole occupant of the vehicle and pronounced deceased on scene.  The driver of the suspect vehicle was extricated and transported to Bozeman Health Deaconess Regional Medical Center.

The Montana Highway Patrol is investigating the accident with the assistance of the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office.

On Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 2:45 p.m., the West Yellowstone Police Department dispatch center received a 911 call regarding a snowmobiler who had struck a tree and suffered severe facial injuries in the crash. The crash had taken place on the Madison Arm Trail 4 miles northwest of West Yellowstone.

Volunteers from Gallatin County Search and Rescue in West Yellowstone, Hebgen Basin Rural Fire Department, Yellowstone National Park, West Yellowstone Police Department, and a helicopter from Air Methods responded to assist with the rescue.

Rescuers arrived on scene and immediately requested an Air Methods Helicopter to respond due to the severity of the snowmobiler’s injuries. The patient was quickly packaged and transported to meet a HBFD ambulance before being transferred to the helicopter. The patient was transported to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center for trauma care.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to thank the dedicated SAR volunteers and all of our partner agencies involved in the rescue.

For immediate release: Jan. 3, 2024 

Media contact:
Whitney Bermes, Gallatin County Communications Coordinator
Cell – 406-595-8963
whitney.bermes@gallatin.mt.gov
 

Gallatin, Broadwater Counties Receive Funding to Replace Old Town Bridges 

Gallatin and Broadwater counties are finalizing contracts for state funding to help replace two bridges on Old Town Road that span the Jefferson River near Three Forks. 

Over the last couple years, the two counties have been collaborating and working to find funding to replace both bridges, which are estimated to cost around $2 million each. 

The bridge located on Old Town Road East was closed to traffic in June 2023 after an inspection identified significant safety issues with the structure. This has resulted in a 10-mile detour and has forced emergency services to reroute, causing considerable delays in service.  

The bridge located on Old Town Road West, about a quarter mile west, currently has a seven-ton load limit.  

Due to the significant population increases in both Gallatin and Broadwater counties in that area, Old Town Road and the two bridges continue to be vital infrastructure for the region.  

In 2023, both counties received $750,000 each from the Montana Coal Endowment Program (MCEP). They also both received $1 million apiece from the Montana Department of Transportation to be used as matching funds for the MCEP money. These matching funds are thanks to a bill passed in the 2023 Montana Legislature, which provides funding for road and bridge repair statewide. 

“This funding is a key component to ensuring that we replace these critical pieces of infrastructure for our residents on the west end of Gallatin County. We appreciate the teamwork with Broadwater County to push this project forward,” said Gallatin County Commissioner Scott MacFarlane. 

“Broadwater County is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Gallatin County in the replacement of the Old Town Bridges that will greatly benefit all residents. We are also grateful for the MCEP program and the Montana Department of Transportation that have helped to the provided funding to make this project possible,” said Broadwater County Commissioner Darrel Folkvord. 

Stahly Engineering is in the process of completing design of the bridges. Construction is slated to begin in June with completion at the end of 2024.  

Check out project history and schedule, submit questions and comments, and more, at the project website. 

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On December 30^th 2023, Gallatin County Dispatch received a call for two injured snowmobilers on Buck Ridge.  Both patients were involved in a snowmobile crash and sustained injuries.  Canyon Adventures snowmobile guides were in the area and responded to assist the injured riders.

Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue volunteers from the Big Sky Section responded to Buck Ridge and deployed a snowmobile rescue team immediately up the trail.

With the help of Canyon Adventures, both snowmobilers were transported to a waiting Big Sky Fire Ambulance.  Care of both patients was transferred to Big Sky Fire Department personnel.

Sherriff Dan Springer would like to thank all of the individuals who assisted the injured riders, especially the Canyon Adventures guides, whose quick action was vital in guaranteeing the most positive outcome possible.

 

 

 

On 12/29/23 at 3:25 PM Gallatin County 911 received a call from the partner of an injured skier.  The pair was ski touring in Beehive Basin and one of them had hit a rock and injured her ankle.  Despite the ankle being too painful to bear weight, the pair slowly made their way down to the trail as Gallatin County Search & Rescue (GCSSAR) volunteers deployed to assist.

GCSSAR rescuers met the pair on the trail, provided first aid, and packaged the patient for safe transport to the trailhead. At the trailhead, the patient refused ambulance transport as they were able to take their own vehicle to seek follow-on medical care.

Sheriff Dan Springer would like to commend the patient and her partner for having a solid emergency communications plan and being well equipped to handle an extended stay in the back country if circumstances required it.