Two snowmobile riders lost their lives in separate incidents in western Wyoming at the end of January, according to officials.
The Teton County Search and Rescue (TCSAR) team responded to a tragic accident in the Togwotee Pass area on January 26. A man and woman, part of a small guided group, reportedly veered off the trail and collided with a tree. The man suffered serious injuries and went into cardiac arrest, ultimately passing away.
The woman remained unresponsive yet was breathing. She was airlifted to a hospital in Idaho for treatment.
TCSAR expressed their condolences on Facebook, stating, “All of us at TCSAR extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends affected by this tragedy… This winter has been particularly tough for our mountain community.” They mentioned that TCSAR had dealt with four fatalities so far, with two occurring in just a matter of days. They urged everyone to prioritize safety while enjoying the outdoors.
Just three days before this incident, on January 23, TCSAR had responded to two other snowmobile accidents on Granite Creek Road, one of which resulted in a fatality.
In one case, a 39-year-old man fell approximately 30 feet down a steep area and sustained serious leg injuries. Meanwhile, TCSAR received another call regarding a 32-year-old woman who crashed into a tree, losing consciousness and suffering life-threatening injuries.
The man who died on January 26 has been identified as 31-year-old Joshua Dillon Escamilla, while the woman from the January 23 accident was identified as Edith Linares Pike, 32. Pike, tragically, succumbed to head and neck injuries. According to Teton County Coroner Brent Blue, she was from Stamford, Connecticut.
The cause of death for Escamilla is still under investigation by the coroner’s office, which has reached out to his family in Florida.
