Yellowstone mudslides trap motorists, close road

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. – Three vehicles were trapped and a fourth was stranded when thunderstorms soaked a burned area and caused mudslides that closed Yellowstone National Park’s east entrance.

The two largest slides were 10 feet deep and 90 yards long.

Park rangers helped 16 people get out after the mud began flowing at about 8 p.m. Sunday. Mud sloshed up to the hoods of some cars, and some people had to be pulled out through car windows.

All the stranded motorists had been rescued by 11:30 p.m. Sunday, and no one was hurt, park officials said.

Evacuees were taken to Pahaska Teepee, a resort just outside the park’s east entrance. Two other people passing through on a motorcycle were able to leave the area on their own and stayed overnight in an employee dormitory at Fishing Bridge.

Visitors in a car that had to turn around after coming upon the mudslides from the west were put up for the night at the Fishing Bridge warming hut.

No one was reported missing.