Intoxicated Michigan man falls into Yellowstone hot springs, gets banned from park

A visitor at Yellowstone National Park ended up with burns after he fell into one of the thermal features there and faces charges for leaving the trail.

Jason D. Wicks, 49, of Hillman, Michigan, was arraigned in federal court on Aug. 23 and faces criminal charges of off-trail travel in a Yellowstone National Park thermal area and being under the influence of alcohol or drugs to the degree he was a danger to himself or others.

Hillman pleaded not guilty to the charges. As part of the conditions for release, Hillman is banned from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks until these criminal charges are resolved. This incident remains under investigation. A trial date has not been set.

The violation notice merely contains allegations, and every defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

In a statement, Yellowstone National Park officials said that the ground in hydrothermal areas is fragile and thin, and there is scalding water just below the surface. Therefore, everyone must remain on boardwalks and trails and exercise extreme caution around Yellowstone’s thermal features. You can learn more about safety in thermal areas here: nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/safety.htm.

For additional information related to Yellowstone National Park, please contact the Public Affairs Office at 307-344-2015 or yell_public_affairs@nps.gov.