Second man charged in damage at geyser
Published 9:00 pm Saturday, November 22, 2003
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. — A second man has been charged over damage to a geyser area at Yellowstone National Park, accused of not stopping a friend who drove his truck in circles on the geyser’s fragile soil before getting stuck.
Austin Olsen, 19, of Battle Ground, Wash., was charged Wednesday with aiding and abetting Adam Elford, 22, of Vancouver, Wash., in the Oct. 10 incident.
Elford was cited last month for driving off-road, damaging park resources, having a loaded gun in his truck, improper food storage and driving with a suspended license.
Investigators allege Olsen was accompanying Elford, who they say drove his pickup truck around two barriers and spun "doughnuts" on fragile soil known as sinter surrounding Lone Star Geyser before getting stuck.
The next morning, the two men asked two visitors for help, but were unable to free the vehicle. They eventually went to the Old Faithful ranger station.
The U.S. attorney’s office is reviewing the case to determine if felony charges will be filed.
Workers have spent more than 80 hours trying to repair the damage.
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