Pennsylvania woman identified after drowning in Glacier National Park

WEST GLACIER, Mt. (WHTM) – A Pennsylvania woman has been identified after drowning in Glacier National Park in Montana.

The National Park Service said Gillian Tones, 26, of North Apollo in Armstrong County, drowned Sunday near St. Mary Falls on the east side of the park.

Citing witnesses, the National Park Service says Tones slipped on wet rocks and fell into Virginia Creek, about 200 yards above a trail bridge. She was then swept away by cold, fast-moving water and flowed through a series of small waterfalls before her body was found thanks to the “heroic efforts” of park visitors.

Tones was pronounced deceased around 7 p.m. despite resuscitation efforts by bystanders, park rangers, ambulance personnel and medics from the ALERT helicopter.

Several 911 calls were received around 5:20 p.m. and park rangers were on scene 25 minutes later. A helicopter landed at the scene around 6:20 p.m.

“Park staff would like to thank Glacier County, ALERT, Babb Ambulance and US Border Patrol for their support, as well as many bystanders for their immediate assistance,” the National Park Service said. “The park extends its deepest condolences to Tones’ family and friends and asks the public to respect his privacy.”

North Apollo is a borough located approximately 35 miles (56 km) northeast of Pittsburgh. According to the 2020 census, the district had 1,252 inhabitants.