Corvallis man dies from fall in Glacier Park

A 26-year-old Corvallis man who died in a fall at Haystack Creek in Glacier National Park over the weekend has been identified.

Flathead County Sheriff’s Office reported that Robert Durbin died from injuries sustained in a fall on Saturday, July 22.

Glacier National Park dispatch received a call from a shuttle bus driver and a visitor with an inReach satellite communication device that someone had fallen at Haystack Creek at approximately 6:30 p.m. The creek is located approximately five miles west of Logan Pass, along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.

Park rangers and Two Bear Air Rescue immediately responded.

Rangers found Durbin, who had fallen approximately 100 feet below the road near Haystack Creek. The victim was pronounced dead on the scene, according to officers.

Durbin was traveling to the park on a vacation with family.

Initial witness reports indicate that Durbin was taking photographs along Haystack Creek on the upper bank of the Going-to-the-Sun Road. At some point, he fell into the creek and was washed through a culvert that goes underneath the road according to a press release from Glacier National Park.

Going-to-the-Sun Road was closed to traffic in both directions for approximately one hour on Saturday evening while rangers secured the scene of the accident and Two Bear Air Rescue recovered the victim’s body from a ledge below the road.

No suspicious circumstances have been noted, and the investigation is ongoing.

Falls are a leading cause of death in Glacier. Park visitors should use caution around all water features, especially waterfalls and lakes. Water can be cold, fast moving, and high at many times of the year, and rocks can be very slippery. There are numerous areas in Glacier’s high country with steep drop offs. Visitors should remain vigilant as they enjoy the park to be aware of their surroundings and areas where falls are possible.