Lester Korn's family is grateful to the people who came to their aid following a harrowing accident involving their RV on Teton Pass. The incident occurred on August 17 while Korn, his wife, son, and two grandchildren were traveling near the base of the pass.
The RV, which was pulling a trailer, fishtailed and crossed the center line, resulting in a collision with an oncoming vehicle before crashing into a rock wall along Wyoming Highway 22. Korn recounted on a phone call from Salt Lake City how pivotal the actions of nearby witnesses were in saving their lives.
Amid the chaos, Korn found himself dangling nearly upside down, his feet wedged between the driver's seat and the side console, while his granddaughter, Neeka, struggled to breathe inside the wrecked vehicle. A bystander's quick thinking to provide lifesaving breaths kept Neeka alive until emergency services arrived.
Now, as Korn reflects on the crash, he expresses concern about safety measures on Teton Pass. He believes the introduction of a check station at the bottom of the pass could prevent similar accidents, suggesting that no RVs should be allowed to traverse the route.
Neeka continues to receive treatment for kidney complications at Children's Primary Hospital in Utah. Korn wrestles with feelings of guilt as he navigates his role as the driver. Despite having prepared for the journey, including servicing the RV and downshifting through steep turns, he was unaware that there were few opportunities for a safe turnaround once on the pass.
Safety discussions have already begun between Wyoming and Idaho transportation officials and a local advocacy group, Make Teton Pass Safer. Recent meetings focused on proposing improved safety measures. Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) Resident Engineer Bob Hammond indicated that enhancements to signage were already in progress before the meeting, addressing earlier incidents that resulted in fatalities.
As part of the ongoing efforts, WYDOT has implemented temporary electronic warnings on Teton Pass, cautioning drivers about the steep grade and advising them to use low gear. These measures follow up on the call for more robust driving warnings and regulations concerning heavy vehicles descending the pass.
In a related incident, just six days after Korn's crash, Bob and Heidi Braman encountered trouble while descending Teton Pass in their RV. They reported smelling hot brakes after following navigation advice that led them into the challenging route. Despite adhering to safe driving practices, they too faced difficulties managing their vehicle on the descent.
The recent incidents have prompted community and transportation officials to consider tighter restrictions on RVs and vehicle weight limits on Teton Pass. Discussions are underway, with safety stakeholders aiming to enhance driver awareness and prevent future incidents.