Five visitors were injured in two accidents that occurred in the park this past Saturday, four of them seriously. On Saturday morning, two motorcyclists ran into each other in a head-on collision near Porcupine Creek Campground on the Tioga Road, causing traumatic injuries to both. One suffered a broken arm and head injuries, including skull fractures and a subarachnoid bleed, and was flown in the park’s helicopter to a local hospital; the other suffered a severely broken foot and was transported to the Yosemite Valley Medical Clinic via ambulance. Both riders were wearing helmets. Later that evening, a vehicle heading west on Big Oak Flat Road near Crane Flat Campground went off the road and down a steep 25 foot embankment and hit a large tree. All three occupants were injured – one suffered a possible detached sternum and thoracic and abdominal injuries and was flown to a local hospital; one suffered abdominal injuries and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital; and one suffered a sprained right knee and was released at the scene. Ambulances from Yosemite Valley, Crane Flat, and Tuolumne County all responded. An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.
