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Glacier National Park
Alberta Motorcyclist Identified After Fatal Accident in Glacier National Park

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Date: September 10, 2009
Contact: Amy Vanderbilt, 406-888-5838
Contact: Wade Muehlhof, 406-888-7895

WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Glacier National Park officials released the name of the man who died Wednesday, September 9, 2009, after his motorcycle left the road and he fell some 30 feet. The victim has been identified as 51-year-old George Stephen Zlatnik from Okotoks, Alberta, Canada.   

Park rangers are working with the Montana Highway Patrol to determine what caused the accident. Investigators say it appears Zlatnik failed to negotiate a turn on Going-to-the-Sun Road (Sun Road) on the park’s east side around 1:30 p.m. September 9. The accident happened about a half of a mile west of the Wild Goose Island overlook.

Zlatnik  was riding a Honda Goldwing and was part of a group of 27 motorcyclists from Canada who were traveling eastbound from Logan Pass towards St. Mary. One of the riders told rangers that he looked in his review mirror and noticed Zlatnik was not behind him. Investigating rangers estimate the Zlatnik fell approximately 30 feet. Zlatnik was deceased when rangers arrived on scene. He was wearing a helmet.

There are no further details at this time. Additional information will be released as it becomes available.


-NPS -

Grizzly bears  

Did You Know?
Grizzly bears in the park have a wide variety of food sources, including glacier lily bulbs, insects, and berries. They may also make an early season meal of mountain goats that were swept down in avalanches over the winter.

Last Updated: September 10, 2009 at 17:45 EST