Pittsburgh-Area Woman Identified As Montana Drowning Victim

PITTSBURGH, PA — The National Park Service on Tuesday released the name of the woman who drowned Sunday in Glacier National Park in Montana. She was Gillian Tones, 26, of North Apollo northeast of Pittsburgh.

Initial reports indicated that Tones went into the water above St. Mary Falls, but the park service said witnesses later stated that she slipped on wet, slick rocks and fell into a creek. She was quickly swept away by the water, went over several smaller waterfalls and was pinned underwater by a log for several minutes before being pulled from the river by other park visitors.

Despite resuscitation efforts by bystanders, park rangers, ambulance personnel and helicopter medics, Tones never regained consciousness. She was pronounced dead about 90 minutes after park dispatchers received multiple 911 calls.

The park service stated in a release that it extends its deepest condolences to family and friends of Tones and asks that the public respect their privacy.

Tones's death is the second recent drowning tragedy involving a Pennsylvanian. A couple from Chester County drowned last week while on vacation with their six children in Florida.