A couple hoping to catch a glimpse of a grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park ended up in a frightening encounter with an entirely different animal when a massive bison suddenly stepped into the road, destroying their truck and leaving them and their dog injured.
Marie and Jason Jaskula were driving through the park on the evening of October 8 when their pickup truck collided with a bull bison estimated to weigh approximately 2,000 pounds.
The couple escaped with minor injuries, but their truck was totaled, the bison died and the accident left them scrambling to figure out how to move their RV, which serves as their full-time home.
The Jaskulas aren’t ordinary Yellowstone visitors. They have spent the past two years living and working inside the national park, where Marie manages a retail operation and Jason works in maintenance.
That evening, the couple heard about a grizzly bear sighting near Mary Bay along Yellowstone Lake and decided to drive approximately two miles to see the animal.
They left around 7 p.m., joining other vehicles headed toward the popular wildlife-viewing area.
But while returning home near the Storm Point Trailhead, their evening took an unexpected turn.
“The bison literally walked across the white line with zero notice,” Jason told Montana television station KTVQ. “We didn’t even have time to hit the brakes.”
The couple was traveling approximately 40 mph, below the posted 45 mph speed limit, when the animal appeared in the roadway.
With no streetlights and little natural light, they had almost no time to react.
The impact caused extensive damage to their Dodge Ram pickup truck. Both Marie and Jason suffered bumps and bruises, while their 10-year-old dog, Z, was shaken up in the backseat.
Marie said the dog spent three days resting on the couch afterward but has since started feeling better.
Unfortunately, the bison did not survive.
According to Jason, the enormous animal stumbled after the collision, collapsed and died shortly afterward. Heavy equipment was eventually brought in to remove it from the roadway.
A nearby park ranger responded and set up traffic controls while other motorists stopped to help.
Although the couple was grateful to escape serious injuries, the accident created an unexpected financial emergency.
Their pickup truck wasn’t simply a way to get around Yellowstone. It was the only vehicle they owned capable of towing their fifth-wheel RV, which contains most of their belongings.
The Jaskulas had purchased the truck specifically to move their home between seasonal jobs.
They had spent years vacationing in Yellowstone before deciding to leave their previous careers in Wisconsin and pursue their dream of working inside the national park.
Now, with winter approaching, that dream has become considerably more complicated.
The couple had been preparing to relocate to Moab, Utah, for their next seasonal jobs. However, Yellowstone’s interior roads are scheduled to close to regular vehicle traffic for winter, leaving them with limited time to move their RV.
Making matters worse, the truck reportedly had only liability insurance because it had remained parked for much of the summer.
That means the couple may not receive insurance compensation for the damage to their own vehicle.
Friends have organized a GoFundMe campaign seeking $25,000 to help the couple transport their RV, cover unexpected expenses and care for their dog.
The fundraiser also explains that Jason suffered a serious heart attack in February 2025 and relies on continued employment for health insurance and medication.
In the meantime, the Jaskulas have been staying in employee housing while trying to arrange transportation for their belongings.
Despite everything, the couple says they haven’t lost their love for Yellowstone.
“Up until the moment of this accident, this has been an amazing experience,” Marie told KTVQ. “I would not trade it for the world.”
Jason agreed, saying the park remains a special place for them.
Their experience is also a reminder that even people familiar with Yellowstone’s wildlife can encounter unexpected dangers.
According to the National Park Service, Yellowstone was home to approximately 5,300 bison in 2025. Adult males can weigh as much as 2,000 pounds, making them the largest land mammals in North America.
The animals frequently travel near roads and can be especially difficult to see after dark because of their large size and dark coloring.
Park officials advise motorists to drive cautiously, watch for wildlife and remain inside their vehicles when bison are nearby.
Visitors are also required to stay at least 25 yards away from bison and other large animals, including elk.
Unlike incidents involving tourists who approach wildlife too closely, the Jaskulas’ accident happened when the animal unexpectedly entered the road.
For the couple, the immediate challenge is finding a way to move their home before winter road closures make transportation even more difficult.
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