RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           Ranger Activities Division Information Network

Day/Date:  Wednesday, January 13, 1993

Release:   0800 EDT

INCIDENTS

93-12 - Big Cypress (Florida) - Poaching

On the afternoon of January 7th, the park received an anonymous phone tip
that someone was shooting birds along Lower Wagon Wheel Road.  Responding
rangers made contact with six juveniles from three local communities and
found a fresh cut alligator tail located under a shirt in the back of the
pick-up that they were using.  The juveniles were turned over to an officer
from the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission and were subsequently
cited for alligator poaching in state court.  [Larry Stafford, BICY, 1/8]

93-13 - White House (D.C.) - MVA with Property Damage

Just after midnight on Saturday, January 9th, the 22-year-old male driver of
a Nissan sports car failed to stop at a traffic light at the intersection of
Madison Place and Pennsylvania Avenue, crossed the avenue and the White
House sidewalk, struck a large flower pot, then crashed into the White
House's northeast gate.  Park Police officers arrested the driver and
charged him with multiple traffic violations, including driving while
intoxicated.  He and his male passenger received minor injuries in the
accident, but refused medical treatment.  Although the gate was damaged, it
remained operable.  The incident was clearly a motor vehicle accident and
not an attempted intrusion into White House grounds.  [Lt. James Wayland,
USPP, 1/10]

93-14 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Suicide

The park received a report of a motor vehicle accident on West Rim Drive on
the afternoon of January 5th.  The responding ranger found an unoccupied
Chevrolet Suburban stuck on a boulder at the Abyss overlook, and indications
were that the driver had attempted to drive it over the rim.  The park
helicopter was immediately launched and soon found the body of P.L.,
38, about 200 feet below the rim and a quarter mile from the accident
scene.  Two days of intense winter weather delayed the body recovery.  On
January 8th, a sudden break in the weather permitted members of the park
technical rescue team to rappel down to the victim.  Rescue personnel were
aided by helicopter pilot Jerry Bonner, who demonstrated extraordinary skill
in extracting the body via long-line from below the rim in variable wind
conditions.  Investigators subsequently determined that P.L. had recently
been divorced and had left home with her possessions.  They also learned
that P.L. had become obsessed by the movie "Thelma and Louise", which has a
finale depicting the female characters driving their vehicle into the Grand
Canyon (actually filmed at Dead Horse Point near Canyonlands).  One other
attempted suicide at Grand Canyon last year also involved a woman who had
become interested in the film.  [Ken Phillips, CR, GRCA, 1/12]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Dickerhoof at management control
training (1/13) and on AL (1/15); Henry on AL (1/7-1/28).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Gale at Mount Rainier and PNRO (1/11-1/15);
Broyles at meeting (1/14).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: Branch of R&VP - 202-208-4874
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5572
Telefax:   Branch of R&VP - 202-208-6756
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5977
cc:Mail:   Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation