NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Friday, May 5, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-194 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Rescue

On the morning of April 30th, a group of juvenile delinquents and a counselor
from Camp Elliot began the second day of a planned six-day backpacking trip in
the park.  They were hiking upriver along a railroad near Cunard when a slow-
moving freight train forced them to leave the tracks.  Two of the juveniles, a
nine-year-old boy and his friend, became separated from the group on the
opposite side of the tracks.  When the freight train stopped to let an Amtrak
train go by, the two boys decided to crawl under the freight train to reach the
rest of the group.  While still under it, the train began to move and the nine-
year-old's arm was caught under a wheel and severed about two inches below the
elbow.  He stayed in the center of the track until the rest of the train -
about five cars - passed over him, then was carried out a half mile to Cunard
Landing by his companions and some bystanders.  Maintenance worker Frank Bragg
transported the boy in his truck to town where he was transferred by ambulance
and helicopter to a hospital in Louisville.  His arm was surgically reattached
in an operation that reportedly went very well.  At last report, he was in
stable condition in the hospital.  [Rick Brown, Acting CR, 5/4]

95-195 - Death Valley (California) - Pursuit; Drug Arrest

The Inyo narcotics enforcement team advised rangers on May 2nd that they'd
received a tip that a drug shipment would be en route to Bishop, California,
from Las Vegas, and would likely pass through the park.  The suspect vehicle
was spotted by a patrol ranger on the following morning; it was heading
northbound at about 80 mph, but accelerated when the ranger turned and began
following it.  County and state units joined in and lead the pursuit at speeds
in excess of 100 mph.  The vehicle ran off the road about six miles outside of
Beatty and drove cross-country for about 400 feet before coming to a stop.  The
drive, J.B., was wanted on a no-bail felony warrant for parole
violations.  A quantity of methamphetamine was seized from the vehicle.  [Mark
Maciha, Acting CR, DEVA, 5/4]

95-196 - Mojave (California) - Hazmat Spill; Probable Smuggling; Pursuit 

The park's sole on-duty patrol ranger was notified by the Federal Interagency
Communication Center (FICC) of a gasoline pipeline spill in the northeast
section of the park late on the afternoon of May 1st.  It took the ranger three
hours to find the leak, which was determined to be on BLM land.  The 20-year-
old pipeline crosses the park, though, and has only recently been brought back
on line after an extended period in which it was not used.  More leaks are
considered possible.  While returning from this incident, the ranger observed a
some strange lights setting down on the Kelbaker Road, then move, lift off, and
depart toward the southwest.  Since the park's roads have been used in the past
as clandestine air strips for smuggling, the ranger advised Customs via the
FICC.  Shortly after the aircraft took off, a vehicle coming from the area
where the plane landed passed by the ranger at a speed in excess of 100 mph. 
The ranger followed the vehicle in his truck, hoping to catch up to it when it
slowed down in the Granite Pass area.  The vehicle was finally stopped at the
junction of I-40 and Kelbaker Road; two California Highway Patrol units
assisted.  Although it was not possible to connect the vehicle with the plane,
information on both the vehicle and driver were turned over to Customs.  [Bill
Blake, CR, MOJA, 5/4]

95-197 - Death Valley (California) - MVA with Fatality

On April 23rd, rangers were called to a motor vehicle accident with injuries
near the park's east boundary.  K.G. of Japan had been ejected from
the vehicle and was dead upon arrival.  K.O., also of Japan, was
treated at the scene for a closed head injury; rangers provided life support
until a helicopter could arrive to transport her to Las Vegas.  The vehicle's
estimated speed when it left the highway was between 70 and 80 mph.  [Mark
Maciha, Acting CR, DEVA, 5/4]

                [More pending incident reports tomorrow...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Yellowstone (Wyoming) - Update on Wolf Reintroduction

On May 3rd, wolves from the Crystal Bench group were located west of their
acclimation site in Lamar Valley.  The Soda Butte group was still together and
in the Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness about 20 miles north of the park.  The
young female from the Rose Creek group was also located in the Absaroka-
Beartooth, but was just outside the park.  FWS is continuing its investigation
of the disappearance of the Rose Creek alpha male; they are also monitoring the
movements of the alpha female.  

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

OBSERVATIONS

"The parks do not belong to one state or to one section.  They have become
democratized.  The Yosemite, the Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon are national
properties in which every citizen has a vested interest; they belong as much to
the man of Massachusetts, of Michigan, of Florida, as they do to the people of
California, of Wyoming, and of Arizona....Who will gainsay that the parks
contain the highest potentialities of national pride, national contentment, and
national health?  A visit inspires love of country; begets contentment;
engenders pride of possession; contains the antidote for national
restlessness...He is a better citizen with a keener appreciation of the
privilege of living here who has toured the national parks."

                                                Stephen Tyng Mather
                                                Director, 1917-1929

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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