NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Friday, March 3, 2006

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INCIDENTS

Olympic NP

Couple Survive Vehicle's 450-Foot Plunge Off Road

On the afternoon of February 25th, park dispatch received a call from OnStar reporting a vehicle over a cliff on the Hurricane Ridge Road. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing tire tracks in the snow that ran off the roadway between a set of roadway tunnels. The witnesses established immediate voice contact with the vehicle occupants, but due to vegetation, terrain and distance could not see them. Olympic Mountain Rescue, the Clallam County Sheriff's search and rescue team and the ski patrol from Hurricane Ridge Ski Area assisted. Rescuers were able to descend 45- to 80-degree angle slopes to reach the occupants of a 1992 Jeep Cherokee. The vehicle had rolled down steep slopes approximately 450 feet and over two cliff faces before landing on its top wedged between two trees. The victims were able to extricate themselves from the Jeep. Aided by rescuers, they climbed fifth class snow covered rock and steep slopes back to the road. They received only minor cuts and bruises in the accident. [Kevin Hendricks]

Western Arctic NP

Arrests For Theft Of Government Property

The Kotzebue office of Western Arctic National Parklands was broken into on Saturday, February 25th. The NPS office space, which is leased from a native corporation, is located within the Eskimo Building along with several other organizations. The NPS office was entered through an unsecured exterior door which provided access to the NPS office interior door. Although the interior door was locked, the thieves were able to pry it open. A government safe containing $1,730 in cash, 500 blank third party draft checks, NPS uniform badges, vehicle titles, property stickers, master keys to government facilities and cell phones was stolen. Government owned digital cameras and personal property were also stolen. Shortly after the Kotzebue Police Department began their investigation, two juveniles were located with the government and personal property. Though the juveniles were able to pry the safe open, all government and personal property was accounted for. The only loss was $10 in change that belonged to the employee association. The case is being handled by the Kotzebue Police Department and the juveniles will be prosecuted through Alaska's juvenile justice system. [Lindy Mihata, Chief Ranger]

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Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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