NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Monday, April 3, 2006

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INCIDENTS

Big Cypress NP

Fatal Collision on US 41

On the afternoon of March 26th, a motor vehicle headed west on US 41 attempted to turn into the Clyde Butcher Art Gallery in the face of oncoming traffic. The driver of an eastbound vehicle, apparently traveling at a high rate of speed, was unable to stop in time and swerved into the westbound lane to avoid hitting the turning vehicle. It then collided with two of three motorcycles heading west on the highway. The first rider and his bike were thrown over the guardrail on the north side of the road and landed on the bank of a canal. His left leg was severed in the collision and he suffered a serious head injury and possible multiple fractures to his pelvic/femur area. The second rider was injured when the vehicle then spun into his bike. The Collier County Sheriff's Office requested mutual aid assistance (the park does not have jurisdiction on the road). A Big Cypress ranger and a seasonal ranger from Everglades responded along with seven members of the Big Cypress wildland fire crew (which included three detailees from Whiskeytown NRA). Park staff secured the scene, established a landing zone for a medevac helicopter, directed traffic, and provided EMS care to the victims. A civilian trauma nurse who was passing by provided basic care to the most seriously injured victim, although efforts were hampered by the lack of ALS equipment. US 41 was closed to traffic in both directions for approximately four hours, requiring traffic to be rerouted along a 26-mile stretch of loop road. The first rider was airlifted out by Collier County EMS and reportedly died en route to the trauma center. The driver of the fast moving eastbound vehicle was taken into custody by sheriff's deputies at the conclusion of their preliminary investigation. [Ed Clark, 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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