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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Wednesday, September 27, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Grand Canyon NP Multiple DUI Violator Sentenced A Grand Canyon resident has been sentenced following her fourth DUI arrest by rangers. The woman pled guilty to her most recent charge before a federal magistrate in Flagstaff on August 31st. At the time of her arrest, she was on supervised probation for a DUI arrest that occurred in the park earlier this year. She was sentenced to 37 days in jail for the probation violation (time she'd served since her arrest), another 143 days in jail for this violation (which began the day of sentencing), and five years' supervised probation. Probation conditions include no alcohol consumption, no alcohol allowed in her residence, prohibition from being in the company of anyone consuming alcohol, and prohibition from entering any establishment where alcohol is served, including restaurants. She was also ordered not to drive motor vehicles. During the sentencing hearing, the assistant U.S. attorney pointed out that Grand Canyon rangers have been dealing with this woman since 1979, that this was her fourth DUI arrest, and that they've also had more than 28 alcohol-related contacts with three of her children. The AUSA also noted that nothing seems to get her attention, including the death of one of her sons in a DUI accident. At the time of this arrest, she was driving a vehicle with a memorial sticker to her son affixed to it. [Mike Archer, Deputy Chief Ranger] Yellowstone NP Felony Indictment For Involuntary Manslaughter On September 20th, a federal grand jury indicted C.S., a 28-year-old Michigan resident, on two felony counts - involuntary manslaughter and false information. The indictment stemmed from a September accident and fatality that occurred in Gardner Canyon (click on “More Information” below for the original report). On the night of September 6th, the Chevy Avalanche that C.S. was driving hit a guardrail and vaulted about 30 feet down into a river, landing on its roof. A technical rescue and vehicle extrication ensued. The passenger in the Avalanche, M.W., 27, sustained significant head and chest injuries and died at the scene. C.S. was extricated, treated by NPS paramedics, and flown to a trauma center in Idaho. A preliminary investigation indicated that DUI was the underlying cause, and rangers also found evidence of identity theft. A park special agent drove the 110 miles from West Yellowstone to the hospital and was joined by another ranger. Together, they kept C.S. secured. Other agents wrote up a criminal complaint and obtained an arrest warrant on one felony manslaughter and three misdemeanor counts. C.S. was released after 36 hours at the hospital, at which point agents placed him under arrest and took him to Mammoth Hot Springs. He made his initial appearance on September 12th and was remanded to the custody of a U.S. Marshal. He remains in federal custody, and the Michigan State Police have placed an additional detainer on him for an outstanding felony assault arrest warrant. A Montana Highway Patrol accident reconstruction team helped park investigators. Their findings indicated that the Avalanche skidded over 160 feet before it hit the guardrail and tumbled into the river. Park investigators also found witnesses who reported that, just prior to the crash, they'd seen the car accelerating and driving the wrong way through the Mammoth Hot Springs area, passing through narrow curves at a high rate of speed, and colliding with a guardrail about a half mile before the final crash occurred. [Brian Smith, Special Agent In Charge] HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewincidentsarticle&type=Incidents&id=2857" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewincidentsarticle&type=Incidents&id=2857 NEWS WASO - A draft environmental impact statement addressing whether the NPS should benefit from commercial applications arising from research in the parks has been released for public review and comment. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=PressReleases&id=701" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=PressReleases&id=701 MEDIA Virgin Islands NP - The Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit land conservation organization, has announced plans to purchase and preserve 415 acres on the Island of St John, to be added to Virgin Islands National Park. HYPERLINK "http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000033/003390.htm" http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000033/003390.htm PEOPLE Alaska Region - Steve Ulvi will be retiring on September 30th following a long career with the NPS and an exciting life in the Alaskan bush spanning four decades. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1325" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1325 Redwood N&SP - Steve W. Chaney, who has been with the Service for 31 years, has been chosen as the new superintendent of Redwood NP. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1326" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1326 * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |