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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Friday, December 15, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Great Smoky Mountains NP Sentencing In Vehicular Homicide Case On the evening of March 26, 2005, five elderly visitors from Virginia were killed instantly when their vehicle was broadsided near the park's welcome center by one of two vehicles drag-racing on the Foothill Parkway Spur (click on “More Information” for the original report). Just moments before the crash, J.H. of Lebanon, Tennessee, and S.W. of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, who were strangers to each other, met at a traffic light in Gatlinburg. They revved their engines and began a 90-mph drag race down the winding stretch of the parkway, which links Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. S.W. was driving in the left lane and was narrowly able to avoid hitting the crossing vehicle by swerving left; J.H. was driving in the right lane and hit the crossing vehicle broadside, instantly killing all five people in the car and injuring himself and his passenger. S.W. fled the scene, but was later identified through a follow-up investigation. Both J.H. and S.W. pled guilty to one count of second degree murder in 2006. In November, Steven Williams was sentenced to 8 years and 6 months in federal prison. Last week, Jonathan J.H. was sentenced to 21 years and 8 months in federal prison. According to the federal district judge, "the disparity (in sentencing) arises from the choices and behaviors of the respective defendants both before and after these deaths. J.H. had a history of reckless and drunken driving. Mr. S.W. had no criminal history.” The investigation is a result of excellent teamwork between several rangers and special agent Jeff Carlisle. [Rick Brown, Assistant Chief Ranger] HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=1832" http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=1832 OTHER NEWS Other news from today's edition of InsideNPS, the National Park Service's home page: Sequoia-Kings Canyon - On Sunday, December 10th, the park held its annual “Trek to the Nation's Christmas Tree,” the 267-foot sequoia otherwise known as the General Grant Tree. Olympic - The over 500 comments received during the public comment period for the park's draft general management plan/environmental impact statement have been scanned and collated and are now available for public review. Indiana Dunes - The park is currently looking for a GL-0025-9 law enforcement ranger who is interested in a lateral transfer. Risk Management - Lieutenant Commander Sara Newman is the division's new public risk management specialist. Training Calendar - Today's summary includes three new wilderness management training courses, a high-angle rescue training course, a wilderness first responder course, and a wilderness first responder refresher course. Event's Calendar - Today's listing of upcoming NPS and NPS-related events across the nation. This week's edition adds an entry for next spring's George Wright Society conference To link to InsideNPS, click on HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/ * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |