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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Friday, September 14, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Grand Teton NP Injured Climber Rescued From Symmetry Spire Rangers employed a contract helicopter to rescue an injured climber from the base of Jensen Ridge on Symmetry Spire on the afternoon of Tuesday, September 11th. A.K., 49, of Toronto, Canada, dislocated his shoulder while ascending the spire on a climb with Exum Mountain Guides. His guide lowered him about 300 feet to the ridge base, which greatly assisted the evacuation by placing him in a better location for the rescue operation. The guide used his cell phone to call the Exum Mountain Guides' office, and rangers responded after Exum staff relayed the message at 1:30 p.m. By 2:30 p.m., the helicopter was en route to insert a park ranger via short-haul onto the 9,500 foot elevation ledge where the climber was located. After the ranger placed A.K. in a short-haul evacuation suit, he was flown to Lupine Meadows, arriving there at about 4:00 p.m. A park ambulance then took him to St. John's Medical Center in Jackson for treatment. This marks the 22nd significant SAR operation in the park this year. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer] Blue Ridge Parkway Taser Employed To Terminate Extended Pursuit Ranger Bruce Gagnon saw a motorcycle speeding down the parkway in the Laurel Springs area on the afternoon of September 9th and attempted to stop it. The operator, J.P., 36, declined to comply and sped away. Gagnon lost visual contact and reduced his speed, but again came upon the bike several miles down the road, at which point J.P. reversed direction. The pursuit continued to the Highway 21 junction, where J.P. attempted to exit the parkway but instead ran over a traffic island and stopped on the road shoulder. Gagnon pulled ahead of the motorcycle and a state trooper pulled in behind the bike. Gagnon then ordered J.P. to get off his bike, but J.P. again attempted to flee. Gagnon used his taser, hitting J.P.'s right shoulder and halting his escape. He was taken to a medical facility, where the darts were removed, then charged with speeding and fleeing to elude, with other charges pending. The pursuit covered about 25 miles, during which the motorcycle's speed was estimated at over 100 mph for short stretches. J.P. also passed about 20 vehicles over double yellow lines, sometimes on blind corners. It appears that he may have been carrying drugs, but was able to dispose of them during his maneuvers. [Steve Stinnett, Assistant Chief Ranger] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on either the InsideNPS web site (if you are within the National Park Service) or at the InsideNPS public ‘news digest' site (if you are outside of the NPS). The web sites are, respectively, HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/ and ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/). * Fort McHenry - Last weekend, the park celebrated Defenders' Day, Baltimore's oldest holiday, with a “Star-Spangled Banner Weekend” that featured parades, school programs, historic ships, living history, concerts, fireworks and a ship-to-shore bombardment. The holiday honors the successful defense of the city from British attack and the writing of the National Anthem. * Training - Added to this week's calendar are an introduction to park program management training course at Bryce Canyon and an EMS refresher at Ellis Island. * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-686-3828). --- ### --- |