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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Tuesday, November 6, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Mojave NP I-15 Spill Causes Major Traffic Diversion Through Park On the morning of October 31st, a tractor trailer rolled over on Interstate 15 at Mountain Pass, spilling 1,000 gallons of motor oil onto the freeway and ground. This section of I-15 follows the northern boundary of the park. California Highway Patrol officers closed down all northbound lanes at the Cima exit and routed traffic through the park for over 30 miles while a hazmat team cleaned up the oil. An estimated 8,000 vehicles passed through the park between 8 a.m. and midnight. Numerous incidents occurred during that period, including three motor vehicle accidents. Six citations and 14 warnings were issued for various traffic infractions, including operating a vehicle with a revoked license, unsafe passing, speeding, and possession of an open container of alcohol. Rangers also assisted motorists by providing information and directions, dealing with flat tires, and helping obtain towing services and gasoline. During the afternoon, San Bernardino County maintenance personnel had to repair potholes created by the large volume of traffic. Rangers acted professionally by maintaining order and keeping the number of incidents to a minimum through highly visible patrols and education. [Mike Ice, Acting Patrol Supervisor] Cape Lookout NS Fisherman Drowns In Boating Accident On the afternoon of November 1st, an unusually large breaking wave (seven to eight feet high) filled and capsized a 23-foot-long boat, dumping the four fishermen inside into the Atlantic Ocean just offshore of Shackleford Banks. Three of the men swam to shore, but the fourth - R.T., 69, of Clemons, North Carolina - remained with the boat. The men swam back to assist R.T., but he'd lost his grip on the boat and was underwater. They pulled him to shore and began CPR. A passing boater alerted the Coast Guard, which in turn informed the National Park Service. Protection ranger Jay Morgan responded, but first on scene was park biologist Sue Stuska. The three survivors were taken to the NPS dock and assisted to the mainland by Coast Guard personnel and North Carolina Marine Fisheries officers. R.T.'s body was recovered by supervisory protection ranger Shad Dusseau, protection ranger Jay Morgan and a Coast Guard petty officer. The body was taken by boat to the Coast Guard station at Fort Macon and released to local officials. [Shad Dusseau, Supervisory Protection Ranger] Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP Two Plead Guilty To BASE Jumping In Park Early on the morning of last August 18th, climbing ranger Brent Mims was alerted to the possibility that a BASE jump was going to occur in the park. He found a good vantage point and saw two men - K.C. and J.F. - attempting to hide what he believed to be parachutes in the canyon below the 2,250-foot-high Painted Wall on the north rim, Colorado's highest cliff and a well-known BASE-jumping site. He contacted them when they left the canyon and both admitted to making the jump and to hiding their parachutes in the gulley below. The parachutes and associated gear were confiscated but returned to the two men after their court hearing due to their cooperation. On October 2nd, both J.F. and K.C. pled guilty to violating the regulation prohibiting BASE jumping (36 CFR 2.17a3). They were each ordered to pay $1,285 in fines, with the court requiring that $2,000 of this total be deposited in the Black Canyon Search and Rescue Fund, which is used to support the park's volunteer climbing ranger team. [Linda Alick, Chief Ranger] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS: Servicewide - Veterans' Day, dedicated to those who've protected this nation and its people, both in years past and today, will occur on Sunday, November 11th. In honor of the day, all military personnel, active and retired, and their families will receive free admittance to National Park Service areas. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=5954" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=5954 Alaska Region - Dr. Jennifer Dow, an emergency room physician at Alaska Regional Hospital and the current volunteer medical director for Denali, Wrangell-St. Elias and Katmai, was recently honored by the governor of Alaska for her leadership and dedication to statewide emergency medicine. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1738" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1738 * * * * * 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). --- ### --- |