NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

INCIDENTS

Blue Ridge Parkway

Woman Pleads Guilty To Causing Fatal Accident

On November 17, 2010, a northbound vehicle crossed over the parkway's center line and collided with a southbound vehicle, resulting in the death of driver of the latter. On June 17th, the driver of the northbound vehicle, S.C.-B., who was injured in the collision along with the decedent's wife, plead guilty to misdemeanor death by vehicle in federal court. The main contributing factor to the cause of the wreck was S.C.-B. talking on a cell phone, causing her to fail to give her full time and attention to driving. At the sentencing hearing, S.C.-B. spoke from a prepared statement expressing her regret and sorrow at not paying attention while driving. The victim's wife also spoke from a prepared statement, forgiving S.C.-B. and expressing the need to prohibit the use of cell phones and similar devices while operating a vehicle. S.C.-B. received a suspended jail sentence, 18 months of supervised probation, revocation of her driver's license, and 100 hours of community service. She was also banned from all NPS areas for 18 months. [Tim Francis, Pisgah District Ranger]

Mount Rainier NP

Concession Employee Dies In Dorm Room

On Sunday, June 26th, rangers responded to the Glacier Dorm at Paradise to a report of a concession employee who'd been found unresponsive in his dorm room. Concession and park emergency medical responders determined that he was not breathing and did not have a pulse and immediately began CPR. An AED was also attached to him, but no shock was prescribed by the AED. Although an ALS air ambulance was called in to respond, it was turned back before arriving when the park's medical control determined that the man had died. The man, who worked as a supervisory cook at the Paradise Inn for Guest Services, Inc., was 47 years old. He had cardiac medications prescribed for him. There were no obvious signs that anyone else was involved in this death or that it was a suicide, although it remains under investigation by park rangers. [R. Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):

San Antonio Missions NHP - On Saturday, the park joined in the opening of the first two phases of the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River Improvement Project, which will restore the riparian habitat of the San Antonio River and reconnect the historic Spanish missions of the city to the river.

Redwood N&SP - Redwood National and State Parks staff enjoyed an environmentally friendly cookout, crosscut saw competition, and nail-driving contest in recognition of World Facility Management Day on June 23rd. Photo.

Homestead NMA - On Friday, June 17th, in celebration of Homestead National Monument of America's 75th anniversary, 52 current and former employees of Homestead, joined by family members, reunited for an evening of fun and memories at the monument. Photo.

Jean Lafitte NHP&P - Administrative officer Lesley Adams bids federal service farewell after 41 years, 34 of them with the NPS. Photo.

Denver Service Center - Jan Harris, Denver Service Center planning division branch chief, will retire on June 30th after 30 years with the National Park Service. Photo.

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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of Communications and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

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