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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Tuesday, August 14, 2012 INCIDENTS Grand Teton NP Collision Knocks Van With Four Aboard Into River A Chevy Astro van carrying four people careened into the Gros Ventre River after getting sideswiped by a Jeep on Highway 26/89/191 near Gros Ventre Junction last Friday afternoon. The driver of the van, a Teton Science Schools employee, steered the van down a relatively steep embankment before it came to rest upright in the river. Her quick thinking and steady steering likely prevented the van from rolling. None of the occupants in the Chevy Astro or Jeep was injured during the collision or its aftermath. A Texas man and his wife were traveling southbound on the highway in their Jeep when they pulled to the west side of the road, intending to stop along the shoulder. The man decided to pull back onto the highway, but failed to see the approaching minivan, which was also southbound. As the Jeep reentered the lane of traffic, it struck the Astro. causing it to crash into a guardrail and careen down the roadside embankment before landing in the middle of the river. Rangers, notified of the accident, responded from park headquarters at Moose, about seven miles away. Because the minivan's gas tank ruptured and was leaking fuel into the Gros Ventre River, a Teton County hazmat team and battalion chief also responded to clean up the spill. Although no one in the van was injured, a can of bear spray discharged, affecting the passengers. The Texas driver received a citation for failure to maintain control of his vehicle, which brings a fine of $125. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer] Shenandoah NP Visitor Dies Of Injuries Sustained In 70-Foot Fall On Thursday, August 2nd, dispatch received a report that a man had fallen about 70 feet near Overall Run Falls, the highest waterfall in the park. Park personnel from all divisions geared up for a technical rescue and carryout of the 41-year-old Ohio man. Ranger Stuart Curtin was first on scene and worked to secure the unconscious man's airway and treat his life threatening injuries, including an obvious open skull fracture. Eagle One, the United States Park Police Helicopter, responded and hoisted the man after he was packaged by park personnel. He was then flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia, where he succumbed to his injuries three days later. [Dixon Freeland, North District Ranger, IC] Redwood N&SP Injured Teenager Rescued In Extended Carryout Operation Rangers launched a rescue operation last Tuesday afternoon for a 16-year-old girl who'd injured her ankle on the West Ridge Trail within Prairie Creek State Park. Three rangers and seven NPS firefighters arrived at the scene around 7 p.m. The girl, who weighed over 250 pounds, was treated and then extricated via a wheeled litter. Rescue workers began the two mile carryout from the intersection of West Ridge Trail and Friendship Ridge Trail. arriving at a remote location on Gold Bluffs Beach shortly after sunset. A warming fire was built while waiting for a four-wheel-drive vehicle to navigate seven miles of beach and complete the evacuation. By 11 p.m., all remaining rescue personnel and gear were cleared from the field. The injured girl was reunited with her family, who elected to pursue further medical treatment on their own. [Marshall Neeck, Chief Ranger] Catoctin MP Visitor Saved From Choking To Death Rangers learned of a choking incident involving a handicapped camper at Camp Greentop on Sunday, August 5th. The camper was choking on a meatball. An EMT from the Department of Navy was on scene with suction and oxygen and the camp nurse was delivering abdominal thrusts when rangers arrived. The patient was severely cyanotic. with deteriorating vital signs. Local ambulance personnel manually removed the meatball and the camper began breathing. He returned to camp two days later. [Holly Rife, 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/): Capitol Reef NP - Capitol Reef celebrated its anniversary on the first weekend in August. For the past 75 years, the Service has been preserving and protecting the geologic wonder known as the Waterpocket Fold, a nearly 100 mile monocline, as well as the diverse biologic and cultural resources within the park's boundaries. Workforce Management - The Human Resources Council made major strides during its May annual meeting at NPS headquarters in Washington, DC, continuing to align even closer with the new NPS HR philosophy of “ONE HR.” Monocacy NP - In commemoration of the 1862 Maryland Campaign, Monocacy opened a special exhibit entitled “The Return of Special Orders 191” on August 4th. For the first time in 150 years, General Robert E. Lee's lost order returned to the site where it was originally written. Geologic Resources Division - Vince Santucci, senior geologist for the NPS Geologic Resources Division, laid his eldest son Vincent "Luke" Santucci to rest on August 4th following a tragic triple murder which took place on July 27th in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Geologic Resources Division - Dale Pate has been selected as the new full-time national cave and karst program coordinator. Dale joined the National Park Service in 1991, spending 21 years as the cave specialist for Carlsbad Caverns National Park. * * * * The Morning Report is a publication of the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, produced with the support of the Office of the Assistant Director for Information Resources and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov). --- ### --- |