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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, August 20, 2012 INCIDENTS Yosemite NP Search For Missing Boy Continues Rangers continue to search for a six-year-old boy who disappeared in the Merced River last week. The boy was with an extended family that had hiked to the Vernal Fall footbridge last Wednesday. He and his ten-year-old brother were swept into the river near the footbridge at 3 p.m. A visitor pulled the older boy from the river about 150 yards below the bridge; although the visitor and rangers attempted to resuscitate him, their efforts proved unavailing. At the same time, an intensive search was begun for the younger boy. The search area is in and around the Merced River from the Vernal Fall footbridge to Happy Isles. This mile-long stretch of river is characterized by large boulders, chutes, and small waterfalls. Although the river level is low, the current in sections of the river is deceptively swift. [Kari Cobb, Public Affairs Officer] Yellowstone NP Motorcyclist Killed In Head-On Collision A head-on collision late last Tuesday afternoon claimed the life of a motorcyclist from northeast Wyoming. The accident occurred shortly before 5 p.m. between Madison Junction and the Gibbon Falls overlook. The 52-year-old motorcyclist was declared dead at the scene. A sport utility vehicle traveling southbound crossed the centerline of the road on the crest of a hill and into the path of three oncoming motorcycles. Cody, who was in the lead, had no time to react and was struck and was killed instantly. The other riders, who were traveling behind Cody, were able to lay their motorcycles down on their sides and avoid colliding with the SUV. The solo rider on one of the motorcycles was transported to the hospital by ambulance with non-life threatening injuries; the two people on the other motorcycle were treated at the scene for minor injuries. Preliminary information from the investigation indicates the driver of the SUV may have nodded off momentarily, resulting in the SUV crossing the center line and hitting the motorcyclist head-on. The accident remains under investigation. [Public Affairs] 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/): Mount Rainier NP - On Tuesday, August 14th, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar visited with park staff and shared words of encouragement and support in light of this year's loss of five co-workers. The Secretary spoke on the importance of public service and the nobility of the mission carried out by National Park Service employees and volunteers on behalf of the nation. Fort Union NM - David Archuleta, a summer seasonal laborer working on the preservation crew, was involved in a single car accident on the evening of August 16th and later succumbed to his injuries. Southeast Region - Skip Wilfred, cartographic technician in Southeast Region's lands office, will retire on August 31st with nearly 41 years of service. Denver Service Center - Ray Prazak has been selected as the branch chief for DSC's Contracting Services Western Branch. he will assume his new duties on August 27th. * * * * 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). --- ### --- |