NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
INCIDENTS
Big Bend NP
Day Hiker Succumbs To Extreme Heat
N.B., 24, of Midland, Texas, went on a day hike on the Marufo Vega Trail with two friends on Friday, August 3rd. The temperature in the area reached a high of 108 degrees that afternoon, and the hikers became distressed when they ran out of water.
One member of the group hiked out to get help, and alerted the NPS to the emergency just before 3 p.m. that afternoon. The other two group members (including N.B.) separated from each other while attempting to hike back towards the trailhead, and the second hiker made it out just as the first rangers were arriving on scene. A hasty search was begun for N.B. involving rangers on foot and horseback and by air in an NPS aircraft. Border Patrol agents also joined in the ground search.
Ranger Matt Payton found N.B. off-trail approximately 200 yards from the Marufo Vega Trailhead just before 6 p.m., approximately two-and-a-half hours into the search. He had already expired.
This was the second hiker fatality stemming from extreme heat conditions in two months.
[Scott Taylor, Acting Chief Ranger]
Grand Teton NP
Rangers Twice Employ Spike Strips To Stop Pursued Vehicles
Just after 11 p.m. last Sunday, a ranger attempted to pull over the driver of a 2002 Ford pickup heading north on Highway 89 for repeatedly crossing the road's centerline. The 57-year-old California man declined to do so and instead increased his speed to 60 mph, well above the posted nighttime limit. She contacted dispatch and asked for assistance.
Two North District rangers responded and placed HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_strips" spike strips across the highway near the Triangle X Ranch. The strips were successful in slowing the fleeing vehicle, although the driver continued traveling on flat tires before coming to a stop near Cunningham Cabin nearly one mile further down the road.
While in pursuit, the ranger also saw the driver toss something from the truck window just before the vehicle came to a stop. Another ranger with a drug dog responded to search for the tossed item, which turned out to be a controlled substance.
The driver was arrested for interference with agency functions, and charged with several additional violations - operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs, refusing to submit to a blood alcohol/drug test, and possession of a controlled substance. While the California man has no current warrants, he has a lengthy criminal history. He was taken into custody and placed in the Teton County jail pending an appearance before the federal magistrate.
This arrest marked the second time within the last month that park rangers have resorted to the use of spike strips to stop a fleeing vehicle. The first incident occurred on July 15th when the Jackson Police Department requested the park's assistance in stopping a driver suspected of drunk driving. The 19-year-old driver of that vehicle reached speeds of 90 mph before she crossed a spike strip near the Jackson Hole Airport Junction on Highway 89. She was taken into custody by Jackson police officers and remains in jail on multiple federal charges.
[Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
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/):
Great Falls Park - Great Falls Park, part of George Washington Memorial Parkway, has created a display of 450 Junior Ranger awards and placed it on exhibit in the visitor center's children's room.
Today's Almanac - Unsettled weather will continue from the central Great Plains to the Ohio Valley ahead of a strong cold front. Thunderstorms in this region could bring large hail, flash flooding and damaging winds.
Office of Learning and Development - Applications for grants from the Horace M. Albright - Conrad L. Wirth Grant Program, which annually awards funding for personal and career development projects to National Park Service employees, are being accepted through September 20th.
Fire and Aviation Management - A memo entitled "Wildland Fire Management Organizational Planning" has been transmitted to the field. The full text, including an action time line and due dates, is provided.
Northeast Region - April Antonellis has been selected as the National Park Service's program coordinator for the bicentennial of the War of 1812 commemoration.
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The Morning Report is produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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