Mojave |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2025. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
|
Monday, November 21, 1994 Five members of the Western Region special events team have been assigned to the new, 1,419,800-acre preserve to bring a uniformed National Park Service presence to the area until the park can be staffed. Team members arrived on site on October 31st, the day President Clinton signed the bill creating Mojave National Preserve. Their primary function is to contact as many visitors and local landowners as possible to establish positive working relationships for the future. Team members are also patrolling and monitoring approximately 2,500 miles of secondary roads and 235 miles of paved roadway. Law enforcement incidents have included cattle trespass, mining trespass, residential trespass, recreational bulldozing, motor vehicle accidents, stolen vehicles, search and rescue, vandalism, off-road use, dumping, and modern day train bandits. Many of these are being jointly investigated with BLM rangers. Hunting is authorized in the area, so rangers have been contacting hunters, most of whom come from the Los Angeles basin. Team members are also employing maintenance skills to work on generators, water heaters, pumps, fences, new NPS signs on roads and trails, and facilities. The rangers are currently working and living at the "Hole In The Wall" fire station, located in the middle of the preserve. Favorable comments have already been received from visitors and some landowners concerning the team and its work. Current plans are to keep them on site until after Thanksgiving, at which time other personnel will be assigned. [Aniceto L. Olais, ORPI, 11/17]
On March 15th, rangers and San Bernadino county detectives raided a site in the park which contained an illegal methamphetamine lab. Over 40 pounds of methamphetamine valued at over $500,000 was seized in the raid. A hazardous waste team was subsequently called in to clean up the location. No one was at the site at the time of the raid, but arrests are expected. [Bill Blake, CR, MOJA, 3/21]
S.G. was killed in a one car accident on Kelso-Cima Road on April 7th. S.G. and two companions were touring the park when the accident occurred; both companions were seriously injured. Rangers from the Hole-in-the-Wall ranger station responded along with state officers. That section of the road is one of the many "low flying zones" in the park on which vehicles often exceed 85 mph. [CRO, MOJA, 4/19]
The park's sole on-duty patrol ranger was notified by the Federal Interagency Communication Center (FICC) of a gasoline pipeline spill in the northeast section of the park late on the afternoon of May 1st. It took the ranger three hours to find the leak, which was determined to be on BLM land. The 20-year- old pipeline crosses the park, though, and has only recently been brought back on line after an extended period in which it was not used. More leaks are considered possible. While returning from this incident, the ranger observed a some strange lights setting down on the Kelbaker Road, then move, lift off, and depart toward the southwest. Since the park's roads have been used in the past as clandestine air strips for smuggling, the ranger advised Customs via the FICC. Shortly after the aircraft took off, a vehicle coming from the area where the plane landed passed by the ranger at a speed in excess of 100 mph. The ranger followed the vehicle in his truck, hoping to catch up to it when it slowed down in the Granite Pass area. The vehicle was finally stopped at the junction of I-40 and Kelbaker Road; two California Highway Patrol units assisted. Although it was not possible to connect the vehicle with the plane, information on both the vehicle and driver were turned over to Customs. [Bill Blake, CR, MOJA, 5/4]
During the night of June 15th, the park superintendent's garage and vehicle at his residence in Barstow were vandalized with threatening statements. A person or persons wrote the following on both: "COPS, LAW ENFORCEMENT, PIGS AND YOU", followed by a target and the number "187", the section of the California penal code that deals with homicide (and commonly used in graffiti). The vehicle's windows were also broken out. The superintendent is often in uniform and in association with BLM and NPS rangers involved in the transition of the park from BLM management. It's believed that the attack was directed towards him because of this association. Local law enforcement officers took the preliminary report and are conducting an investigation in conjunction with the NPS and BLM. [Bill Blake, CR, MOJA, 6/15]
On the evening of August 14th, a San Bernadino deputy called the park for assistance in tracking down C.K., a prisoner who'd escaped from the Baker correctional facility on the previous evening. The deputy believed that he'd fled into the park. Chief ranger Bill Blake and ranger Brian Willbond responded. Blake and the deputy picked up a fresh track, which soon led to C.K., who was found lying on the ground behind a sagebrush bush. C.K. was arrested. It was later learned that he'd escaped from the minimum security prison to avoid association with a group with had drawn straws to decide who would kill another prisoner - or be killed by the group. C.K. had drawn the short straw. [Mary Martin, Assistant Superintendent, MOJA]
On August 17th, a team comprised of park and BLM rangers and investigators and state game wardens witnessed Louis and Gabriel Lefave and a juvenile, all from Las Vegas, dumping hazardous and toxic materials onto BLM land located in California and adjacent to the park. The three men were subsequently arrested and charged with single felony counts of illegally dumping hazardous wastes. Their arrests marked the culmination of a month-and-a-half long investigation into a series of hazmat dumping cases in the park and on surrounding BLM and private lands. At least one of the dump sites is within a park wilderness area. A dozen sites have so far been found; together, they contain a total of 108 55-gallon drums of toxic and hazardous materials, some of which have spilled their contents onto and into surrounding soil. Information gleaned in the arrests suggests that there may be 30 more drums at another four to six sites. The Service and BLM have so far expended about $170,000 on clean-up of these sites and on the associated criminal investigation. The NPS share has come through the support of the hazmat coordinator in Pacific West Field Office. Following the arrests, park, BLM and EPA rangers and investigators served search warrants on a Las Vegas firm and the residence of the firm's owner. More evidence was obtained in the searches. Additional charges and arrests are pending. Both the site clean-up and the investigations are being managed under the incident command system. Agencies involved include the NPS, BLM, FBI, EPA, California Fish and Game, the Nevada Highway Patrol, and the San Bernadino health department. [Bill Blake, IC, MOJA]
On August 22nd, Lake Mead and Mojave rangers, ATF agents and Las Vegas homicide detectives executed a search warrant at the residence of Scott Wayne, who lives in a private residence within the park's boundaries. Wayne is a suspect in a homicide in which an innocent bystander was killed during the bombing of a house trailer. Wayne was not at home, but a significant quantity of det cord, hand grenades and other explosives were found there - along with a .50 caliber machine gun and ammunition and an illegal rifle. Rangers at Mojave had previously contacted Wayne regarding drug and weapons violations. [Thane Weigand, DR, Kelso District, MOJA]
On September 14th, a federal grand jury returned a 21 felony count indictment charging Fluid Polymers, a Nevada Corporation; G.L., the president of that company; and L.L. with unlawfully transporting and disposing of hazardous waste, water pollution, and injury to federal property. On the night of September 14th, a team of investigators arrested G.L., the fourth arrest in this case. If convicted, the maximum penalty under federal law is five years' imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 on each count. This indictment and the additional arrest stemmed from a joint investigation by the NPS, BLM, EPA and California Fish and Game into the illegal dumping of industrial wastes, including hazardous waste, at a dozen sites in the Mojave Desert. Six of those sites were within the park. The case is being prosecuted by the environmental crimes unit of the U.S. attorney's office for the central district of California. That office cited the team for its highly professional and thorough investigation. [Bill Blake, CR, MOJA]
Over the past weekend, rangers discovered numerous boxes of goods hidden along the Union Pacific Railway road line near Cedar Canyon Road. The boxes contained a variety of items, including high quality leather brief cases, 10,000 cartons of cigarettes, stereos, speakers, televisions and tennis shoes. Trains on this section of the line were robbed of over $1,000,000 in goods last year. It's believed that groups out of Los Angeles are responsible for the thefts. Arrests have been made for similar cases in the past. Union Pacific has asked rangers to investigate these and other thefts. [Thane Wiegand, DR, Kelso District, MOJA]
A single car accident occurred on Black Canyon Road on October 29th. B.M., 37, of Las Vegas, was killed; the driver of the vehicle, M.K., also of Las Vegas, was arrested for felony drunken driving. M.K. also had a felony warrant out for his arrest for sale and possession of dangerous drugs. The section of the road where the accident occurred has had several single car accidents, mostly because of high speeds and poor road conditions. [Thane Wiegand, DR, Kelso District, MOJA]
Rangers received a call from a park resident on November 18th advising that a methamphetamine lab was in operation at Death Valley Mine. The reporting party said that the four people at the site were all armed. It was subsequently determined that two of the four were wanted by the San Bernadino sheriff's office for questioning in several area thefts. Two rangers and a deputy investigated. As they approached the area, one of the two people at the site fled. Although several structures at the mine had been forcibly entered and had apparently been lived in, no signs of drug activity were found that evening. The reporting party called the next day to say that he'd gone back to the mine and found many items missed by the rangers the previous evening. He provided rangers with collected several types of chemicals that are commonly used in production of methamphetamine, and showed them where he'd found the items. It became apparent that he had a very good knowledge of hiding places at the site and of the types of items that the rangers were seeking. The county sheriff was notified, and a drug team was called in. Lab test results are pending. The investigation continues. [DR, Kelso District, MOJA]
On April 25th, a San Bernadino county engine and crew responded to the report of a fire at the Telegraph Mine within the park and found five mobile homes and a nearby wash house fully involved. Four of the five mobile homes were unoccupied, and nobody was injured. All six buildings were destroyed. The fire, which started in the occupied mobile home, is under investigation. [AO, MOJA]
On May 6th, San Bernadino county deputies arrested D.H. for suspected arson activity in the park. D.H. may be responsible for over 20 fires in the area. Further information is being developed and will be forthcoming. Any parks with recent suspected arson fires should check for records of contacts with D.H. Please notify Eric Inman at Death Valley (on cc:Mail at NP--WR) if you have any relevant information. [Eric Inman, CI, DEVA]
Three brothers from Italy were traveling through the park on the night of June 16th when the driver swerved to avoid an animal, lost control of the Chevrolet Corsica, went off the road, and overturned. A.G., 33, was thrown from his rear seat through the back window and killed. His brothers sustained minor injuries. A.G. was not wearing a seatbelt. [Mary Martin, Superintendent, MOJA]
Between April and August, 1995, Ge.L., 72, L.L., 30, Ga.L., 18, and a juvenile member of their family dumped hazardous wastes at 15 sites in California, Arizona and Utah, including 105 55-gallon drums and many other containers at a dozen sites in Mojave NP and adjacent BLM and private lands. Clean-up costs exceeded $200,000. A four-month-long joint investigation involving NPS, BLM, EPA, FBI and state investigators culminated in August, 1995, in the arrest of L.L. and Ga.L. and the juvenile after the trio dumped six drums on BLM land near the park. Final sentences in the case were recently handed down. Ge.L. was sentenced to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay almost $40,000 in restitution. His sentence was affected by his recruitment and use of a juvenile and by the fact that he organized and lead the operation. The court declined to reduce his sentence due to age and medical conditions. L.L. was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay another $40,000 in restitution. The Fluid Polymers Corporation was also ordered to pay $40,000 in restitution and was fined $10,000. [Alan Foster, CI, WHIS]
A Union Pacific train carrying corn and grain derailed near the historic Kelso Depot on the afternoon of Saturday, January 12th. A total of 68 cars and tons of corn were piled in a huge heap. Miraculously, there were no injuries, and no hazardous materials or fuels were spilled. The wreck occurred within the railroads right-of-way, so there was little disturbance of park resources. The Kelso-Cima Road, a primary route through the park, will remain closed for three days to aid cleanup efforts. The cause of the accident is under investigation, but speed and break failure are probable contributing factors. Death Valley rangers assisted in the investigation. [Sean McGuinness, CR, MOJA]
On May 26th, the Hole in the Wall interagency fire center in the park received a mutual aid request from San Bernadino County to respond to a multi-casualty accident on I-40 at Essex Road. Park and BLM firefighters from the center responded and found a passenger van which had rolled several times, ejecting all nine occupants - five adults and four children. None had been wearing seatbelts. Two children, aged four and seven, and a 25-year-old male died from their injuries; the remaining six passengers sustained injuries ranging from minor to severe. The apparent cause of the accident was a tire blowout at high speed, which caused the driver to lose control and the vehicle to roll over inside the center median. State officers are investigating. [Marcia Schramm, LAME, 5/27]
A severe lightning storm which passed through the area early on the morning of July 28th damaged the world's tallest thermometer, which is located on the front of the park's Mojave desert information center in Baker. It's uncertain if the thermometer was struck directly or suffered from power surge, but it initially read 130 degrees when the actual temperature was in the 80s. The thermometer has been shut down until the motor can be rebuilt. It could be down from one to two weeks, during what will probably be the hottest weather of the summer. The incident received coverage on television stations in Los Angeles. [Interpretation, MOJA, 8/4]
Between July and August of 1996, an estimated 230,000 gallons of pipe scale and waste effluents were released at nine separate locations along the 14- mile-long waste pipeline that runs through BLM's Needles Resource Area and Mojave National Preserve. The releases were associated with the pigging (cleaning) of the pipeline. The pipeline runs from a lanthanide rare earth mining/processing plant in Mountain Pass, California, to Ivanpah Dry Lake Bed near the California/Nevada line adjacent to I-15. The product released from the pipeline, which is owned and maintained by Molycorp, a subsidiary of UNOCAL, contains radioactive radium, thorium and uranium, as well as lead and arsenic. The releases occurred in critical habitat for the threatened desert tortoise. The incident is currently being managed under a unified command by an interagency Type II incident management team whose members are from the NPS in Alaska and BLM's Needles office. Among the agency representatives to the team are personnel from the California Department of Fish and Game, which has jurisdiction over the coordination of hazmat incidents in California. Other cooperating agencies include the California Department of Health Service's Radiological Health Branch and Department of Toxic Substances Control, the regional water quality board, and the county fire and hazmat department. Costs to date are estimated to be $3 million, and will likely reach $7 million by the time the cleanup is completed. A total of 69 people are committed to the incident. To date, 56 tortoises have been relocated from the incident site and over 20,000 feet of tortoise exclusion fencing has been installed. Removal of the release materials prior to the anticipated El Nino period is critical to maintaining the quality of the aquifer and to preventing further dispersal via wind. [JD Swed, IC, Betty Knight, IO, MOJA, 11/4]
Over the past month, between $250,000 and $350,000 worth of merchandise has been looted from containers on Union Pacific trains passing through the park. The trains are loaded with goods from Pacific Rim nations in Los Angeles and Long Beach, then shipped east on "double stack" freight trains. Just east of the historic railroad town of Kelso, the trains must climb a steep grade up Cima Hill. This slows their speed to as low as eight miles per hour, permitting thieves who have already boarded the trains to toss merchandise to waiting confederates, who in turn either load the merchandise into trucks or stash it in the desert for later pickup. Stolen items include Nike shoes, fax machines, CD/stereo systems, clothing and VCRs. The gangs are comprised of Mexican nationals and work for criminal elements in Los Angeles. Rangers and special agents from the railroad have worked together to recover a substantial portion of the stolen items and have arrested three Mexican nationals for felony burglary. All three have extensive criminal histories and are awaiting trial and deportation. Joint operations will continue in an effort to eliminate this type of criminal activity from the park. [Tim Duncan, DR, Kelso District, MOJA, 11/30]
Pacific West Region's Type II incident management team assumed responsibility for the cleanup operation from the Alaska team on November 12th and is managing the incident under a unified command with BLM. The team is managing the cleanup of over 235,000 gallons of hazardous waste which was released from a Molycorp mine wastewater pipeline onto the Ivanpah Dry Lake area, which provides habitat for the threatened desert tortoise. There were at least nine unauthorized releases of mine waste effluent containing heavy metals and radioactive material between July 24 and August 25, 1996. Work crews are shoveling waste effluent precipitates into metal drums or suctioning other hazardous materials directly into covered bins. Plans are being made for the proper disposal of this material, pending the outcome of testing. A total of 54 people are currently assigned to the incident, including 25 overhead. Molycorp has funded the cleanup and incident costs, which have so far come to $3.6 million, with projected total costs of $11 million. The NPS cost to date has been $116,000. The cleanup of visible and radioactive waste should be completed by the target date of January 8th. Additional cleanup of non-visible wastes may be necessary, depending on lab results. [Frank Dean, IO, 12/9]
The Pacific West Region's Type II all risk management (ARM) team has been managing the cleanup of 235,000 gallons of hazardous waste in the Ivanpah Dry Lake area since mid-November under a unified command with BLM. Surface contaminants containing heavy metals at two locations in the park and at all but one location on BLM lands were containerized as of December 20th. This area has been secured and will be cleaned up during a scheduled shutdown of the pipeline from January 2nd to the 7th. At present, there are 63, 20-yard bins stored on-site, awaiting concurrence on their correct characterization before they are shipped to appropriate environmental land fills. Additional cleanup of the entire area will be conducted after lab results are received from more than 2,000 samples and the agencies agree with Molycorp on the extend of the cleanup. During the period from December 12th to the 20th, there were 60 people assigned to the incident, including 11 from the NPS. Limited action will occur during the holidays, but four members of the team will be on-site during the pipeline shutdown and cleanup. The company is responsible for costs, which currently exceed $5 million. Total agency costs are estimated at about $900,000; NPS costs are estimated at about $300,000. [ARM Team, MOJA, 12/24]
While visiting the Rainbow Wells mining site on February 3rd, members of the park staff noticed possible evidence that a drug lab had been operating on the abandoned mining site. An investigation was started by Death Valley criminal investigator Eric Inman in conjunction with Mojave rangers and a DEA joint drug task force. Surveillance was begun on the site in an attempt to apprehend the suspected drug manufacturers. During the early morning hours of February 19th, the joint drug task force, consisting of rangers and criminal investigators from the two parks, DEA agents, and local law enforcement officers, raided the suspected methamphetamine lab. The mining site and the associated buildings used in this clandestine lab were all located on government property within the preserve. Two men - E.W. and T.M. - were on site and had a methamphetamine "cook" going when the task force arrived. E.W. was apprehended at the scene as he attempted to drive off in his truck; T.M. fled into the surrounding desert on foot. He evaded detection and capture by a canine unit and aerial surveillance units, but was subsequently captured by a San Bernardino county sheriff's deputy on the morning of February 20th when he called a tow company to remove his disabled vehicle from the crime scene. The pickup truck had been impounded the day before. Also found and seized at the site were high-powered weapons and ammunition. The street value of the meth produced and found at the site has been placed at approximately $75,000. Federal drug manufacturing charges and several environmental crime-related charges dealing with the production and dumping of hazardous material are being filed on each of the men. The funding for this operation and for recent drug/hazmat training came from the desert parks' drug initiative fund. [Tim Duncan, DR, Kelso District, MOJA, 3/3]
On the afternoon of March 15th, rangers received a report of a fall in the Hole-in-the-Wall area. Rangers Brian Willbond and Tim Duncan arrived on scene and soon located C.H. of Los Angeles, who had fallen about 40 feet down a sheer rock wall to its base - but still 250 feet up the side of a steep rock scree slope. He had sustained head and massive body injuries to his right side. Due to darkness and the victim's location, a helicopter rescue was deemed impractical. County fire and ambulance units from Needles and Baker responded to support the three-hour-long technical rescue. C.H. was flown to a trauma center in Palm Springs. [Tim Duncan, DR, MOJA, 3/22]
On the evening of June 28th, the joint NPS-BLM "Hole-in-the-Wall" fire crew responded to a small brush fire along Interstate 15 near the park's boundary. A local tow truck operator heading southbound on the interstate fell asleep while at the wheel, sideswiped the NPS engine parked on the shoulder, swerved back into traffic, narrowly missed another vehicle, came back onto the shoulder and hit the BLM engine on its left rear wheels, axle and body, careened of the engine, narrowly missed a county engine, went over the shoulder, and came to rest in the burned out area. The tow truck was totaled, but, miraculously, the tow truck operator and one firefighter sustained only minor injuries. The park's model 62 engine suffered minor damage. This section of I-15 is one of the busiest and deadliest highways in California. Engine captains Jeremy Monroe and James Aragon have been credited for ensuring the safety of their crews. Their attention to detail likely prevented a tragic outcome. [Sean McGuinness, CR, MOJA, 6/30]
The park received a mutual aid request from the county fire department for an accident involving two semi's on I-40 near the park's Kelbaker Road at 4 a.m. on August 9th. A truck hauling lumber rolled over and collided with a second semi; both were then engulfed in flames. Rangers and park firefighters were first on scene. They provided immediate medical care to one person with major injuries and three others with minor injuries and began suppressing the fire. A county air ambulance, emergency crews and state police arrived shortly thereafter. Fire suppression continued until noon. I-40 remained closed until 7 p.m., causing a major traffic backup and detours on roads within the park. Rangers assisted California Highway Patrol officers with traffic control until the interstate could be cleared of debris and reopened. [Sean McGuinness, CR, MOJA, 8/11]
While entering a concession building during a visit to Lake Mead NRA on November 28th, Mojave NP superintendent Mary Martin slipped and fell on a rain-slick ramp. Martin was taken to an emergency room in Las Vegas, where she underwent x-rays and treatment. She suffered a severe broken upper arm and many bumps and bruises. It's estimated that she will be out of work for four to six weeks. Cards and notes can be sent to her at 28485 Windy Pass Road, Barstow, CA 92311. [Shauna Dyas, MOJA, 11/30]
On the morning of March 7th, NPS rangers assisted BLM rangers in the arrest of two Mexican nationals and the seizure of 60 barrel cactus plants that had been harvested illegally in a BLM wilderness area. The two men had stopped to repair a flat tire on their pickup when they were spotted by a BLM ranger who was on patrol in the Mesquite wilderness area, which is adjacent to the park. Upon sighting the BLM vehicle, the two men fled into the desert, leaving behind the truck's keys, their personal belongings, food and beverages, and the cacti, which were in the truck. An aerial search of the area was conducted with the assistance of a helicopter from the county sheriff's office. No sign of the men was found. They were apprehended the following morning as they were walking along a county road, headed back to Interstate 15 and a public phone. The investigation continues. [ACR, MOJA, 3/17]
On the evening of March 30th, NPS and BLM staff from the Hole in the Wall Interagency Fire Center responded to a mutual aid request on Interstate 15. A tour bus with 51 passengers collided with a semi, with both vehicles ending up on park land. The semi became entangled with the bus and overturned; miraculously, the bus stayed upright. The driver and a passenger in the semi were both ejected and sustained critical injuries. The bus driver sustained major injuries and had to be extricated from the vehicle. Many bus passengers were also hurt. Those with critical injuries were flown to Las Vegas. The investigation is being handled by the California Highway Patrol. [Sean McGuinness, CR, MOJA, 3/31]
Parks throughout the system are making preparations for millennium-related events which will take place on or around New Years Eve. The Morning Report will provide continuing updates on those preparations and on the activities themselves as they occur. Today's initial entry comes from Jerry McCarthy in Pacific West Region: o Mojave NP/Death Valley NP/Joshua Tree NP/Lake Mead NRA (CA/NV) - Staff from the four parks will meet in December to prepare a desert contingency plan. All are expecting heavy visitation, particularly Lake Mead, which will receive spillover from Las Vegas. Plans presently call for having all law enforcement staff on duty for the event. Parks making similar preparations are encouraged to submit short summaries to the Morning Report. [Editor]
A search was begun on March 8th for an overdue Piper Cub that had been returning to Chino, California, from Las Vegas. The search focused on an area stretching from the Nevada-California state line to Cajon Pass in San Bernadino County. On March 13th, the park learned that the crashed plane had been found about three miles inside the park, and that the pilot and sole occupant, R.B., had been killed. The park is conducting an investigation and documenting resource damage. [Tim Duncan, PR, MOJA, 4/23]
An employee for Omega Toilet, a company that services outhouses in the high desert area of the park, found a bundle of money inside at a portable toilet at Kelso Depot on August 10th. The money had become lodged in the suction hose he was using to clean the outhouse. He found that the square bundle he extricated from the hose had $20 bills wrapped in tape inside, and that all the bills had the same serial number. He called the San Bernadino County Sheriff's Office in Lucerne Valley and turned over the counterfeit bills to them. The bundle contained 163 complete and two partial $20 bills. The Secret Service was contacted and will lead in the investigation. [Chris Jefferson, ACR, MOJA, 8/23]
The engineer on a Union Pacific freight train spotted a body on the railroad tracks between the towns of Cima and Kelso on September 5th and reported the discovery to a Union Pacific special agent. The agent in turn notified the park. Ranger Sean Isham and assistant chief ranger Chris Jefferson investigated. While Isham and the agent photographed the body, Jefferson checked out a report of an abandoned vehicle a quarter mile away. County deputies had found a Chevrolet pick-up with Arizona plates parked facing west in the eastbound lane of the Kelso-Cima Road - doors unlocked, keys in the ignition, and motor running. Personal items, food, tools and a suicide note were found on the front seat. The picture on the license found in the truck's cab matched the man on the tracks. The incident closed the rail line for five hours until the coroner arrived and released the body. [Chris Jefferson, ACT, MOJA, 9/5]
Rangers and park firefighters responded to a single-vehicle rollover accident on Kelbaker Road about a dozen miles south of Baker on September 13th. The vehicle left the road, traveled about 60 feet on the shoulder, reentered the roadway, went into a sideways skid, then rolled four times, coming to rest on its roof. The driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, survived, but his wife and stepson, who were not wearing belts, both died. The driver was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Las Vegas. He reported that he was drowsy at the time the accident occurred. [Chris Jefferson, ACR, MOJA, 9/21]
On October 24th, the park received a report of a downed aircraft near Mountain Pass and Mineral Springs. Ranger Sean Isham and assistant chief ranger Christopher Jefferson began a ground search of the area along with CHP and San Bernadino SO ground units. A CHP airplane and county helicopter began an air search, homing in on the plane's emergency beacon. The downed aircraft was found at the 4,600-foot elevation of the ridge east of Mineral Hill, about 200 feet below the crest. Isham was flown to the site. He found that it had been a high impact crash, with evidence of fire and debris scattered for about 200 feet up the ravine from the point where the left wing made initial contact with the ground. The bodies of the two occupants were also found. Isham, an FAA investigator, and two representatives from the county coroner's office were flown back to the site the following day to remove the bodies and further investigate the crash. Other investigators joined them later on. The cause of the crash is not yet known. [Christopher Jefferson, ACR, MOJA, 10/25]
On the afternoon of Wednesday, February 28th, rangers Tim Duncan and Kirk Gebicke were checking an old miners cabin in the Ivanpah Mountains when they came upon evidence that indicated recent illegal methamphetamine lab operations. The San Bernadino county sheriff's drug task force joined them at the scene and determined that there had in fact been a meth lab operating at the site. Rangers monitored the area during the night. On Thursday, they were joined by members of the drug task force and the county sheriff's scientific investigation team. While searching for evidence, they found bottles and containers containing methamphetamine byproducts buried underground in front of the cabin and under the wood porch. Also discovered was a five-gallon container of unprocessed methamphetamine oil with an estimated street value of $25,000. The county contracted for a hazardous waste disposal company to remove all the contaminated soil and items from the site. The task force is actively pursuing several identified suspects believed to be involved in this operation. [Christopher Jefferson, ACR, MOJA, 3/2]
On May 3rd, D.M. was driving northbound on Ivanpah Road in his rented Mitsubishi Montero when he lost control of the car and went off the road. The Montero rolled several times; D.M., who was not wearing a seatbelt, sustained internal injuries and died at the scene. His passenger was not seriously injured and refused treatment. Excessive speed was the primary cause of the accident. [Kirk Gebicke, MOJA, 4/30]
A foreman for the Union Pacific Railroad found a body under a railroad bridge east of Kelso on the morning of June 4th. The victim had been there for several days. The initial suspicion was that he had fallen off a passing freight train, but a truck was later found stuck in a sandy wash about a third of a mile away by a county sheriff's office helicopter. At the time of the report, investigators had not positively linked the two, nor had they identified the victim. An autopsy will be conducted to determine if he died from natural causes or from foul play. [Tim Duncan, PR, MOJA, 6/5]
On January 12th, rangers assisting San Bernadino County Sheriff's Department investigators found the skeletal remains of a missing Dallas, Texas, man who they suspect was murdered by two acquaintances last March. The remains were found about 300 yards off the Cima Road in the northeast corner of the park. Investigators believe that the 22-year-old man was killed at this location by his 21-year-old compatriots in a drug-related crime. Those two men are both in custody - one in San Bernadino, the other in Dallas. This is the third body found in this area of the park in the past two months. The sheriff's department is pursuing the investigation. [CRO, MOJA, 1/18]
Ranger Tim Duncan responded to a report of a double fatality accident on the Cima-Kelso Road a mile east of Kelso Depot at 1 p.m. on Sunday, April 14th. Three Marines were returning to the 29 Palms Marine Base from Las Vegas when their vehicle, a PT Cruiser, hit a dip in the road at a speed estimated at over 85 mph and overturned numerous times. One Marine who was wearing only a lap belt was killed instantly; a second, who was wearing no seatbelt, was ejected from the car and died on board a medevac helicopter. The driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, is in serious condition. The victims were G.G. and J.L., both 19; the driver is K.N. There's no indication that alcohol was a contributing factor. All were stationed at the base. [Sean McGuinness, MOJA, 4/16]
On the evening of April 12th, ranges Kirk Gebicke and Tim Duncan rescued a visiting physician from Belgium who had been injured while hiking with his family in the Silver Peak area in Granite Mountains. The doctor had lost his footing and dislocated his shoulder in the subsequent fall. He was in severe pain and could not walk. Also responding were local sheriff, fire and EMS personnel. The doctor and his family were about three miles into a wilderness area. Due to the steep shale slope and surrounding mountains, rescuers decided to wait until daylight to evacuate him. San Bernadino County Sheriff's Office air rescue flew to the scene and paramedics administered pain medication. The injured physician was then flown by helicopter to Palm Springs Hospital. [Sean McGuinness, CR, MOJA, 4/18]
A.S., 21, of Morongo Valley, California, was driving on the Cima Road after 1 a.m. on July 9th when she lost control of her vehicle. It went off the road and rolled over. A.S., who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the vehicle and killed; passenger Maria Pio was admitted to a Las Vegas hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Alcohol was a contributing factor. The park fire/EMS crew responded along with CHP officers and a county ambulance crew. The accident is being jointly investigated by the park and CHP. [Sean McGuinness, MOJA, 7/10]
On January 8, a California Fish and Game officer conducting
surveillance near the park noted a mini-van parked in an unusual
location. He checked the plate and found that the owner, K.K.,
had been reported missing from Colorado since November 27. The San
Bernadino County Sheriff's Office organized a search of the area by 65
deputies and volunteers. K.K.'s body was found in the park and
recovered the following day with the assistance of rangers. The time and
cause of death have not yet been determined.
A single-engine Piper Warrior II on a cross-country trip from Pomona
to Las Vegas made an emergency landing in the park on April 6th. The
pilot, a Spanish national, reported that the tip of one of the blades of
the two-blade propeller had broken off, causing extreme vibration and
loss of control. The plane made a hard landing close to I-15 at Halloran
Summit, causing substantial damage to the air frame. Neither the pilot
nor his passenger was injured. Recovery and removal of the aircraft
should take a few days. This was the second unscheduled landing in the
park in a week. On March 30th, a hot air balloon landed in a wilderness
area, having been blown off course by high winds. Rangers and county
deputies are investigating.
On October 30th, a Cessna 421 Golden Eagle with five people on board
crashed in the park's wilderness north of Kelso near the Tough Nut Mine.
There were no survivors. The flight left Laughlin, Nevada, en route to
Van Nuys, California, on October 29th, and crashed sometime that
afternoon. The plane caught fire after crashing, burning a small area
around it. The crash is being investigated by rangers, FAA and NTSB
investigators, the San Bernadino County coroner, and officers from the
San Bernadino County Sheriff's Office. The wreckage was to be removed on
Saturday; a damage assessment is pending for restoration of the area.
N.B. was hunting with a group of six friends and family members in
the Woods Mountain area on the morning of October 18th when he was
accidentally shot by a companion. The hunters were walking through
desert vegetation, spaced about 100 feet apart and in a line. N.B. got
ahead of the line; when one of the hunters shot at a quail, he
accidentally struck N.B. with a shotgun blast. N.B. sustained injuries
from approximately 35 to 50 pellets in his left arm, neck, chest and
eye. He was flown by medevac helicopter to Las Vegas for treatment. None
of his injuries were found to be life-threatening.
On February 27, 2001, rangers acting on a citizen's tip investigated
suspicious activity at two cabins at the New Trail Mine site. Four
people were contacted, and rangers determined that they'd spent the
night at the cabins. They were released after a consent search of their
vehicle. A subsequent check of the cabins revealed the remnants of a
meth lab and evidence that the drug had recently been cooked up there.
The county's clandestine lab team was brought in and found $60,000 worth
of processed meth oil hidden at the site. The four people that rangers
had contacted there were linked to the lab. One of them - W.D.
- was tried and convicted of manufacturing
methamphetamine. On October 15th, W.D. was sentenced to 13 years in
prison. Rangers provided key testimony at the jury trial.
N.B. was hunting with a group of six friends and family
members in the Woods Mountain area on the morning of October 18th when
he was accidentally shot by a companion. The hunters were walking
through desert vegetation, spaced about 100 feet apart and in a line.
N.B. got ahead of the line; when one of the hunters shot at a quail,
he accidentally struck N.B. with a shotgun blast. N.B. sustained
injuries from approximately 35 to 50 pellets in his left arm, neck,
chest and eye. He was flown by medevac helicopter to Las Vegas for
treatment. None of his injuries were found to be life-threatening.
On October 8th, a contractor working in the park came upon a metal
silo at the Morning Star Mine which appeared to contain explosives.
Rangers and the county bomb squad examined the silo and confirmed that
it contained about 40,000 pounds of energized and active ammonium
nitrate explosives. Around-the-clock security was begun and maintained
at the site for nine days until the explosives could be destroyed.
Rangers from Lake Mead, Santa Monica Mountains and the BLM assisted with
the security. NPS explosives disposal experts from Yosemite and
Sequoia-Kings Canyon destroyed the explosives in small amounts. The
40,000 pounds constituted about nine times as much of the same explosive
as was used in the Oklahoma City bombing.
A riot broke out at the Baker Community Correctional Facility on
December 3rd. The prison, a minimum security facility operated by
Cornell Corrections, Inc. under contract with the California Department
of Corrections, is in the town of Baker, adjacent to the park's west
boundary. At the request of the San Bernadino Sheriff's Office, the park
dispatched three rangers to assist in securing the perimeter of the
grounds while searching for escapees. Nineteen inmates were injured
during the incident, mostly from stab wounds. One structure within the
prison burned, but there were no escapes.
H.G., 51, of Ls Vegas, was killed in a single-vehicle accident on the evening of December 16th. H.G. was northbound on Kelbaker Road heading for Kelso when he lost control of his vehicle and hit a poll. H.G. was ejected from his car and sustained fatal injuries. Rangers Tim Duncan and Wayne Dingman arrived on scene within five minutes, but the severity of H.G.'s injuries precluded any possibility of successful administration of life- saving measures. It appears that both alcohol and high speed were contributing factors. [Denny Ziemann, Chief Ranger]
H.G., 51, of Ls Vegas, was killed in a single-vehicle
accident on the evening of December 16th. H.G. was northbound on
Kelbaker Road heading for Kelso when he lost control of his vehicle and
hit a poll. H.G. was ejected from his car and sustained fatal
injuries. Rangers Tim Duncan and Wayne Dingman arrived on scene within
five minutes, but the severity of H.G.'s injuries precluded any
possibility of successful administration of life-saving measures. It
appears that both alcohol and high speed were contributing factors.
E.C. was heading north in his 1995 Mercedes on Ivanpah Road
north of Morning Star Mine Road on the evening of June 27th when he
allowed the car to drift onto the road's east shoulder. He then
overcorrected to the left, causing it to travel across both lanes and
onto the west shoulder. He once again overcorrected, this time to the
right, and caused the Mercedes to overturn onto its side. His passenger,
L.C., 75, sustained fatal injuries, even though she was wearing
a seatbelt. The California Highway Patrol is
investigating.
A Mercedes SUV with five people on board was heading south on
Kelbaker Road on the evening of July 11th when the driver entered a left
hand curve at high speed, drifted off the road, then overcorrected
twice, causing the SUV to overturn a number of times. Three people were
ejected and a rear seat passenger sustained fatal injuries. Four of the
five were airlifted to local hospitals was major trauma injuries. The
California Highway Patrol is investigating.
Presidential candidate Senator John Kerry visited the park's visitor
center in Baker on August 11th, accompanied by his wife, family members,
campaign staff and a press pool. Senator Kerry and his party arrived on
buses in a motorcade, then visited the information center, where the
superintendent and rangers gave a brief overview of the park. Kerry
purchased a map, greeted supporters, and had photos taken of him in
front of the "world's tallest thermometer." The visit lasted
approximately 30 minutes. Support was provided by NPS law enforcement
rangers and representatives from the Secret Service, ICE, California
Highway Patrol (including their helicopter and airplane), and the San
Bernardino County Sheriff's Office. National, state, and local media
covered the visit.
E.B., former photographer for Elvis Presley, was driving north in
his 1999 Toyota sedan on Morning Star Mine Road on the afternoon of
August 22nd when he allowed the car to drift onto the right shoulder on
a curve in the road. He overcorrected to the left, causing the car to
cross both lanes to the left shoulder, then roll end over end for about
500 feet before coming to rest on its roof. E.B. suffered only minor
injuries, but the passenger — A.D., Presley's announcer and
road manager — was ejected and sustained fatal injuries. He was not
properly restrained. Excessive speed was a factor in this accident. This
was the fifth fatality on park roads during July and August. All have
been single-vehicle accidents caused by excessive speed. There were
numerous photographs of Elvis scattered around the accident scene. It's
estimated that there were thousands of dollars worth of framed, rare
photographs in the Toyota at the time of the accident.
A man who resides east of Barstow has been arrested on federal
charges of assaulting and impeding federal law enforcement officers when
he confronted them with an assault rifle last weekend. L.H.S.,
62, who lives in the high desert near Newberry Springs and Yermo, was
arrested on February 16th by agents with the National Park Service. On
February 12th, rangers saw L.H.S. and another man operating a
trenching machine near a desert spring located in the Cut Springs area
of Mojave National Preserve. The area near the spring is documented as
containing sensitive archeological and cultural resources. The two
uniformed National Park Service rangers contacted L.H.S. and his
friend to discuss their trenching activity. While one of the rangers was
photographing the scene, L.H.S. removed a .30-caliber M-1 carbine
from a vehicle. According to the affidavit in support of the criminal
complaint, L.H.S. placed a magazine in the weapon and chambered a
round. He then allegedly pointed the weapon at the ranger taking the
pictures and began to advance on the ranger. Despite repeated commands
to drop the weapon, L.H.S. continued to advance with his weapon,
which he had shouldered in the ready firing position. The threatened
officer was forced to draw his weapon and take defensive cover behind a
nearby cabin. During the ensuing stand-off, an eight-year-old child of
L.H.S.'s friend was between L.H.S. and the ranger. In order to
protect the child and everyone else at the scene, the two rangers
decided to de-escalate the situation by slowly withdrawing to their
marked patrol vehicle and leaving the area. L.H.S. is charged with
assaulting, resisting, intimidating, and impeding federal law
enforcement officers, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 20 years
in federal prison. A criminal complaint contains allegations that a
defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent
until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case
against L.H.S. is the result of an investigation by the United States
Department of the Interior, National Park Service.
Park staff responded to several major incidents between June 22nd and the 28th:
[Submitted by Denny Ziemann, Chief Ranger]
Following record rains this past winter, the annual southwestern monsoon season is generating above average lightning activity in thunderstorms that occur on a daily basis. The lightning has been the principal cause of the 21 fires recorded in the park since June (burning a total of over 76,000 acres). The storms have also caused numerous downpours and flashfloods. Entire roads within the park have been washed out, repaired, then washed out again by subsequent flood waters. Recently burned areas are receiving flash floods on a daily basis. In order to mitigate the cycle of impacts, numerous fire and law enforcement personnel from neighboring NPS areas have been brought in. Although all documented records of fire occurrence have been greatly exceeded this year, the worst of the fire season is usually the later part of the summer, when Santa Ana winds start prevailing. [Denny Ziemann, Chief Ranger]
On August 5th, a Budget rental box truck was observed parked two miles from the Union Pacific Railroad tracks near Cima, California, within the park. Rangers Kirk Gebicke and Joe Spillane contacted the two men - A.Z. and A.C.-B. - seated in the truck. They determined that the men had been drinking and that their reasons for being parked in the area did not add up. The two men gave the rangers permission to search the vehicle, which proved to be empty. While a computer check was being run on the pair, ranger Wayne Dingman found a bindle of cocaine four feet from the point where A.C.-B. had thrown it into the roadside grass. Both men were arrested. The rangers consulted with Union Pacific special agents and found that the duo had possibly been involved in thefts from trains and were in the park to collect stolen property. The two men were turned over to Union Pacific police for follow-up interviews, then taken to jail. A ground and aerial search of the railroad tracks the next day led to the discovery of 75 stolen television sets that had been thrown from a train. The estimated value is in excess of $225,000. Rangers and UP special agents watched the property throughout the night to see if other gang members would return for the property, but without results. [Submitted by Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
A Newberry Springs man who admitted to pointing a loaded .30-caliber M-1 carbine at federal law enforcement officers who were investigating possibly unlawful digging in the park was sentenced on September 12th to eight months in federal prison. L.H.S., 62, had previously pleaded guilty to one felony count of assaulting, resisting, intimidating and impeding federal law enforcement officers during the confrontation, which occurred on February 12th. In sentencing L.H.S. and rejecting the defendant's plea for probation, the judge said that the high desert was "not the wild west" and all citizens have a responsibility to respect the law. The judge, who also imposed a $2,000 fine, ordered L.H.S. to begin serving his prison term within 30 days. L.H.S. is the friend of another man who owns a small parcel of private property within Mojave National Preserve. The friend had recently constructed a small cabin on National Park Service land near a desert spring, which was outside of his private property line. In early February, the friend was observed operating a trenching machine at the spring. In addition to being on federal land, the area around the cabin is documented as containing archeological and cultural resources. On February 12th, two uniformed NPS rangers contacted L.H.S. and his friend regarding the trenching activity. While one of the rangers was photographing the trenching activity, L.H.S. removed the M-1 carbine from a vehicle. He placed a magazine in the weapon and chambered a round. He then pointed the weapon at the ranger who was taking pictures and began advancing on him. Despite repeated commands to drop the weapon, L.H.S. continued to advance with his weapon in the ready firing position. The threatened officer was forced to take defensive cover behind one corner of the cabin and draw his service weapon. During the ensuing stand-off, the rangers observed that the eight-year-old child of the private property owner was within the line-of-fire. Fearful for the safety of the child and the other individuals, including L.H.S., the two rangers decided to de-escalate the dangerous situation by slowly withdrawing to their marked patrol vehicle and leaving the area. L.H.S. was arrested in Yermo on February 17th by NPS agents. [United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California]
The park received a report of an ATV accident and an unresponsive victim before noon on Saturday, November 11th. Responding rangers were directed by park visitors to an area about four miles east of Kelbaker Road on a natural gas pipeline road. The road proved impassable, so the rangers walked to the scene and were met by a park visitor who was transporting the victim - R.P., 56, of San Marcos, California - in his pickup. R.P.' son and riding companions had performed CPR on him, but without success. Once the party reached a paved roadway, R.P. was transferred to an ambulance from Baker, California. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigation revealed that the four men were riding non-street legal ATV's across the park on the gas line road. R.P. was fourth in line. When he failed to catch up with the first three riders, they backtracked until they found him underneath his overturned ATV on a rough section of the road. The California Highway Patrol is investigating. [Denny Ziemann, Chief Ranger]
On the morning of December 31, 2006, J.M., 19, who'd been in an argument with a friend and had been left behind along Kelbaker Road, saw a motor home parked about a half mile away. He walked over and knocked on the door. When the motor home's driver opened the door, J.M. asked if he and his three companions had broken down. When the driver told him that they were okay and just taking a break, J.M. pulled a gun on the driver in an attempt to carjack the RV. The driver began struggling with J.M. for control of the gun; with the assistance of his three passengers, he was eventually able to get it away from J.M. The driver then pulled the trigger on the gun in an attempt to shoot J.M., but the gun proved to be empty. The struggle continued until the RV's four occupants subdued J.M. They continued to beat him until they could tie him up with their belts. They then held J.M. until CHP and sheriff's department officers arrived on scene and arrested him. On March 9th, J.M. was convicted in state court and sentenced to nine years in prison, plus four years of parole. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
On April 7th, rangers received a 911 hang-up call from the Hole in the Wall campground, requesting an ambulance. As rangers and EMS personnel were responding, a campground host called and reported that a man had suffered a broken leg and that he was being taken by a private vehicle to meet the ambulance. When contact was made, medics determined that the man - J.M., 22 - had been shot in the leg. Ranger Wayne Dingman followed the ambulance to the hospital. Through interviews with J.M. and his friends, Dingman determined that J.M. had been out hiking, that he'd had a.22 caliber semi-automatic pistol with him, and that he'd been shooting at targets with the gun and other weapons. After returning to his vehicle, J.M. attempted to unload the .22. When a round failed to eject and the slide fell forward, the weapon discharged, hitting J.M. in the leg above his knee. He underwent surgery at the hospital to remove the bullet. J.M., who was scheduled to attend a local police academy in May, was cited for possession of a loaded weapon and illegal target shooting. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
On the afternoon of October 4th, ranger Mike Ice contacted two people in a parked ATT company vehicle on a road in a remote part of the park. Ice suspected that they might be stealing copper or other metals due to some items that he saw on the ground next to the truck. The passenger, G.D., produced a Nevada identification card, but the driver said that he had no identification on him. Ice checked both G.D. and the truck on NCIC - both returned clear. The driver then looked around a couple of times and ran to the truck. As he was putting it into gear, Ice was able to open the door and deploy his taser. The door slammed shut as the truck went forward, though, and the taser evidently had no effect. Ice decided not to pursue and instead questioned, cited and released G.D. In the ensuing investigation, rangers learned that the ATT truck had been stolen from Las Vegas, but had not yet been reported. Ranger Brian Cooperider found it on BLM land west of Searchlight on October 8th. Numerous items of stolen property were recovered from it. Ice is working on this case with Las Vegas Metro PD and NPS agents from Lake Mead. [Kirk Gebicke, Acting Chief Ranger]
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]
Ranger Mike Ice checked on a purple two-door Mercury sedan illegally parked off the Cedar Canyon Road on the afternoon of January 14th. Ice found an unresponsive man in the driver seat. He forcibly entered the vehicle and confirmed that the man was dead. The San Bernadino County Sheriff's Office was contacted. The coroner's office identified the victim as a 26-year-old Glendale, Arizona, man, and determined that he'd died from asphyxiation. [Submitted by Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Ranger Mike Ice checked on a purple two-door Mercury sedan illegally parked off the Cedar Canyon Road on the afternoon of January 14th. Ice found an unresponsive man in the driver seat. He forcibly entered the vehicle and confirmed that the man was dead. The San Bernadino County Sheriff's Office was contacted. The coroner's office identified the victim as a 26-year-old Glendale, Arizona, man, and determined that he'd died from asphyxiation. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
A park visitor found the body of a 47-year-old Las Vegas man hanging from a rope on a Joshua tree just off Cima Road on February 1st and called 911. Rangers responded along with California Highway Patrol and San Bernadino county officers. Investigation revealed that the man had driven off the road and into a wash and parked his car. He then walked straight from the car to the tree, climbed up on it, placed a rope in a notch on the tree, then placed the other end around his neck and jumped. Ground areas around the car and the man were fresh and showed no other tracks leading to the tree. The death has been ruled a suicide. No note was found. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
On Thursday, March 13th, rangers received a report of a motor vehicle accident and blocked highway two miles south of the Kelso Depot Visitor Center. Ranger Tim Duncan was first on scene and coordinated the response. Three large vans carrying students from a college geology class had been heading south on Kelbaker Road when the lead van stopped in the road. The second van was able to stop in time to avoid hitting it, but the third van rear-ended the first two at a speed of more than 45 mph. There were a total of 16 people in the three vans and most of them were not wearing seatbelts. Two were seriously injured and three others sustained moderate injuries; one of them was flown out and the other four were transported by ambulances. The remaining members of the group were evaluated, found to have sustained only minor injuries, and released at the scene. This incident quickly overwhelmed the limited staff on hand, who had to provide patient care, control traffic and direct a helicopter landing. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
On the evening of Sunday, June 8th, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department received a 911 call reporting an overdue 67-year-old hiker from the Philippines who'd last been seen by her hiking companion at Fort Piute on the evening of June 7th. Rangers and deputies interviewed the reporting party, then conducted a hasty search of Piute Canyon with ground teams and an infrared-vision-equipped helicopter. She was not found. An interagency search was conducted through Friday, June 13th, with up to 50 searchers employed each day. Also employed in the effort were helicopters and as many as six search dogs. The canyon is steep and narrow, with ledges and rugged terrain, and daytime temperatures were over 100 degrees (there is water in the canyon, though). The search has been suspended, but the investigation continues. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger] HYPERLINK "http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/missing_3556___article.html/piute_search.html"
On August 23rd, a joint effort by Union Pacific police, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and the National Park Service resulted in the arrest of four people for train burglary and a search for a fifth who was later found deceased from apparent heat exposure about five miles from the site of the attempted burglary. Over $30,000 worth of property was recovered. Around 2 p.m. that afternoon, rangers McDermott, Spillane and Cooperider were notified of a train burglary in progress near Cima, which is within the park. Union Pacific employees discovered between 10 and 15 people in the act of stealing 31 42-inch-wide televisions from a train. The employees told rangers that they'd fled in many directions into the desert. Rangers requested a helicopter and assistance from the sheriff's department and from the UP police. Upon arrival, the police told rangers that they had information that the would-be thieves were armed. A search was begun, and UP police later in the day intercepted a vehicle driven by a known accomplice, arrested him, then put an undercover team in the vehicle to drive the surrounding roads. The team located and arrested four other suspects in a remote area of the park about four miles from the scene of the burglary. They told officers that another member of their group was sick and that they'd left him under a tree about a mile away in the desert. McDermott and Cooperider retrieved ALS gear and along with UP officers started looking for him, finding him just after 11 p.m. He was DOA, having likely succumbed to complications from heat exposure (temperatures were over 100 degrees). [Kirk Gebicke, Operations Supervisor]
A 21-year-old Marine from Twenty-nine Palms died in a single-vehicle crash while traveling east on Morningstar Mine Road on the evening of September 7th. The driver, J.V., was found dead in his car by a passerby who saw J.V.'s 2006 Pontiac Solstice lying in a ditch off the road. Captain Nic Tuntland drove a park engine to the scene and determined that J.V. had died of his injuries prior to his arrival. The California Highway Patrol investigated. According to their report, J.V. was heading east on Morning Star Mine Road when his car left the road as he went around a curve. As he attempted to get back on the road, the car skidded and began to roll across the roadway and into the open desert on the north side of the road. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
N.N.L.M., a 28-year-old resident of Hawaii, was northbound at high speed on Morning Star Mine Road around 11 a.m. on June 17th when her car went off the road and overturned. Rangers and firefighters in the park's engine responded along with California Highway Patrol officers. They found that N.N.L.M. had died in the accident. CHP is investigating. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
On July 21st, a woman contacted the information desk at the Kelso Depot Visitor Center and said that she hadn't heard for a while from her father, M.O., who was staying at an inholder residence within the park. She asked that a ranger check on him, as he'd left a message for her the previous day saying that she should send help if he was not heard from by 8 a.m. on the 21st. Ranger Brian Cooperider and a San Bernardino County deputy sheriff drove to the residence near Cima and discovered M.O. dead of a gunshot wound. He was lying face forward with a .22 caliber handgun underneath him and as single gunshot wound in his head. The county coroner was notified, as was his daughter. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation launched an investigation the January before last when a member of T.M.'s family found child pornography on their computer. The SBI investigation revealed that T.M. had previously owned the computer, but that his whereabouts were now unknown. With assistance from NPS special agents, Mojave NP ranger and US Postal Service inspectors, they found T.M. working as a seasonal maintenance employee at Mojave NP. During an interview with an NPS agent and a San Bernadino County detective in July of that year, T.M. admitted to downloading and possessing child pornography in his RV. He was arrested and extradited to North Carolina. After obtaining a search warrant, agents from the NPS Investigation Services Branch conducted a forensic examination of T.M.'s digital media. The examination revealed over 120,000 images and 600 movies of suspected child pornography. Approximately 80 GB of data were submitted to the National Center for Missing or Exploited Children. Two weeks ago, T.M. pled guilty in North Carolina superior court to second degree possession of child pornography. He was sentenced to serve 42 to 51 months in the North Carolina Department of Corrections. [Les Seago, Special Agent]
The cross in the national World War I memorial at Sunrise Rock along Cima Road was reported missing on Monday morning by maintenance staff who went to the site to replace the wooden cover that had been removed from the cross on Saturday. Litigation surrounding the memorial has been ongoing since March, 2001, when a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, arguing that the display of a cross in the memorial violated the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. Congress designated the site a national memorial commemorating United States participation in World War I and honoring the American veterans of that war. The National Park Service was enjoined from displaying the cross. The wooden cover was reported missing from the cross by rangers on Saturday, and the uncovered cross was seen again by rangers on Sunday afternoon. When park maintenance staff arrived on Monday morning to replace the cover, they found that the entire cross had been removed. Rangers are investigating this crime and have set up a tip line (760-252-6120). The Veterans of Foreign Wars is offering a $25,000 award for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Rangers and firefighters responded to a report of an injured hiker in the area of Clark Mountain on May 25th. Units from the San Bernadino County Fire Department and a California Highway Patrol helicopter also responded. A search was begun based on the man's cell phone GPS location and he was soon spotted from the helicopter. It was unable to land, though, due to the steep and inaccessible area where he was located. The man was able to wave at the helicopter and cell phone contact was made. He was found to be suffering from several injuries and immobile. A county helicopter with a hoist was summoned, but was unable to hover over the man due to high and gusty winds. Members of the park engine crew started to hike to the man's location as it was getting dark. They had to cross steep terrain with loose rock on an off trail route and it took six hours to cover less than two miles. The injured hiker was treated and protected from the extreme weather, as he was wearing only shorts and a t-shirt and had no other gear. Rescuers determined that he'd slipped and fallen about 60 feet down a rock face. Two night-capable Blackhawk helicopters from the US Air Force 50th Rescue Squadron from Nellis AFB responded but had to abort due to encountering 80 to 90 mph winds. Preparations were therefore made for a difficult litter carryout, but the winds died down at daybreak and the sheriff's department helicopter was able to hoist the man out. He was flown to a hospital in Las Vegas. The entire operation took 20 hours. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Rangers, San Bernadino County deputies, and Union Pacific police all responded on Monday to a report of a body lying near the railroad tracks west of the Kelso Depot Visitor Center. The victim, apparently an illegal passenger, appeared to have fallen from the train while it was in motion and hit the ground with great force, causing dismemberment. The coroner was summoned and is conducting an investigation into the man's identity. There were no witnesses, but the incident appeared to have occurred sometime early that morning. [Kelsey Cassidy, Park Ranger]
On April 11th, a park maintenance employee found what appeared to be four kitchen bags containing marijuana alongside Kelso-Cima road within the park. A protection ranger responded and found that the bags did contain marijuana - a total of 21.05 pounds. During processing of the contraband, numerous items related to cultivation were found. The county sheriff's office was contacted. It appears possible that, due to interdiction patrols along the highway, the marijuana was thrown out of a vehicle inside park boundaries to avoid discovery by the sheriff's interdiction team. It is unknown at this time if the offender is a locale cultivator or was passing through the park. A joint investigation is underway. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
An armed robbery occurred at the Kelso Depot Visitor Center around 3 a.m. on May 4th. The reporting party contacted the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department several hours later to report that two individuals had robbed him of money as he was leaving the outdoor restroom at the visitor center. He said that they were armed with a silver pistol, that they struck him four or five times over the head with the pistol, and that they then fled. Several minutes later, he reported seeing a car driving away from the far side of the visitor center. The Barstow office of the county sheriff's department is leading the investigation. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
A motorcyclist crashed on Kelbaker Road in front of the park's main visitor center at Kelso Depot around 1 p.m. on May 4th. Ranger/park medic Tom McDermott was first on scene and provide advanced life support, continuing it until an ambulance from Baker arrived on scene. Medical care was eventually transferred to the crew of a Mercy Air medevac helicopter, but the man - identified as D.D. of Torrance, California - expired before the helicopter could take off. Investigation revealed that D.D. was riding with friends when he lost control of his bike and crashed while crossing some railroad tracks. His speed at the time of the crash was estimated at between 40 and 60 mph. [Kirk Gebicke, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Rangers, San Bernardino County deputies, and California Highway Patrol officers began a search for a missing hiker in and around Caruthers Canyon on the afternoon of Friday, February 15th. The air and ground search began near the summit of New York Mountain, located on the northwest side of the condition. It continued until midnight and then resumed at first light on Saturday. Members of Colorado River Station Search and Rescue, assisted by rangers and Barstow Search and Rescue, continued to search the rugged terrain around the peak. Late that morning, the missing hiker's body was spotted from the air near the summit of New York Mountain. The cause of death is under investigation, but foul play does not appear to have been a factor. [Kirk Gebicke, Acting Chief Ranger]
Two people were injured when the pilot of a single-engine aircraft was forced to crash land his plane in the park last Sunday after it developed engine trouble. The male pilot and his female passenger were en route to Chino from Needles when the plane's engine lost oil pressure and it stalled, forcing the emergency landing in a very remote section of the park. Neither was injured. Despite the remote location, the pilot was able to make a cellphone call to a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department patrol helicopter. An H-325 MedFlight helicopter contracted to the country flew from Victorville to the crash site and extricated the couple. Photos with the article show the crashed plane, the rescuers, and the happy couple. Source: Matthew Cabe, Daily Press.
On July 31, the park received heavy monsoonal rain, which damaged many paved roads. Kelbaker Road, Cima Road, Essex Road, Zzyzx Road, and Morning Star Road are all currently closed. One section of Kelbaker Road washed away entirely. Source: Mojave National Preserve August 24, 2022 The park reopened Cima, Kelso-Cima, South Kelbaker, Morning Star, Ivanpah, Essex, Black Canyon, and Lanfair roads on August 12. Some of these roads are currently passable only with 4WD, high clearance vehicles. The roads were closed due to flash floods on July 31. North Kelbaker and Zzyzx Road will remain closed due to significant damage and may take months to repair. On August 17, the park released a press release warning of more predicted monsoons and the potential for more damage (as well as resource benefits). Source: Mojave National Preserve September 7, 2022 On August 26, the park experienced heavy rains and flash flooding in the park, which damaged several paved roads, including portions of Black Canyon Road and South Kelbaker Road. These floods further compound damage sustained during heavy floods on July 31. Visitors at the Hole-in-the-Wall Campground were stranded temporarily until staff could make temporary repairs to allow them to depart the park safely. At least one vehicle became trapped in a wash after traveling into a closed area on Kelbaker Road. As of August 26, Cima Road, Kelso Cima Road, Kelbaker Road, Ivanpah Road, Morning Star Road, Essex Road, Essex Road, Black Canyon Road, and the Mojave Road are closed for assessment, repair, and clean-up. Source: Mojave National Preserve
On February 27, a contractor, Las Vegas Paving Corp., began repairs on two sections of Kelbaker Road that were damaged in 2022 storms. The road is closed through at least March 10, which it is planned to reopen, depending on construction progress and weather conditions. On March 20, the park intends to begin a major construction project on Cima Road, and the road will then be closed for about a year. Source: Mojave National Preserve
On March 27, a freight train with 55 rail cars and two locomotives derailed near Kelso Depot. The train was carrying iron ore, which spilled from the cars. The ore is not a hazardous material. No crew was injured in the accident. One locomotive had a minor fuel leak, and the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District said there is "no current threat to public or environment." Crews repaired the tracks and train traffic resumed on March 28. A Union Pacific spokesperson said the incident's cause is still under investigation. It is the third train derailment nationwide this month (including one just outside New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, reported in the 3/22/23 Coalition Report). Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal (3/27, 3/28)
On July 28, the York Fire started in Caruthers Canyon in the New York Mountain Range. As of August 7, the fire was 93,078 acres and 93% contained, with 290 personnel assigned. The cause of the fire is under investigation; it started on a private land inholding inside of the park. Many roads and campgrounds in the park are closed until further notice. Source: Inciweb, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mojave National Preserve
Most of the above parks announced preemptive closures between August 18-20 due predicted flooding from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Hilary. It is the first official National Weather Service Tropical Storm Warning in history for the region. Source: KTLA, Desert Sun, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Manzanar National Historic Site
On July 28, the York Fire started in Caruthers Canyon in the New York Mountain Range. As of August 20, the fire was 100% contained at 93,078 acres, with 22 personnel assigned. The cause of the fire is under investigation; it started on a private land inholding inside of the park. Many roads and campgrounds in the park are closed until further notice. Source: Inciweb, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mojave National Preserve
On September 1, the park partially reopened for the first time since damage was incurred by Hurricane Hilary on August 20. The areas now open include South Kelbaker Road, Kelso Cima Road, Morning Star Road, and a portion of Ivanpah Road between Morning Star Mine and Nipton Roads. The park has stated that it will likely take several more weeks before other park facilities and roads can be reopened. Source: Mojave National Preserve
The Los Angeles Times published an article about a conflict between an Australian mining company, Dateline Resources, Ltd., and the NPS over the legitimacy of a claim at the Colosseum Mine, which has rare earth minerals used in smartphones, advanced weapons, and electric vehicles. Dateline believes they have the right to work the mine under a plan the operators submitted 40 years ago when the land was managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The NPS claims that the company does not have authorization, and the area is rich with rare plants. The company has twice begun exploratory drilling and road improvements when told to cease their efforts. The NPS has issued a $213,387 fine for the costs and damages associated with these actions. The parties have met to discuss a settlement, but no agreement has been reached, regarding fines nor future use of the mine. Source: Los Angeles Times | |