Day/date: February 10, 1988
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Drug Arrest
Log number: 88-18
Date/time of incident: 2/7, 11 am Date/time received: 2/10, 7 am
Park: Big Bend Location: Outside of park
Reported by: Earl Hill, Law Enforcement Specialist, SWRO
Received by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO
Summary:
The Texas Department of Public Safety asked Big Bend rangers to be on the
lookout for a pickup truck which was believed to be carrying drugs. The
truck had been seen going into San Vincente, which is one of the known drug
distribution areas in Big Bend. The pickup was observed leaving the park
early on the morning of the 7th. State officers were advised, and the truck
was stopped in Fort Stockton. Approximately 150 pounds of marijuana (with a
street value of $120,000) was found in a false compartment that had been
completely welded shut. Two people were arrested and the truck was
confiscated.
Rangers had been notified on the 6th that an Aztec Piper Cub, the type of
aircraft employed to transport drugs between Mexico and the US, had crashed
near San Vicente. The incidents are not known to be related.
Persons involved:
Name Address DOB or age
*** Not given ***
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Search in Progress
Log number: 88-19
Date/time of incident: 2/9, noon Date/time received: 2/10, 9 am
Park: Booker T. Washington Location: Nature Trail
Reported by: Steve Alscher, RAD, MARO
Received by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO
Summary:
Ms. M.M. arrived in the park early on the 9th and was last seen walking on
the park's nature trail just before 10 a.m. When she failed to return, park
staff conducted an unsuccessful preliminary search. The family was contacted
at 2 p.m., and they said that M.M. had suicidal tendencies. The park
staff, sheriff's office, rescue squads and Virginia State Police began a
search employing dog teams and a helicopter shortly thereafter. The search
was suspended just before midnight, then continued again yesterday morning.
Persons involved:
Name Address DOB or age
M.M. Moneta, Virginia 31
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Thermal Pool Fatality
Log number: 88-20
Date/time of incident: 2/8, 8:30 pm Date/time received: 2/10,1045
Park: Yellowstone Location: Shoshone Geyser Basin
Reported by: Carolyn Kershaw, RMRO/Public Affairs, Yellowstone
Received by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO
Summary:
Mr. J.M.W., an employee with TW Recreational Services at the Old Faithful
Snow Lodge, was on a ski trip with friends. He was reportedly walking alone
in the Shoshone Geyser Basin near his group's campsite when he apparently fell
into one of the thermal pools and suffered second degree burns to
approximately 60 - 70% of his body. When he returned to the campsite, his
companions administered basic first aid, then two of them began skiing north
towards the Old Faithful area to obtain further help. At about 4 a.m, park
rangers were notified and began a ground rescue effort. Heavy falling snow,
high winds, very poor visibility and about 2' of new snow greatly hindered
rescue efforts and prevented use of aircraft. At about 10:30 am, J.M.W.
apparently stopped breathing and his companions began CPR. Rangers who had
skiied in arrived at the scene at 11:30 and continued CPR until 1 pm, when a
Mammoth Clinic physician advised them to stop via radio. An attempt will be
made to recover his body by helicopter this morning.
Persons involved:
Name Address DOB or age
J.M.W. Wetumpka, Alabama 5/28/63
CALL-OUT 2/9/88 (Shoshone Geyser Basin Fatality) 6:30 p.m.
Yellowstone Park officials report a fatality occurred in the park Tuesday (yesterday)
that appears to have been the result of complications from second degree burns received
by a backcountry skier who apparently fell into a thermal pool in the Shoshone Geyser
Basin in the southeast area of the park, appvoximacoly 11 miles south of the Old
Faithful area.
According to park officials, J.M.W., 24, of Weturapka, Alabama, a TW Recreational
Services, winter employee at the Old Faithful Snow Lodge, was reportedly
walking alone in the Shoshone Geyser Basin, on the west side of Shoshone Lake near
his group's campsite, when he apparently fell into one of the thermal pools and
suffered second degree burns to approximately 60-70% of his body; primarily the
lower 2/3 of his body.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:30 p.m., Monday night, February 8. When
Mr. J.M.W. returned to the five-party tentsite, his companions administered basic
first aid by removing his wet clothing, placing him in a sleeping bag, and elevating
his feet in an effort to treat him for shock. Shortly after the incident occurred,
two members of the party began skiing north towards the Old Faithful area to obtain
further help.
At approximately 4:00 a.m., park rangers were notified about the incident and
began a ground rescue effort. Heavy falling snow, high winds, very poor
visibility, and approximately two feet of newly fallen snow greatly hindered
rescue efforts and in turn prevented use of aircraft in the park. Rangers were
forced to ski south into the Shoshone Lake area via the Lone Star Geyser trail.
At approximately 10:30 a.m., Mr. J.M.W. apparently stopped breathing and his
companions attempted to perform CPR at that time. Rangers made contact with the
backcountry party at approximately 11:30 a.m. CPR was continued until almost 1:00 p.m.
when the rangers were advised to stop CPR after consultation with the Mammoth Clinic
physician via park radio.
More than 20 park rangers and other personnel were involved in the rescue effort.
In view of this incident, park officials remind all park visitors of the extreme
danger posed by approaching too closely to any thermal feature in Yellowstone.
Surface crusts surrounding thermal features are very thin and fragile and water
temperatures can often exceed 190° F. The incident is currently under investigation
at this time.
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