Day/date: August 8, 1988
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Marijuana Eradication
Log number: 88-172
Date/time of incident: 8/3 Date/time received: 8/8, 7 am
Park: Buffalo River Location: Maumee, Stringtown
Reported by: Earl Hill, RAD, SWRO
Received by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO
Incident Summary
On August 3rd, park rangers removed 10 marijuana plants from the area of
Maumee South. On the 4th, rangers joined Arkansas State Police officers and
Newton County Sheriff's Office deputies in pulling 414 plants near
Stringtown; at least half of these were inside the park boundary. Another
surveillance flight over park lands will be conducted by the state police on
August 10th.
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Drownings
Log number: 88-173
Date/time of incident: 8/6, pm Date/time received: 8/8, am
Park: Wrangell-St. Elias Location: Tana River
Reported by: Associated Press
Received by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO
Incident Summary
The Associated Press reports that three people fell from a raft and drowned
on the Tana River on the 6th while filming a television program with former
governor J.H. Four of the seven people who were riding in the 16-
foot-long raft were flipped out by the rapids in Tana River Canyon; one was
pulled back aboard, two were found unconscious and could not be revived, and
the body of the fourth was found early on Sunday. The survivors were
rescued later that day. J.H., who was governor of Alaska from 1974 to
1982, was not injured. He and the others were filming a segment for his
program, "J.H.'s Alaska".
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: KKK Demonstration
Log number: 88-174
Date/time of incident: 8/7 Date/time received: 8/8
Park: Valley Forge Location: Ampitheatre
Reported by: Bob Zarger, RAD, WASO
Received by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO
Incident Summary
About 100 members of the Ku Klux Klan held a rally under permit at the park
ampitheater between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the 7th. There were no incidents,
arrests, counter-demonstrations or interruptions of normal park activities.
About 800 - 1,000 people attended the rally, which was held in a fenced off
area around the ampitheater. Approximately 100 park rangers, US Park
Police, Pennsylvania State Police and local law enforcement officers were
present at the event.
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident, type: Falling Fatality
Log number: 88-177
Date/time of incident: 8/6 Date/time received: 8/8
Park: Golden Gate Location: Muir Beach
Reported by: Herb Gercke, WRO
Received by: Bill Halainen, WASO
Incident Summary
D.C., 23, of Walnut Creek, California, fell 200' to his death from
the cliffs overlooking the beach 1/2 mile south of Muir Beach on the 6th.
Rescue personnel provided life saving measures for 40 minutes with no
positive results. The victim was flown out by US Coast Guard helicopter,
and was pronounced dead at Letterman Hospital in San Francisco.
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Fatality
Log number: 88-178
Date/time of incident: After 7/31 Date/time received: 8/8
Park: North Cascades Location: Mt. Triumph
Reported by: Mark Forbes, PNRO
Received by: Bill Halainen, WASO
Incident Summary
Rangers checking the Mt. Triumph trailhead on August 6th found a car
belonging to T.A.T. of Lyons, Colorado, and determined that the
vehicle had been there for about a week. Upon checking backcountry permits,
they found that T.A.T. had planned to be gone from July 31st to August 2nd.
No missing persons reports had been received, nor had T.A.T. signed out for
a climb. Rangers do not check backcountry permits for overdues, but do
check climbing signouts. A ground and air search was begun on the 6th, and
T.A.T.'s body was found in the Mt. Triumph area the next day. Cause of death
has not been determined. The incident is being investigated by ranters and
Whatcom County sheriffs.
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Rescue
Log number: 88-179
Date/time of incident: 8/4 Date/time received: 8/8
Park: Grand Teton Location: Grand Teton
Reported by: GRTE
Received by: Bill Halainen, RADf WASO
Incident Summary
On August 4th, F.R. of Centerville, Utah, was leading his two
sons up the Owen-Spaulding Route on the Grand Teton. At about 1:30 pm, he
slipped on some verglas in the Owen Couloir near the 13,400' level and fell
about 45' onto a ledge, fracturing his radius, pelvis and ribs and
sustaining a hemo-pneumothorax. Guides from Exum Mountain Guides, who were
1,800' below the accident site on the Lower Saddle, employed a newly-
acquired mobile telephone to report the incident to the Jenny Lake Ranger
Station at 3:50 pm. A Jet Ranger helicopter was used to fly rescue
personnel in to the Lower Saddle while a Bell 206 L-III Long Ranger
helicopter flew to the scene from Salmon National Forest in Idaho. At 8:00
pm, the Long Ranger successfully shorthauled F.R. from the accident
site to the Lower Saddle; the helicopter was then modified to its air
ambulance configuration, and the victim was flown to St. John's Hospital in
Jackson. Attending physicians told the rangers involved that F.R.
would not have survived a conventional ground rescue. This shorthaul rescue
at 13,400' may be the highest such rescue ever performed in a national park
in the Lower 48 States. In the shorthaul technique, a lead line of
appropriate length is attached to a helicopter and hangs fully extended
below it. If the rescue party has the victim in a litter at the site, the
helicopter hovers at full lead line distance from the site while the litter
is attached. Once securely attached and belayed, the helicopter lifts off
with the litter at full extension on the line and flies to a place where the
litter can be safely placed on the ground and separated from the lead line.
This technique has greatly increased the safety of helicopter rescue
operations by allowing the helicopter to hover away from obstructions and
unsafe landing sites.
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Serious On the Job Employee Injury
Log number: 88-181
Date/time of incident: 8/6, 8:20 am Date/time received: 8/8
Park: Cape Hatteras Location: Route 12 at Oregon Inlet
Reported by: Don Russell, RAD, SERO
Received by: Jon Anglin, RAD, WASO
Incident Summary
On Saturday, August 6th, Cape Hatteras seasonal maintenance employees A.B.
and B.R. were both seriously injured in a motor vehicle
accident while working. A.B., the driver of the Cushman maintenance vehicle
and passenger B.R., attempted to pull from the Oregon Inlet parking area
on to North Carolina Route 12. In the process, A.B. pulled into the path of
S.B., of Buxton, North Carolina, who was south bound on Route 12.
S.B. struck the Cushman, spinning it around and throwing A.B. and B.R.
from the vehicle. Both A.B. and B.R. received head injuries. A.B. was
evacuated by helicopter to Norfolk General Hospital in Norfolk, Virginia and
B.R. was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Both are currently
in stable condition and are expected to recover. S.B. was uninjured.
N.C. Highway Patrol investigated and S.B. was charged for excessive speed.
A.B. was also charged for failure to yield.
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Drowning
Log number: 88-182
Date/time of incident: 7/16, 7:30 pm Date/time received: 8/8
Park: Gateway Location: Jamaica Bay
Reported by: Peggy Sandretzky, RAD, NARO
Received by: Jon Anglin, RAD, WASO
Incident Summary
On July 16, at 7:30 pm, New York Police Department Officers discovered the
body of 55 year old J.F.H., in the water east of Carnarsi Pier in
the Jamaica Bay unit. J.F.H., who was also known as J.F.S. and who
had no know address, had apparently been illegally clamming during a period
of strong tides. Further investigation revealed that J.F.H. was intoxicated
at the time of his death. The New York Police Department did not report the
incident to park officials until August 3rd.
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Drowning
Log number: 88-184
Date/time of incident: 8/7 Date/time received: 8/8
Park: Delaware Water Gap Location: Delaware River
Reported by: Kathy Jope, RAD, MARO
Received by: Bill Halainen, RAD, WASO
Incident Summary
D.G., a 19-year-old resident of Barbados who was visiting relatives
in Jersey City, attempted to swim across the Delaware River with his
brother-in-law on August 7th. About half way across the hundred-yard
stretch of river, he got into trouble; his brother-in-law went to his
assistance but was not able to help him. D.G.'s body was recovered by an
NPS team of three divers that evening.
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Serious Employee Injury
Log number: 88-185
Date/time of incident: 8/8, 5:30 am Date/time received: 8/8
Park: Rock Creek Location: Southwest Freeway
Reported by: Dave Blackburn, RAD, NCRO
Received by: Jon Anglin, RAD, WASO
Incident Summary
U.S. Park Police Officer Michael Snowden was seriously injured during a
high speed vehicle chase through the District of Columbia and into
Montgomery County, Maryland on August 8th. Snowden responded to a call for
assistance from Metro Police and began pursuit of the suspect vehicle near
the National Mall. The chase proceeded through Rock Creek park then out of
the District into Montgomery County. On Bradley Avenue, the suspect vehicle
pulled into the oncoming traffic lanes and Snowden followed. A Montgomery
County officer was responding to the chase scene from the opposite
direction, as he approached the suspect vehicle the suspect vehicle swerved
off the roadway. Snowden and the Montgomery County officer then collided
head on. Both officers were seriously injured and were transported to
local hospitals. Snowden is currently listed in serious but stable
condition at Suburban Hospital. The 14 year old operator of the suspect
vehicle escaped on foot, but was apprehended on the 9th by Park Police
officers and is being charged with a variety of offenses.
RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
FIELD INCIDENT REPORT
Incident type: Assault on an Officer/Weapons Use
Log number: 88-187
Date/time of incident: 8/5, 7:30 pm Date/time received: 8/8
Park: Presidents Park Location: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Reported by: Dave Blackburn, RAD, NCRO
Received by: Jon Anglin, RAD, WASO
Incident Summary
A U.S. Park Police field commander attempted to stop a vehicle that had been
racing back and forth in front of the White House. During the stop the
suspect vehicle rammed the field commander's car and sped away; the officer
pursued. Near the Watergate Hotel the suspect vehicle collided with three
other vehicles and continued. The officer struck a vehicle at the same
location, causing minor damage (no injuries) and was unable to continue
pursuit. The suspect vehicle was spotted by Park Police Officer Jerom
Stoudamire as it proceeded west on Route 66 into northern Virginia.
Stoudamire followed the vehicle to Bull Run Park, near Manassas, where he
confronted the three occupants of the vehicle. At this time the operator of
the vehicle attempted run Stoudamire down with the vehicle. Stoudamire
fired three shots with no apparent effect. The occupants fled on foot.
Stoudamire was uninjured. The vehicle has been impounded and Park Police
and Fairfax County officers are investigating.