Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Rangers Respond to Three Serious MVA's in Three Days
With all state schools out at the same time this year, spring break traffic to Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) Mexico set new records. Arizona DPS estimated that over 250,000 vehicles passed through the park while traveling to and from Mexico over a period of nine days, primarily over two weekends. Managing the traffic flow and responding to major and minor accidents taxed all local federal and state law enforcement agencies. Rangers patrolled Highway 85 in saturation strike teams, making over 340 vehicle stops and issuing 62 citations during the peak traffic periods. Despite the best efforts of all public safety agencies involved, there were still several serious accidents, all involving alcohol:
- March 19 — Rangers were called to the scene of a single vehicle rollover accident with injuries at milepost 74 on Highway 85. Both driver and passenger had been ejected from the vehicle, which had traveled 40 yards off road and rolled several times before coming to rest. Both sustained serious injuries and were airlifted to Phoenix.
- March 20 — Another single vehicle rollover accident occurred on Highway 85, four miles south of the previous accident. The female driver was trapped inside the vehicle, which had rolled end over end before coming to rest on its side. Rangers stabilized both vehicle and patient and provided EMS and fire control. Following extrication, she was flown by helicopter to Phoenix.
- March 21 — Yet another single vehicle rollover occurred on Highway 85, this time at milepost 63. All three occupants were ejected and the car was on fire and fully involved. It had been northbound when it went off the road at a high rate of speed. An 18-year-old male from Tucson was pronounced dead at the scene; one of the other two occupants was flown to a hospital with serious head and spinal injuries, the other was transported by ground ambulance.
All three accidents backed up traffic in both directions for miles.
Rangers were assisted by personnel from the Pima County Sheriffs
Department, Arizona DPS, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Ajo
Fire Department, and Ajo Ambulance.
[Submitted by Fred Patton, Chief
Ranger]
Gateway National Recreation Area - Sandy Hook Unit (NJ)
Rangers Assist in Search for Man in Shrewsbury River
Just after 9:30 p.m. on March 7th, the park received a request to
assist the Highlands Police Department in a search for a 43-year-old man
who reportedly fell off a boat into the Shrewsbury River. Rangers Sean
Miller and Pete Tortorell responded and assisted in the search,
employing the park's thermal imaging camera and night vision equipment.
He was recovered by scuba divers and flown to Jersey Shore Medical
Center, where he was pronounced dead. An investigation into the incident
continues.
[Submitted by Tony Macri, Supervisory Park Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
GS-025-7/9 Commissioned Ranger (Lateral)
Amistad NRA is seeking qualified candidates for lateral transfer to GS-07/09 commissioned ranger positions. Dual career opportunities may be available. The rangers will:
- Perform a full range of law enforcement work in a high intensity drug trafficking and illegal immigrant smuggling area.
- Conduct patrols by boat, vehicle, and foot.
- Conduct investigations into drug and illegal immigration violations.
- Monitor archeological sites, enforce hunting regulations, and patrol four developed campgrounds.
- Provide some emergency medical services, wildland firefighting, and search and rescue.
Boat operations are an integral part of the job and associated training will be provided. Opportunities also exist to join the park's dive team. This is an excellent opportunity to gain training and experience in a border park as well as in a water park. Amistad is in a semi-arid desert, with summer daytime temperatures in the 90's and mild winter temperatures down to the 40's. This affords year round boating and participation in other outdoor activities. With a population of approximately 50,000, the nearby community of Del Rio, including the Laughlin Air Force Base, has most major amenities including a hospital, junior college, and a two-year state college. Housing opportunities in the community are ample with a low to moderate cost of living. For more information, contact either Greg Garetz, Devils River district ranger, or Regina Klein, Rio Grande district ranger, via email or at 830-775-6722.
[Submitted by Chief Rangers Office]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.