NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
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INCIDENTS
New River Gorge NR
Annual Bridge Day Festival Held In Park
The 29th annual Bridge Day Festival was held on the New River Gorge Bridge on Saturday, October 18th. The event was coordinated under a unified command system that involved 13 agencies, including the West Virginia State Police, the West Virginia National Guard, the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the National Park Service. Emergency medical services at the landing zone were coordinated through the state office of emergency management and attended to by JanCare Ambulance Service and area physicians. The Fayette County Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated the attendance at this, West Virginia's largest one-day festival, more than 155,000 people. In all, 383 BASE jumpers completed 1,062 successful jumps in seven hours, with only three EMS transports due to injuries, which included hypothermia from a water landing and subsequent trip through class IV whitewater, a fractured foot, and a femur fracture caused by a rigid knee brace and a very hard landing. In addition to BASE jumping activities, rappellers completed 895 rappels from the bridge catwalk and 74 ascents, including one by superintendent Don Striker, who made his very first rappel from the bridge. Another 168 people completed a high line traverse from the bridge to Fayette Station road below. This year, Bridge Day organizers also hosted a motorcycle safety awareness ride across the bridge. At noon, about 85 motorcyclists, including West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III, rode across the bridge, stopping long enough for the governor to announce an executive order allowing for an additional hour of jumping to occur (from the scheduled end at 3 p.m. until 4 p.m.). No significant law enforcement incidents occurred during the event. [Chuck Noll, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Jefferson NEM
Major Rally Held For Presidential Candidate Obama
A rally for Democratic Presidential candidate Barrack Obama that was held under a First Amendment permit on park grounds on the afternoon of October 18th drew an estimated crowd of 100,000 people - the largest rally for the candidate held to date in the United States. At one point, lines of people to be screened at magnetometer locations were estimated to be nearly two miles long. Southeast Region's special events team, supported by rangers from Ozark NSR, Lincoln Home NHS, Hot Springs NP, Buffalo NR and Midwest Regional Office, supplemented park staff in providing security for the event. The Arch itself, along with the underground museum complex and the Old Court House, remained open to visitors throughout the event. While numerous illnesses and injuries were attended to by city EMS crews, only two additional First Amendment events were held, with no arrests or other major law enforcement problems arising. [Pete Swisher, Chief Ranger]
Suitland Parkway
Hit and Run Driver Arrested And Charged
Park Police officers discovered evidence of a recent multi-vehicle crash on the Suitland Parkway near Naylor Road around 5:30 a.m. on the morning of October 21st. Investigation revealed that V.W., 19, was heading east on the parkway in a Ford compact sedan when he struck an SUV ahead of him. The SUV then crossed over into the westbound lanes, causing a glancing head-one collision with a van. V.W. then fled the scene. Officer Frank Morales went to the residence listed for the vehicle, which was in Suitland, and met with the owner, who cooperated with Morales and revealed that V.W. was there. Morales then interviewed V.W., who had facial injuries consistent with a vehicle crash, displayed signs of intoxication, and made incriminating statements. V.W. was arrested and taken to a local hospital for treatment. Charges filed against him included fleeing the scene of a collision and drunk driving. The drivers of the other vehicles were treated and released at the scene. [Sgt. Robert Lachance, US Park Police]
Zion NP
Motorcyclist Killed In Accident
On the evening of October 18th, park ranger/medic Cody Cole was flagged down by a motorcyclist along the Kolob Terrace Road. The motorcyclist said that his brother, E.C., 52, of Saint George, Utah, had been involved in a serious motorcycle accident. Cole and ranger Pete Sawtell responded and provided advanced life support to E.C.. A Washington County deputy and ambulance and Utah Highway Patrol officers also responded. E.C. was pronounced dead at the scene. The Utah Highway Patrol is leading the investigation. It's believed that alcohol, drugs, and speed were contributing factors to the accident. [Ray O'Neil, Plateau District Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
Among the stories in today's edition are the following:
Lassen Volcanic NP - Lassen Volcanic National Park is pleased to announce the opening of its new Kohm Yah-mah-nee visitor center. This is the park's first ever year-round visitor center, the planning for which began over ten years ago.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=7013" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=7013
Grand Canyon NP - Mark Murray, who was an employee for Fire and Aviation at Grand Canyon National Park from April 2002 until February 2005, was found deceased in Flagstaff on Friday, October 17th. A memorial service will be held for Mark in the Shrine of the Ages on the South Rim this afternoon.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2102" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2102
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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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