NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

INCIDENTS

Great Falls Park

Missing Woman Found After Search

Around 7:30 a.m. on Monday, March 9th, Park Police officers investigated an incident in which a vehicle left the road and became stuck in the mud near the C&O Canal. Initial reports were that it had been involved in an accident; although that proved not to be true, officers found that the vehicle was unoccupied and the owner was not on scene. Other officers went to the registered owner's address in the District of Columbia. They didn't find her there, but met with her granddaughter, who reported that the driver was an elderly woman who had memory problems and might be disoriented. Officers conducted a search of the area, and, with the assistance of a tip provided by a passerby, found the disoriented woman wandering along a trail later that morning. She was reunited with her granddaughter at the USPP George Washington Memorial Parkway Station. The woman was uninjured and her granddaughter brought her home. [Sergeant David Schlosser, Public Information Officer]

Joshua Tree NP

Man Killed, Second Injured In Climbing Accident

A 67-year-old California man died of injuries sustained in a fall that occurred last Sunday while he was climbing a rock formation called the Great Burrito. A second climber also fell in the same accident and was treated for injuries sustained during his fall. At approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday, C.S., 67, and Alfred Kuok, 44, were climbing in an area near the park's Hidden Valley nature trail, located near the Hidden Valley picnic area. The trail is a popular destination for both day hikers and rock climbers. C.S. was the lead climber on the Great Burrito formation and was being followed by Kuok. C.S. experienced some difficulty with his climb and began to descend. During the descent, he lost his grip and fell. As he fell, C.S. struck Kuok, causing him to fall as well. Kuok's protection held, arresting his fall, but C.S. continued to fall, suffering fatal head injuries when he struck the ground. It's estimated that C.S. fell about 100 feet. Two other rock climbers immediately responded and rendered assistance to Kuok, helping lower him from the cliff face. Rangers received word of the accident at approximately 4:40 p.m. and responded along with members of the Joshua Tree Search and Rescue (JOSAR) team. Kuok was treated by emergency personnel for back pain, rib injuries, and other possible internal injuries. A San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office helicopter was called in and airlifted Kuok to Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs. Personnel from the Riverside County Coroner's Office also responded to the accident scene. [Joe Zarki, Public Information Officer]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:

Glen Canyon NRA - Last week, park staff prevented a vessel with live quagga mussels attached from launching at Lake Powell, thereby averting a serious infestation of the rapidly reproducing exotic mussels.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7448" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7448

Cape Lookout NS - The park is taking a more active roll in staffing two rustic cabin camps located its barrier islands. This year the camps are offering a discount on cabins through the summer. Camp volunteers are also being sought.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7449" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7449

Governors Island NM - Patti Reilly has been named the new superintendent for Governors Island National Monument, one of ten parks in the National Parks of New York Harbor.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2267" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2267

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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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