NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
INCIDENTS
Death Valley NP
Lost Visitor Rescued After A Week In The Desert
On Saturday, May 9th, rangers received a report that a white pickup truck had been parked for several days at Saline Valley Dunes, a remote area only accessible to 4x4 vehicles.
Rangers searched the area on Sunday but were unable to locate anyone associated with the truck. Through investigation, they determined that it had been rented by a single person and had not been returned by the rental contract's termination date.
On Monday, the Beverly Hills Police Department checked at the man's home and confirmed that he was overdue and a search was begun. Rangers were joined by Inyo County SAR, China Lake Mountain Rescue, and California Highway Patrol's helicopter H80.
On Tuesday morning, H80 was re-tasked to another SAR which was occurring simultaneously at Mesquite Sand Dunes. Once H80 cleared Mesquite Sand Dunes, the crew returned to assist in the Saline Valley search efforts. San Bernadino, Tehachapi, California Rescue Dog Association, and Kern Valley SAR groups also joined the search. Around 10 a.m., H80 located the missing man, who was roughly five miles from his vehicle and to the east of the dune complex.
The man reportedly set out alone for a day hike on the morning of Tuesday, May 5th, and became disoriented. Unable to find his way back to his vehicle, he followed a group of burros to a watering hole where he subsisted until rescue arrived. The man was transported to Northern Inyo Hospital where he is being treated for second degree sunburn and a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhabdomyolysis" rhabdomyolysis.
[J.D. Updegraff, District Ranger]
Lava Beds NM
Interstate Pursuit Ends In Park
On the afternoon of May 7th, the Klamath County Sheriff's Office received a report of a man threatening to kill someone near Collier State Park north of Klamath Falls, Oregon. A deputy attempted to pull over the vehicle the man was driving, but he fled south towards Klamath Falls, nearly striking an Oregon State Police trooper who was attempting to deploy a spike strip. Another spike strip deployed north of the California state line was successful in deflating one of the tires.
As the driver entered California, the California Highway Patrol and Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office entered the pursuit. The truck headed southbound on Hill Road, the main entrance to Lava Beds National Monument. After overhearing Siskiyou County radio traffic, Ranger Shane Kempf began to prepare park staff and visitors for a possible pursuit through the park. During this time, a Siskiyou County deputy requested NPS assistance. Staff from several divisions began to close access to the main park road by restricting visitors from leaving parking areas to ensure visitor safety.
The pursuit entered the park and continued along the north road near Canby's Cross. At this time, Kempf joined the pursuit. Once in the park, the man got out of his pickup through a window and got on top of the cab while a woman who was riding with him continued to drive the truck slowly. One it came to a stop, the man jumped off and started walking towards officers while holding a club and making religious statements. He refused to comply with orders and was subsequently tased by Oregon officers.
The woman and the man's two juvenile children were occupants of the truck. A search of the vehicle yielded several types of illegal drugs, several firearms, including an assault weapon, and a large quantity of ammunition. According to witnesses, the driver said that he was planning on going to the Lava Beds area to pray and nobody was going to stop him. He was arrested by CHP and faces multiple felony offenses in Oregon and California.
During the pursuit, the park was hosting its annual “Timeline” event, which brought hundreds of school children to the park. No one was injured during the incident.
Agencies that were involved included the Oregon State Police, Klamath County SO, Klamath Falls PD, Merrill PD, CHP, Siskiyou County SO, and the NPS. An Oregon law enforcement helicopter and CHP airplane were also involved in the pursuit.
[Mike Reynolds, Superintendent]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's webpage editions of InsideNPS (available to NPS employees only) and the Morning Report (available to all readers):
Death Valley NP - Staff from the Western Center for Historic Preservation recently completed preservation of a historic 1929 hot water solar energy system located at Scotty's Castle in Death Valley.
Cultural Resources Directorate - The National Park Service has launched a new website on historic preservation as part of this year's commemoration of Preservation Month. A link is provided.
Jefferson NEM - On a beautiful spring morning, 200 members of the St. Louis community gathered to break ground for the renovation of the visitor center and museum at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial.
Office of Communications - The National Park Service and the YMCA of the USA are launching a joint program that will provide memorable and meaningful experiences for youth on public lands this summer.
Intermountain Region - Tim Reid, a 27-year veteran of the National Park Service, has been named superintendent of Devils Tower National Monument. He will begin his new assignment on May 31st.
National Capital Region - Wayne Campbell has joined National Capital Region as the transportation public affairs specialist for the region's Office of Communications.
To see the full text of these stories, readers should go to one or the other of the following sites:
NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index
Non-NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/" http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/
The Morning Report is produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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