Acadia |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-current. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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May 1, 1987 Location: entrance station, Loop Road At 9:30am this morning approximately 50 individuals drove from the town of Bar Harbour to the entrance station on the Acadia loop road (a distance of 3-4 miles). At that point they made speeches in protest of the $5.00 entrance fee to be charged at Acadia National Park. The protesters feel the amount is too high. The protest was peaceful, no confrontations occurred. A petition against fees was presented to the park superintendent who was present along with other park staff. The group dispersed at approximately 10:30am.
Location: Entrance Station As part of a protest against newly-instituted fees at Acadia, local residents M.T. and S.S. each drove through the park's entrance station last week without paying. The entrance station attendant warned them that they'd be violating regulations to do so, but the park decided not to stop or directly confront either of them at the time. Yesterday, M.T. returned with a local television crew and again entered without paying a fee. Although it's presently unknown whether any footage of the incident appeared on TV news, their protest actions have been reported in local papers and may also be reported in the Wall Street Journal. The park has asked the US Attorney to issue summons to both Tait and Smith.
Location: Thunder Hole Gift Shop An unidentified subject entered the shop via a service door in the rear of the building. He wore a ski mask and was reported to be approximately 5'9n in height and weighed 150 lbs. He ordered the clerk to open the cash register, and place the contents in a bag. The clerk complied and the intruder left through the back entrance and disappeared into a wooded area with $1,150.00 in cash. Within 10 minutes rangers arrived at the scene, but were unable to apprehend the suspect. A tracking dog was brought to the scene and followed a scent to a parking lot. The scent was lost at that point. Six visitors and the clerk were in the shop at the time of the incident. None have been able to provide a detailed description of the thief. FBI and NPS are investigating.
Location: Otter Cliffs K.L. and her husband were hiking around Otter Cliffs when they apparently separated in order to explore the area individually. Her husband heard a scream, and discovered his spouse's body 80' below on the rocks at the base of the cliff. A ranger and a local EMT rappelled down to her, but she had apparently been killed instantly. The death is presumed to be accidental.
An explosion and fire occurred at Jackson Laboratories, located near Sand Beach in the park, on May 10th. About one acre within the park burned, and 32 park employees responded to provide assistance in fighting the fire and in redirecting traffic through the park. The park's 2,000-gallon tanker truck was employed in the suppression effort. There were five injuries and a half million fatalities - all of the latter were laboratory mice. The lab was declared a total loss. The fire is thought to have been caused by the ignition of fumes from wall board adhesive being applied within the building. (RAD/NARO).
Late on the evening of the 21st, park dispatchers were notified by local police that B.K., a Catholic priest from Springfield, New York, had been reported as missing. B.K. had been hiking in the park. Rangers, Mount Desert Island Rescue Association people and a National Guard medevac helicopter were employed on the subsequent search, which began in the early hours of the 22nd and continued until B.K.'s body was located at 8:30 that morning between the Mount Mansel trail and the shore of Long Pond. An autopsy is being conducted, but it is believed that B.K.'s death stemmed from injuries incurred as a result of a serious fall. (Telephone report from Peggy Sandretzky, RAD/NARO).
On October 11, 1987, D.L. reported to rangers that his wife, K.L., 26, had fallen from the Otter Cliffs while the two of them had been exploring the area separately. Responding rangers found her body on the rocks 80 feet below the cliff. Subsequent investigation revealed that D.L. had recently taken out a $400,000 life insurance policy on his wife, and other evidence also pointed to the possibility that her death had not been accidental. D.L. was arrested, charged with murdering his wife and convicted of homicide this past May. On September 13th, D.L. was sentenced to 50 years in prison, double the minimal sentence allowable by law. (Telephone message from Capt. Dale Dickerhoof, RAD/NARO).
On September 13, 1989, D.L. was sentenced to 50 years in prison for murdering his wife by pushing her off Otter Cliffs in order to collect a $400,000 life insurance policy he'd recently taken out on her. D.L. is now appealing his murder conviction, arguing that the prosecutor failed to prove that the body found at the base of the cliff was his wife's. Oral arguments on the appeal may begin in June. D.L.'s wife, K., 26, died in an 80-foot fall from Otter Cliffs on October 11, 1987, four weeks after she married D.L. and just seven weeks after she first met him. D.L.'s first wife, L.R.L., vanished in 1975 in Montana. D.L. told authorities at that time that he was the only witness as she was washed down Prickly Pear Creek, some 50 miles south of D.L.'s hometown of Great Falls. He was never charged in that death. (Dirk Beveridge, Associated Press, 5/6/90).
At about 9:30 a.m. on the 14th, a park rangers saw a woman walking onto Little Moose Island in the Schoodic section of the park. The island can be reached by foot at low tide. Later that afternoon, the same ranger noticed that her vehicle was still parked at a turnout. Since the tide was then high, he waited until low tide at 6:30 p.m., then walked out to the island. He there discovered the body of 38-year-old C.M., of Bangor, Maine, who had died some time during the day from a self-inflicted gunshot wound from a .22 caliber revolver. She left two notes in her personal effects describing procedures for notification of her next of kin and apologizing to the people who found her for any inconvenience she might have caused. An investigation is underway. (Rod Danner, DR, ACAD, via telefax from John Lynch, RAD/NARO, 6/15).
On the evening of October 26th, ranger Peter Jordan discovered a window broken and the front door ajar on an unoccupied government residence. After a Southwest Harbor PD backup unit arrived, the building was searched and evidence was found which indicated that people were using the quarters without authorization. Rangers Jordan and George Leone again checked the building on the following evening and found an 18-year-old male, J.N., and 16-year-old female within. Leone searched J.N. and found 199 rounds of Super X .22 caliber ammunition on his person. Upon further questioning, the rangers learned that J.N. had hidden a rifle and knife in the building's loft, where the two had been hiding. The rangers also discovered that J.N. had inflicted about $500 in damages to the building and a nearby NPS restroom. J.N. was arrested on state criminal trespass and negligence charges and federal criminal trespass, mischief and weapons possession charges. The weapon and other related items had allegedly been stolen by J.N. from a residence in an adjacent community. (George Leone, ACAD, via telefax from John Lynch, RAD/NARO, 11/1).
A major search effort concluded on May 28th with the discovery of the body of 75-year-old hiker R.V.H. R.V.H's vehicle had been found parked off a park road; when it was determined on May 24th that he was overdue from a hike, a hasty search was begun. This fruitless effort evolved into a major search, engaging 25 park employees, 20 game wardens from the Maine Warden Service, 60 volunteers from the University of Maine Forestry School, six state volunteer SAR groups, five search dog teams, and three helicopters from the Maine Department of Forestry and Brunswick Naval Air Station. Rangers in the Navy helicopter spotted some of R.V.H's personal effects near the cliffs at Jordan Pond on the 28th, and rangers and wardens found his body near the base of the cliffs later that day. It appears that R.V.H left the hiking trail and fell approximately 300 feet to his death, which probably occurred on or about May 20th. The incident commander for the search was Norm Dodge, Acadia's chief ranger. [Telefax from John Lynch, RAD/NARO, 5/29]
Preliminary reports on the effects of Hurricane Bob on a number of eastern parks have been received. Further reports will appear once damage assessments have been completed and phone service has been restored: * Acadia (Maine) - Reports have not yet been received from the park, but the Associated Press reports that all campers were evacuated from Acadia's campgrounds yesterday.
At 8:30 p.m. on the evening of September 16th, W.L., 38, of Rochester, Michigan, was climbing alone on steep wet granite in darkness on the ocean cliffs near Blackwoods Campground when he fell about 20 feet and was knocked unconscious. He was discovered by his camping companion, M.V., of Utica, Michigan, who sent visitors for help. Rangers were notified at 9:00 p.m. and mounted a full technical rescue. Eight rangers, assisted by eight members of Mount Desert Island Rescue and five members of the Northeast Harbor ambulance company, stabilized W.L. at the scene, then raised him a vertical distance of approximately 120 feet and carried him to an ambulance. W.L. is currently at a hospital in Bangor, where he is listed in critical condition with three major skull fractures and brain injuries. Ranger Jim Grover led the operation, and rangers Charlie Jacobi and Tom Silocka set up and led the technical evacuation. The rescue was hindered by wet rock and very rugged climbing conditions. None of the rescuers were injured. [Telefax from Norm Dodge, CR, ACAD, 9/17]
Early on the afternoon of February 19th, Bar Harbor police advised rangers to be on the lookout for J.W., 49, of Brewster, New York, who was reported to be overdue from a trip to Waterville, Maine, and gave them a description of J.W.'s 1989 Chrysler LaBaron. J.W.'s vehicle was found in the Thunder Hole parking lot just before 4:00 p.m. that afternoon. Shortly thereafter, a hasty search was begun in the Thunder Hole and Gorham Mountain areas. The search, which involved park employees, Bar Harbor police officers, members of Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue, and one dog team, was unsuccessful. A more intensive ground search was begun yesterday. A total of 25 park employees and volunteers and three or four dog teams were covering the area from Otter Cliffs to Sand Beach and from the ocean to Route 3. Aerial reconnaissance by the 112th Air National Guard medivac unit from Bangor was scheduled to begin late in the day, weather permitting, and Coast Guard, Southwest Harbor and Maine Marine Patrol units were to conduct searches of the shoreline area between Otter Cliffs and Great Head. The Maine Warden Service has been contacted and will provide the park with overhead assistance. Investigators have learned that J.W. left Waterville on the 17th, and that he'd told friends he was going to visit Acadia, then travel home to New York via a coastal route. At about 10:00 a.m. that same day, J.W. called his secretary and told her he'd be back in time for several important appointments scheduled for the 18th. He also told her that he was having trouble with his hypoglycemia and needed some rest. When J.W. failed to return to Brewster, his secretary contacted the Brewster police. [Press release, ACAD, via telefax from John Lynch, RAD/NARO, 2/20]
Preliminary reports have been received regarding the impacts of the weekend blizzard on a number of NPS units along the East Coast. Despite the storm's strength, relatively little damage has been reported, although almost all areas in the storm's path were closed all or parts of the weekend. The following information was current as of Sunday evening: * Acadia - Water covered sections of some park roads and limbs and trees fell throughout the park. Both campgrounds have been closed. [John Lynch, RAD/NARO, and Scot McElveen, ASIS, 3/14]
Charles W. "Chuck" Wood, 45, the park's chief of resource management, died on the evening of May 15th after a hard-fought, year-long battle with cancer. Chuck leaves his wife, Deborah, and three children - Jacob, 13, Ethan, 9, and Lydia, 5. He's also survived by his mother and father and two sisters. Chuck spent almost ten years at Glen Canyon, where he served as a biologist and, later, as chief of natural resources. He also worked as a biologist in Rocky Mountain Regional Office from 1982 to 1983, and at the Denver Service Center from 1980 to 1982. Chuck began his NPS career as an ecologist at DSC in July, 1978. He was an environmental biologist with the Department of Energy from 1976 to 1978, and a plant ecologist with the Peace Corps in Venezuela from 1974 to 1976. In the latter capacity, he participated in many field expeditions and identified several previously unknown species of plants. Chuck received a BA from the University of California, Riverside, in 1969, and a masters from Arizona State University in 1974. He received special achievement awards from Glen Canyon in 1988 and 1992 and Rocky Mountain Region's resource management award in 1990. During his tenure at Glen Canyon, Chuck also served as an EMT with the Page fire department, a member and later chairman of the board of the Lake Powell Medical Center, and a member of the Wahweap fire and rescue brigade. The park adds the following: "Chuck was a consummate resource manager and environmentalist. His contributions to the preservation of park resources span the length and breadth of the National Park system. He positively impacted the Service's resource protection efforts in many important ways and was highly respected as a professional by all." Deborah and the children can be reached at PO Box 224, Mount Desert, ME 04660. Donations in his memory can be made to the Hospice of Hancock County, 29 Union Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605. [Boyd McFarland, ACAD, 5/18]
A memorial service for Chuck Wood will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the lower picnic shelter in the Pretty Marsh picnic area in the village of Pretty Marsh in Acadia. The service is open to all employees and will be followed immediately by a reception with the Wood family and friends at the Brown Mountain Gate House on Route 198 in Northeast Harbor. The family has asked that all employees attending the service wear their summer uniforms. [Mike Healy, AO, ACAD, 5/20]
On the evening of July 28th, the park received a report that K.S., 23, of Bar Harbor, Maine, fell about 100 feet from Otter Cliffs near the park loop road. A 21-person rescue team consisting of Acadia rangers and Mount Desert SAR personnel provided EMS and stabilized K.S.'s injuries, then evacuated her through a complex technical vertical litter raise under adverse weather and light conditions. K.S. was transferred in stable condition to the Mount Desert Island Hospital and has since been released. Investigation revealed that she was free climbing on wet rocks, that she actually fell between 20 and 30 feet, and that she had landed on her back. [Rob Yates, DR, ACAD, 7/29]
Around 2:30 p.m. on August 28th, S.K. and C.S., both 17 and from Richmond, Virginia, left S.K.'s parents at their campsite at Blackwoods campground for a walk along the ocean. Just before 4 p.m., S.K. lost his footing on loose gravel and fell approximately 30 to 35 feet. A park visitor reported the incident to rangers at the campground a few minutes later. S.K. was given emergency medical treatment, stabilized, carried by litter to the park loop road, then taken to Mount Desert Island Hospital in Bar Harbor. He was later transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he died that evening. [CRO, ACAD, 8/29]
On October 12th, D.R. and P.R., both 20 years old and experienced climbers, went out to Great Head, one of the most difficult rock-climbing areas in the park. They lowered themselves down a cliff to the edge of the ocean, then made their way across boulders at low tide to a sea cave, where they attached their equipment to the top of the cave and walked across the ceiling. At about 5 p.m., the high tide and high surf began impeding their climb out of the cave. In order to begin the ascent, they had to make "Tarzan-type" swings out of the mouth to the vertical ropes. P.R. was the first out, and he went well into the ocean before reaching the ropes. D.R. followed, but got caught up in large waves and surf. He expended a great deal of energy trying to climb, but was unable to ascend because of fatigue or hypothermia (the pair had been in the cold and water all day) and eventually let go and was swept back into the cave. P.R. made his way out in the dark and reached the Bar Harbor police department at about 8:30. A major rescue effort was initiated which included rangers, Mount Desert Island SAR, the Coast Guard, members of the Bar Harbor fire department, students from the College of the Atlantic (where D.R. was a junior), and volunteers. Despite high winds and intense downpours, a member of the rescue team was able to climb down a rope to a point where he could look into the cave and see D.R. floating face down in the surf. Rescue efforts were halted until 6 a.m. the following morning. A climber was able to pendulum swing into the cave; he got within 15 feet of the body when the surf picked up. He was completely submerged two or three times and decided to discontinue the effort. At 1 p.m., rangers climbed down to an area that was accessible by foot. A ranger then crept across the face of the rocks and attached safety ropes that other rescuers would use to cross the bottom of the sharp cliff and recover the body. The climber then made a lateral climb back to the cave. Other climbers, using the strength in their arms and legs and at times suspended in midair with their backs to the sea, moved carefully across the outcropping and retrieved D.R.'s body. [Norm Dodge, CR, ACAD, 10/15]
A powerful, fast-moving storm which swept through the park between mid- morning on Tuesday, December 21st, and the early hours of Wednesday, December 22nd, knocked down hundreds of trees, interrupted power, and damaged park facilities. Heavy rains driven by gusting winds saturated the already soaked ground, causing swelling of small streams and some road and beach erosion. Wind gusts of over 60 mph were recorded in the park, and a Coast Guard cutter in Somes Sound reported a peak gust of 82 mph. About 150 trees fell in and around the Seawall campground, the area hardest hit by the storm. The ranger residence there is without power and water. A large hardwood fell on the drive adjacent to the Sieur de Monts nature center, and a 50-foot fir tree was uprooted and fell on the building housing the interpretation division and winter visitor center at park headquarters at McFarland Hill. Damage was limited, however, because the tree's fall was partially broken by some smaller yellow birch trees. From 12 to 20 trees fell along the park road in the Schoodic Peninsula unit, and another dozen or so were reported down in the Blackwoods campground. Road crews had to cut away about 20 trees from the park's loop road to make it passable again. Numerous trees are also down on the carriage road system throughout the park, but it won't be possible to determine how many until the dirt road surfaces freeze again and can be traveled on. Further damage reports will appear as they come in. [Mike Healy, ACAD, 12/22]
Snow melt flowing into a garage waste motor oil tank in Seal Harbor on March 23rd caused the oil to overflow onto park land. The spill, which measured approximately 500 feet in width, was reported to officials in the town of Mt. Desert, who in turn notified the state's environmental protection department. A representative from that office inspected the site and will be monitoring clean-up of the area. No major impacts on park resources are expected. The snow melt entered the oil tank through a loose cap. [Hank Brightman, RAD/NARO, 3/24]
S.G., 29, of nearby Northeast Harbor, was killed in a single vehicle accident which occurred on the park loop road near the Jordan Pond House at 1:15 a.m. on June 25th. S.G. was not wearing his seatbelt and was ejected through the BMW's sunroof. His father, G.G., 52, was a passenger in the vehicle, but sustained only minor injuries. Alcohol and speed may have been contributing factors. Rangers are investigating the accident with the assistance of Maine state troopers. [Rob Yates, DR, ACAD, 6/27]
Over a recent five-day period, rangers responded to three difficult search and rescue incidents, including two which occurred simultaneously. The double rescue occurred in the late afternoon on Saturday, September 3rd, when a 46-year-old woman fell on the Cannon Brook trail and suffered multiple lower leg fractures; the subsequent two-hour-long rescue required the efforts of eleven people. While this incident was occurring, a 23-year- old male fell about 20 feet at Otter Cliffs and suffered a severe head injury. A total of 16 rangers and other SAR volunteers executed a semi- technical litter belay rescue and evacuated the victim. Then, over the holiday weekend, a 23-person rescue team was required to evacuate a 58-year- old man who fell nearly 50 feet while hiking the Beech Cliffs trail and fractured several vertebra. A lengthy semi-technical rescue and carry-out was required. All three victims are reported to be in stable condition. (Rob Yates, DR, ACAD, 9/6)
On the afternoon of January 8th, S.W., a 50-year-old local climber with over 20 years of experience in technical climbs on rock and ice, fell approximately 70 feet while climbing an ice area known as "The Bulge" on Dorr Mountain. S.W.'s fall could not be arrested by his climbing partner because S.W. had climbed too far beyond his fixed protection; he therefore fell a full pitch before his belay came into play. Witnesses immediately went to summon rangers, who initiated a response in conjunction with volunteer members of a local SAR association. After a difficult approach moving equipment up the ice along fixed lines, rangers and a paramedic treated and stabilized S.W., who had suffered many serious injuries, including a severed spinal cord. Good weather and daylight permitted a helicopter hoist evacuation by a helicopter from an Army medevac unit from Bangor. S.W. was taken to a local hospital, where he is in serious condition. It's expected that he will suffer permanent paralysis due to his spinal injury. S.W. probably would not have survived if the helicopter rescue had not been possible. [Norm Dodge, CR, ACAD, 1/10]
While walking on Sand Beach at 6 a.m. on March 25th, a visitor discovered the body of a young man. The victim, a 25-year-old Marine stationed at Quantico, Virginia, but originally from Norton, Kansas, had shot himself with his service-issued Glock pistol. The state medical examiner pronounced death from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The investigation is continuing. [Norm Dodge, CR, ACAD]
P.A., a 16-year-old French national, fell and dislocated a knee while hiking on the Dorr Mountain trail on the afternoon of May 18th. Due to the remoteness of the area and the difficult terrain, the rescue effort required 26 people - 13 rangers and 13 local SAR volunteers - and entailed an eight-hour-long evacuation of P.A. to the nearest trailhead, where he was transported to a hospital in Bar Harbor. He was treated and released the following day. [CRO, ACAD]
Two additional reports have been received on the impacts of the hurricane: o Acadia - A few trees were downed and surf was high, but the park was otherwise spared due to the hurricane's turn out to sea. There were many surf watchers in the park, particularly at Thunder Hole and on the Schoodic Peninsula. Many visitors/campers left the park early on the Labor Day weekend, but Saturday and most of Sunday were nonetheless busy. [Don Weir, CR, FIIS; Rob Yates, DR, ACAD]
The park began a major search for M.D., 37, of Old Town, Maine, on January 13th. M.D., an employee of nearby Jackson Laboratory, had gone jogging in the park on the afternoon of the 12th, but failed to return as scheduled. Search efforts focused on the Precipice Mountain area. M.D.'s body was found that afternoon on the East Face trail on the Precipice. He apparently slipped on the icy trail and fell to his death. Rangers are conducting an investigation. The search involved rangers, Maine wardens, members of Mount Desert SAR, local police, and pilots from the Maine Army National Guard, who flew helicopters equipped with infrared detecting devices. [Rob Yates, IC, ACAD]
The strong northeaster which struck upper Mid-Atlantic and New England States with high winds and exceptionally heavy snows on Monday had considerable impacts on some area parks: o Acadia NP (Maine) - There was no reportable damage in the park. Most of the park's roads were already closed, but the Ocean Drive section of the loop road and the campground were closed for a day. [Rick Obernesser, CR, CACO; Dan Dattilio, CR, MIMA; Rob Yates, DR, ACAD; Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 4/2-3]
On August 2nd, rangers and other personnel were completing a two-hour litter belay carryout of a woman with an ankle injury from Penobscot Mountain when they received a report that a visitor had fallen over a cliff along the park's loop road. J.M., 19, a German national, had fallen more than 25 feet while hiking down a steep rocky area at an overlook near Hunter's Beach. Rangers and the Mount Desert Island SAR team members set up a litter lowering and raising system while she was stabilized by rangers and local EMS personnel who had rappeled down the cliffside to her location. A Coast Guard boat was able to get close enough along the rugged coastline to pick her up and transport her to Seal Harbor. She was taken to a hospital in Bar Harbor, where her condition was recently upgraded from critical to stable. Ranger Richard Rechholtz was IC. [Rob Yates, DR, ACAD, 8/4]
During the early morning hours of August 9th, ranger John Carroll saw two divers leave the ocean along the park loop road near Monument Cove. He contacted and talked with them at their vehicle; after they departed, Carroll discovered bags of poached lobsters at the shoreline. Carroll relayed the information and had the vehicle stopped by Bar Harbor police and Maine Marine Patrol officers. Investigation revealed that the pair had taken 33 lobsters by hand, an illegal method in Maine, and that some were also illegal because they were undersized, oversized and/or "v-notched" females. Both men received a number of violation notices from the marine patrol officers and their diving equipment was seized. They will appear in court later this month. The violation fines could exceed $1,500. [Rob Yates, DR, ACAD, 8/10]
Additional reports have been received regarding the impacts of the series of unusually strong winter storms that have struck or are striking the country: Acadia NP (ME) - On January 6th, a severe three-day ice storm struck the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Freezing drizzle slowly accumulated to depths of from three to six inches; over 500,000 households in the state lost electric power, many for a week to ten days, some even longer. Utility workers from around the U.S. replaced over 6,000 utility poles and 5,000 transformers and restrung 3 million feet of power lines. Because Acadia is close to the ocean, the rain generally did not freeze, except at higher elevations. The park was closed for several days, and non-emergency employees were excused in order to look after their homes and families and to participate in regional emergency efforts. The park lost a large number of trees, which were broken by the weight of the ice. The biggest loss was the park's 60-foot radio tower on the summit of Cadillac Mountain, which fell when its supporting guy cables were encrusted with ten inches of ice. The park incurred considerable storm-related overtime expenses in making emergency repairs, clearing roads, removing downed trees, pumping out basements, and moving small generators from building to building to keep them from freezing up. A second storm struck on January 23rd-24th, dropping over seven inches of rain on the park. In western Maine, it was another disastrous ice storm. The main impact on the park consisted of washouts and more flooded basements. The park was spared the effects of the northeaster which hammered the coastline of the middle Atlantic states last week. The park's radio antenna is currently lashed to a fence post, but the chief ranger reports that they're otherwise doing well. Reports from other parks that have also been significantly affected by these storms would be appreciated. [Norm Dodge, CR, ACAD, 2/6; Constantine Dillon, Superintendent, Fire Island NS, 2/6; Bryan Swift, CR, LAVO, 2/6; Bob Martin, CR, REDW, 2/6; Gary Candelaria, Superintendent, PINN, 2/7; Greg Stiles, SHEN, 2/6]
The body of S.W., 34, of Takoma Park, Maryland, was found in his tent in Blackwoods campground at 5:30 p.m. on September 30th. S.W. had run a plastic hose from his vehicle's exhaust into the tent. The car was running at the time of the discovery, and neighboring campers reported that it had been running since about 10 a.m. that morning. He apparently died three to four hours before his body was found. [Norm Dodge, CR, ACAD, 10/2]
Park dispatch received a report that two visitors had been swept into the ocean on Schoodic Peninsula just before 10 a.m. on September 20th. Ranger Bill Weidner and Navy personnel responded and were soon joined by Maine Marine Patrol officers. The two bodies were located in the surf by a local fisherman who was guided in by bystanders. Neither had a pulse when he pulled them from the water. The two victims - M.C., 61, and R.C., 51, both of Charleston, Maine - were pronounced dead at a local hospital. The Croteaus were evidently sightseeing along the shore at Schoodic Point when a wave knocked them into the surf. Conditions were unremarkable at the time of the incident; seas were averaging one to three feet, with occasional larger swells. Witnesses report that the two were standing dangerously close to the surf at the time of the accident and had already been showered by one wave. [David Buccello, CR, ACAD, 9/20]
The park received considerable media attention prior to the millennia due to the presence of Cadillac Mountain within its boundaries. The mountain is commonly regarded as the first location in the United States to be touched by light from the morning sun. Additional interest was generated by the town of Bar Harbor, which advertised a celebration that included fireworks, parades, bonfires, dances and a number of other events, including an in-park gathering along Ocean Drive. Cadillac Mountain had been closed throughout December due to adverse winter conditions, but the weather cooperated long enough to permit the park's incident management team to open the road to the summit to vehicles at 3 a.m. on January 1st. Local and national television, radio and newspaper reporters and over 2,500 people hiked or drove to the summit to see the sunrise, while another thousand or so people gathered on Ocean Drive. No safety-related incidents occurred, and the response from the public was highly favorable. [Dave Buccello, CR, ACAD, 1/5]
A 31-year-old subcontractor from Maryland was accidentally electrocuted while painting window trim at a seasonal residence on the afternoon of July 17th. J.C. of Germantown, Maryland, and a coworker were attempting to reposition an aluminum extension ladder when the tip contacted an overhead power line. The jolt of electricity knocked both men to the ground. CPR was begun almost immediately on J.C. by passers-by. Local EMS units and NPS paramedic Pat Buccello were on scene shortly and continued resuscitation attempts, but were unable to revive him. J.C. was pronounced dead at a local hospital. The accident is being jointly investigated by ranger Jim Grover and Mt. Desert police. Representatives from the local power company and OSHA are also participating in the investigation. [David Buccello, CR, ACAD, 7/18]
Campground volunteer Robert Larson, 64, died of a cardiac arrest while hiking on a park trail on Tuesday afternoon. Larson and his wife, Allie, had been doing trail work with other volunteers prior to his heart attack. Group members had taken a break from working on the Man O' War trail and were hiking back up to the work site when Larson suddenly collapsed. CPR was immediately started, but medical care could not reach Larson for 25 minutes due to the remoteness of the location. Although this was the couple's first season at Acadia, it was their third season as campground VIP's, having previously volunteered at Arches NP and Joshua Tree NP. Condolences may be sent to A.L. c/o Acadia NP, PO Box 177, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. [David Buccello, CR, ACAD, 8/2]
A Maryland man died on the afternoon of Friday, August 4th, after falling an estimated 200 feet from one of the park's trails. B.M., 51, of Gaithersburg, was hiking on the Beehive trail with a friend when he apparently took a misstep and fell. Rangers performed CPR but the efforts were soon discontinued due to the severity of B.M.'s injuries. B.M. had been visiting the park with his hiking partner and their wives. The wives were not with the two men at the time of the accident. The incident remains under investigation. This is the second fatality on park trails this week. [David Buccello, CR, ACAD, 8/6]
Park employee J.W. was seriously injured in an accident on the morning of September 5th on Route 1A in Hancock County. The vehicle she was in drifted across the center line and into oncoming traffic, striking a van head-on. She was extricated from the vehicle, then flown by LifeFlight helicopter to Eastern Maine Medical Center. The occupants of the van were treated locally and released. J.W. underwent surgery to repair multiple fractures and is currently recovering at the center. Cards and letters can be sent to her at the following address: J.W., Room 391, Eastern Maine Medical Center, 489 State Street, Bangor, ME 04401. [Mike Healy, AO, ACAD, 9/15]
J.P., 22, was killed on July 19th when his motorcycle left the Loop Road at a high rate of speed. J.P. was traveling at least 80 mph on a 600cc "sport" style motorcycle when he apparently lost control and hit a tree. The speed limit on this section of road is 35 mph. Off-duty rangers who heard the crash from their residence were on scene within a minute. J.P. was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, then life-flighted to a trauma facility in Bangor. He succumbed to massive internal injuries shortly after arriving. Richard Rechholtz was IC. [Dave Buccello, CR, ACAD, 7/20]
C.C., 30, who lives adjacent to the park in Bar Harbor,
has been missing from his home since 5 a.m. on April 28th. C.C., who
has been described as despondent, was last seen outside his residence
and said that he was going for a hike. Rangers, Bar Harbor PD officers,
and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries officers have been conducting
search operations and investigations under ICS. As of yesterday, C.C.
was still missing. Approximately 100 people are involved in the effort,
including grid searchers, dog teams, divers, hose teams and boat and air
searchers.
A whale-watching group on Jordan Island came upon the body of a man
on Sunday, May 25th. The remains were subsequently identified as those
of 30-year-old C.C., who had been missing since the
morning of April 28th. C.C. was described as despondent and last seen
outside his home adjacent to the park. Rangers, Bar Harbor PD officers
and state game wardens searched unsuccessfully for C.C. for a week.
Jordan Island is approximately six miles east of his home, across
Frenchman's Bay. The cause of death is unknown and under investigation
by Maine State Police.
On the afternoon of June 3rd, climber D.S., 19, of Wolfburg,
New Hampshire, sustained a crushed ankle/leg injury and laceration to
the top of his head after falling between 20 and 30 feet to an ocean
side ledge at Otter Cliffs. D.S. was being top-roped on a popular route
called "A Dare By the Sea" when he fell. This pulled the belayer from
his stance, causing him to let go of the rope and drop D.S. to the
ledge below. D.S. was placed in a litter by several rangers who
rappelled the 60 feet to his location. He was then taken into a waiting
Coast Guard vessel, which helped transport him to Mt. Desert Hospital in
Bar Harbor.
On Saturday, March 6th, a patrol ranger came upon a vehicle parked at the entrance to the Park Loop Road and Route 233 which had also been their the previous day. A checked of the Ohio license plate revealed that a "be on the lookout" message had been posted for the owner by the Ohio State Police. The 21-year-old man, who was relocating from Ohio to Maine, had called a friend on March 4th and told him that he was going to commit suicide. An immediate search of the area was begun, which built through the day. Searchers covered the area on foot and by snowmobile and employed search dogs in an effort to find him. The search effort resumed on Sunday morning with about 50 people from the park, Mount Desert Island SAR, other Maine SAR teams, and a Maine Air National Guard helicopter. The man's body was spotted from the helicopter on the top of Great Hill on the east side of the park. He had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. [Submitted by Dustin Warner]
On Saturday, April 3rd, S.K., 63, of Washougal,
Washington, was killed in a bicycling accident while riding on the Park
Loop Road. The Loop Road is closed to motor vehicles at this time of
year, and S.K. and his son were taking advantage of good weather and
the car-free riding conditions. According to S.K.'s son, his father
was traveling at approximately 20 miles per hour when the two came upon
one of the road's four gates. The son was able to stop in time, but the
father was launched over the front of his bicycle while attempting to
stop, landing on his head and striking the gate with his lower back and
pelvis. Attempts to revive him at the scene were unsuccessful and
he was later pronounced dead at Mount Desert Island Hospital, with the
cause of death attributed to a C-2 spinal fracture. The
investigation continues.
The park received word of a falling accident on South Ridge trail across from Blue Hill overlook on Cadillac Mountain early on the afternoon of September 15th. B.P. of Haddenfield, New Jersey, had been hiking with her husband Dennis when she fell backwards while descending through a series of rocks. She fell about eight to nine feet, landing on her back and hitting her head on a rock. According to Dennis B.P. and first responders, she was immediately unable to respond or move and began losing blood. Park emergency staff were on scene about 15 minutes after receiving the first call and an estimated 20 to 25 minutes after the accident had occurred. B.P. was able to speak but unable to use her left arm and hand. She was treated on scene, transferred to a Bar Harbor ambulance, taken to Bar Harbor Hospital, then flown to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. She succumbed there to her injuries later that evening.[Submitted by Neal Labrie, Backcountry Supervisor]
E.L., 21, of Hampden, Maine, drowned while attempting to retrieve a climbing shoe from the ocean below Otter Cliffs, a 30-foot granite wall that rises directly from the Atlantic. The cliffs are one of the most popular climbing destinations within the park, but can be extremely treacherous during stormy weather and high tides. E.L. had been at the base of the cliff when surf from the high tide washed his gear our into the water. Although the gear was attached to his climbing rope, his shoe came off and started floating away. E.L. entered the 49-degree water to retrieve it, only to be overpowered by both the cold water and high surf. After several attempts to climb back up onto the rocks, E.L. went under and did not resurface. Ocean conditions precluded safe entry into the water until Tuesday. Main State Police divers then began searching for his body and found it two days later in about 18 feet of water, directly below the point where he'd entered the ocean. Both E.L. and his climbing partner were from the Bangor, Maine, area and were attending college — E.L.n at Northeastern University and his partner at the University of Maine. [Submitted by Neal Labrie, Backcountry Supervisor]
Rangers arrested the same man twice last year for aggravated OUI (operating under the influence). W.M., 50, of Bar Harbor was arrested by ranger Mike Kujala in May after receiving reports of a pick-up truck weaving on the park loop road. W.M. was in possession of seven mostly-consumed half-gallon bottles of vodka, numerous marijuana pipes, 45 grams of marijuana, a police scanner, a knife, and a concealed loaded handgun. His BAC level was measured at .38, more than fours times the legal limit. W.M. was convicted in federal court and received seven days in jail, a $500 fine and a 90-day state license suspension. In October, ranger David Smith arrested W.M. again in nearly identical circumstances. W.M. was in possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia, a police scanner and several bottles of vodka. His BAC level was measured at .32. W.M. was convicted and sentenced in federal court last December and received a four month jail sentence, a $500 fine, and — in cooperation with the state of Maine — had his license suspended indefinitely. [Submitted by Mike Wilson, Supervisory Park Ranger]
S.C. of Newmarket, Maryland, was reported missing from the Ikes Point boat launch area along the shores of Echo Lake on Mount Desert Island on the evening of August 25th. Following a brief investigation and a ground search, searchers determined that all indicators pointed to a focused effort on searching the water. Acadia rangers and local volunteers assisted the Maine Warden Service as they conducted air and underwater searches through the afternoon of August 26th. Warden Service divers found S.C.'s body in about 60 feet of water and approximately 200 yards off shore from his suspected starting point. Rangers served as members of the overall incident command, as operations for ground searches, and as family liaison. [Neal D. Labrie, Backcountry Supervisor]
On October 2nd, a 39-year-old man from Toms River, New Jersey, fell off a 50-foot-high ocean cliff near Thunder Hole and was critically injured when he landed on rocks near water's edge. His girlfriend reported that he'd jumped to a lower rock for a better view while they were walking along the cliff top. He lost his balance on the lower rock, grabbed hold of some small juniper bushes, but could not stop his fall to the rocks below. Rangers arrived on scene within 15 minutes and determined that the man was alive, but had sustained a serious head injury. They put him on a rescue litter and carried him into the ocean to a waiting US Coast Guard patrol boat that took him, a ranger/paramedic and a ranger/EMT Bar Harbor. The man was transferred by ambulance to MDI Hospital in Bar Harbor, where he was pronounced dead about 25 minutes later. (Kevin Cochary, Branch Chief, MDI Operations)
While on patrol on Schoodic Point on the morning of December 8th, rangers discovered the body of a local US Fish and Wildlife Service special agent. The 37-year-old agent was known to regularly use the area for his fitness training, and, based on his attire, he had just completed a morning run when he apparently suffered a significant cardiac event. No foul play is suspected. A joint investigation is in progress by the Maine State Police, USFWS and the National Park Service. The NPS is assisting the USFWS with line of duty death protocols and CISM. (Ed Pontbriand, Schoodic District Ranger)
Rangers rescued a climber last Sunday afternoon after he became stuck while free-climbing on the cliffs near Great Head Trail. N.P., 24, of Exeter, New Hampshire, had hiked down to the bottom of the cliffs with friends and begun free-climbing a 50-foot section of the cliff. N.P. got about halfway up the section of cliff when he ran out of handholds and was not able to go either up or down. He was at a spot where he had a good foothold and handhold, though, so was able to hang on until help arrived. He was stuck on the cliff for about 45 minutes. Rangers and the Mount Desert Island search and rescue team members arrived and set up a technical rope system. They lowered a ranger down to the climber and the ranger fitted N.P. with a special climbing harness and attached the harness to the rope system. Rescuers then lowered N.P. and the ranger to ground. N.P. was not injured in the incident. [Bangor Daily News]
On Friday, September 22nd, local residents, visitors, and park staff awoke to an unusual event in Acadia National Park when a 3.4-magnitude earthquake shook the ground at 6:39 a.m. According to the Weston Observatory at Boston College, the epicenter (44.35N, 68.19W) was located in the park, just off the Precipice Trail parking area on the Park Loop Road. Although minor, the earthquake was nonetheless felt by many in Ellsworth, Maine, 22 miles away. Other reports came in from as far away as Addison (29 miles) and Islesboro (34 miles). Park staff living near the epicenter felt several precursors to the earthquake throughout the night and reported that objects in their houses rattled and shook with each event. The rumbles of aftershocks were heard during the day on Friday; at least 16 possible aftershocks have been recorded since the primary event. No damage has been reported. According to the Maine Geological Survey, earthquakes in Maine are relatively rare, with just 507 earthquakes occurring in the state from 1747 until 1992. During that time, only one other earthquake originated from Mount Desert Island. It's no wonder that many people thought Friday's booming and shaking was a furnace malfunctioning, a large truck passing by, or even an explosion. Instead, they had experienced the first recorded earthquake with its epicenter in Acadia National Park. [Ginny Reams, Writer-Editor]
Local residents and visitors to Acadia National Park felt the now-familiar rumble of an earthquake again on Monday, October 2nd, as a 3.8-magnitude tremor shook Mount Desert Island at 8:07 p.m. This stronger earthquake followed a week of small aftershocks that have occurred since the initial 3.4-magnitude tremor struck on Friday, September 22nd. While the epicenter of the first earthquake was located in the park near the Precipice Trail parking area, this one was located a short distance away in the Atlantic Ocean, just off Great Head. Although still considered minor, this earthquake (initially reported as a magnitude 4.2 and downgraded to 3.9, then 3.8) was felt across Maine and more than 300 miles away in New Hampshire. For those nearest the earthquake, a loud boom announced the arrival of the earthquake, which was followed by shaking that lasted from 10 to 30 seconds. No park buildings were damaged, but the newest tremor was strong enough to cause rock falls in several areas of the park. The Park Loop Road was closed on Tuesday morning to allow park staff to remove several large boulders from the road. The Precipice Trail and East Face Trail on Champlain Mountain sustained substantial damage from rock slides and have been closed. An initial assessment suggests that neither of these trails will be reopened until next spring. Boulders have fallen on several additional trails, but at this time all other trails remain open. For details about the latest earthquake, including epicenter maps and intensity statistics, visit the related U.S. Geological Survey website by clicking on "More Information" below. [Submitted by Ginny Reams, Writer-Editor]
On the afternoon of June 1st, the Coast Guard received a cell phone call reporting that a woman had fallen into the water in a rocky area along Schoodic Point. Rangers responded on-shore, and a 41-foot Coast Guard utility boat was dispatched from Southwest Harbor, arriving on scene within 20 minutes. They pulled 56-year-old F.W. from the ocean and began CPR. She was transferred to an ambulance at Winter Harbor and was later pronounced dead. The park is investigating the accident. [Petty Officer Etta Smith, U.S. Coast Guard] HYPERLINK "http://bangordailynews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=150551&zoneid=500"
An Oli's Trolley bus which was not carrying any passengers at the time struck a coping stone and a tree near Bubble Pond around 9:30 p.m. on August 25th and went off Jordan Pond Road, coming to rest on several large coping stones and listing to its right over a steep embankment. The right front end of the bus came to rest down the embankment against several trees, with the rear end of the bus suspended up in the air. A dozen large coping stones were struck and moved by the bus before it left the roadway. The bus driver sustained only superficial injuries, but was unable to exit the bus due to vehicle damage and debris blocking the exit. The driver said that the bus had been experiencing front end problems and had been drifting from side to side prior to the accident (this is still under investigation). The bus apparently caught a coping stone, causing it to leave the roadway. Rangers provided medical attention and traffic control until a local fire department was able to extricate the driver. The accident resulted in only a small fuel leak, but the involved section of road was closed for the remainder of the evening due to difficulties in removing the bus and its proximity to the road. It was safely removed the next day. [Dave Buccello, Chief Ranger]
Reports have been received from parks regarding each of the above noted tropical systems: Acadia NP - On September 6th and 7th, the remnants of Tropical Storm Hanna dropped between 5 and 7.5 inches of rain on the park, causing extensive gulley erosion to the historic carriage road system and unpaved park roads. The park staff is continuing to assess storm damage to the park's trails and facilities. Most of Acadia's carriage road system and fire road system were closed early Sunday morning because of major washouts. Most affected on Mount Desert Island was the Seal Cove Road, which cuts across the island from Southwest Harbor to Seal Cove. Several sections of that road were totally washed away, and it could take two weeks to repair. On Schoodic Peninsula, the Schoodic Head Road was also greatly damaged, and repair of that road may take three weeks. The carriage road system has reopened for foot traffic and about half of the carriage roads have re-opened to bicycle and horse use. [Stuart West, Acting Chief Ranger; ACAD; Susan Gonshor, Public Affairs, BISC; John Hughes, Chief Ranger, JELA; Larry Perez, IO, EVER]
Reverend J.D., 55, pastor of a church in Farmington, Connecticut, was seriously injured when he fell on rocks near Otter Cliffs on April 15th. J.D. was hiking along the Shore Path between Otter Cliffs and Otter Point when he apparently lost his footing and fell about 15 feet onto the rocks below. Rescue crews were able to reach J.D. and haul him back up. A LifeFlight helicopter landed on the Otter Cove causeway and took J.D. to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he was treated for a broken thigh bone. The rescue took about 40 minutes. Park rangers were joined by rescuers from Bar Harbor Fire and Police departments, Mount Desert Police Department and MDI Search and Rescue. [News reports]
On Sunday, August 23rd, a large wave spawned by Hurricane Bill washed over a crowd of visitors watching the surf along Ocean Drive, sweeping seven into the ocean. One of them, a young girl, drowned. Several thousand people had gathered along the coast to view storm swells associated with the hurricane, made even larger with a high tide at 1:38 p.m. that afternoon. After several hours of sustained swells of 12 to 15 feet, a much larger wave hit the coast at noon and struck a group of approximately 20 people in the vicinity of Thunder Hole. Seven were swept into the water. Four were able to climb out on their own and three were swept out into the ocean. Park staff staged in that area responded immediately and began to treat injuries such as broken bones and dislocations. Eleven people were transported to the Mount Desert Island Hospital. At the same time, rangers notified the U.S. Coast Guard and directed them to the three people in the water. The Coast Guard rescued an adult male and a 12-year-old girl from the water within an hour of the incident. Both were transported to the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor for treatment of their injuries. The third person, a seven-year-old girl, was recovered by the Coast Guard three and a half hours after the incident. She did not survive. In anticipation of Hurricane Bill, increased numbers of park rangers and signs were in place to warn visitors of potentially dangerous conditions. Earlier in the day, areas of the park had been closed as surf conditions rose. Increased wave activity is forecast for the area over the next several days. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
On Monday, October 19th, 60-year-old G.S. fell while climbing a ladder on the Beehive Trail. G.S. suffered a basilar skull fracture, orbital fracture and knee injury. A witness reported that G.S. was near the top of the trail ladder when he lost his grip and fell backwards approximately 10 to 15 feet to the trail below. His pack stopped him from rolling over a 100-foot drop. Rangers and Mount Desert Island SAR performed a 100-foot technical raise to the top of the mountain, where an Army National Guard Blackhawk helicopter hoisted G.S. in a litter. He was treated by the paramedic on board and transported 20 minutes to Eastern Maine Medical Center, where he is recovering. G.S. and his wife were visiting from Alabama. [Kevin Cochary, Deputy Chief Ranger]
President Obama and his family visited Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park from Friday, July 16th, through Sunday morning, July 18th. On Friday, the First Family bicycled around the Witch Hole Loop section of the carriage roads, where they also enjoyed a picnic lunch. Next, they were off to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, where they were greeted by Superintendent Sheridan Steele. They hiked the loop trail around the summit, then headed into Bar Harbor for an ice cream cone and a little private time at their hotel. The First Family ended their first day's park experience boating among the Porcupine Islands in the park's lobster boat. That trip was cut short due to an incoming fog bank. After a morning of private time at the hotel on Saturday, the Obamas visited the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse and hiked the Ship Harbor Trail. They spent the evening in Bar Harbor. Security and logistics for the event required the close coordination of many local agencies and the hard work and long hours of many members of the incident command team. Seven NPS rangers from Northeast Region, one USFWS officer, and one EPA special agent were brought in to assist with the operation, which went off flawlessly. The NPS staff provided advisors in the motorcade, assisted the jump teams and advance teams, posted barricades and detours, provided security at the hotel, answered media and public inquiries, and managed visitors displaced by the rolling closures that took place during the visit. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
Hurricane Earl will approach the North Carolina coast late today and move near or over the Outer Banks tonight. The center is then expected to pass near or offshore of the Delmarva Peninsula. The hurricane will then track northeast along the coast, probably passing over Cape Cod. Parks along the coast from North Carolina to Maine are watching the storm closely and taking necessary actions. Here's today's summary: Acadia NP - The park's incident management team has met with area emergency responders and begun preparations for Hurricane Earl. The strongest impacts - seas up to 15 feet, significant rain, and sustained winds of 25 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph - are expected on Friday morning. Campgrounds will be closed when sustained winds of 35 mph are blowing and two or more inches of rain are forecast to fall. Roads will be temporarily closed if water and debris wash over them. [Barry Munyan, CALO; Cyndy Holda and Paul Stevens, CAHA; Stuart West, ACAD; Skip Brooks, COLO; Bob Grant, CACO; Peter Totorell, GATE; Carl Zimmermann, ASIS; Jay Lippert, FIIS; Stephen Clark, NERO]
D.R., 52, of Mount Desert, Maine, died while cross country skiing in the park last Saturday night. According to D.R.'s wife, he left home shortly before 10 p.m. on Saturday evening to ski the Eagle Lake loop of the park's carriage roads and was expected to return home in about an hour. When he failed to return home by midnight, his family became concerned and began a search for him. They searched for several hours, then contacted Bar Harbor PD just before 4 a.m. The park was notified shortly thereafter and rangers began a hasty search of carriage roads by snowmobile. They were soon joined by volunteers from Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue and Friends of Acadia volunteers who searched on skis, on snowshoes, and by snowmobile. D.R.'s body was found around 6:45 a.m. by Stuart West, the park's chief ranger, on the Paradise Hill section of the carriage road system. The cause of death has not been determined. The overnight low was -8 degrees. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
Lynne Dominy, the park's chief of interpretation, was en route to a meeting at the Schoodic Education and Research Center on the morning of Saturday, March 31st, when her vehicle was hit by an oncoming car that had crossed the center line. The NPS Ford Fusion she was driving was completely destroyed and Lynne was trapped inside for almost an hour before being airlifted to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Lynne suffered numerous broken bones, but apparently sustained no organ, brain or spinal cord damage. She has had two of three surgeries and remains in intensive care. The prognosis is that she will likely be in the hospital for six weeks. State troopers reported that she probably would not have survived if she hadn't taken the evasive action she did. The two occupants of the other vehicle were killed instantly. No determination has yet been made as to why the other car crossed the center line. Maine State Police are investigating. Lynne's husband, Brian Dominy, is the law enforcement specialist at Acadia and they have two school-age children. Cards and letters may be sent to the Dominys by way of Brian Dominy, Acadia National Park, P.O. Box 177, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
J.B., 85, of Bar Harbor, Maine died while walking his dog in Acadia
National Park. According to his wife, Mr. J.B. departed home at
approximately 3:30 PM Wednesday afternoon to walk his dog along the
Schooner Head Path in Acadia National Park. He was expected to
return home within 45 minutes. When Mr. J.B. did not return home
within an hour, his wife became concerned and began to look for
him. In the meantime, two joggers found Mr. J.B.'s body face down
in the small marsh located alongside the path. At 4:45 PM the
National Park Service was notified by Bar Harbor dispatch, and park
rangers responded. The cause of death is under
investigation. Mr. J.B. is survived by his wife, S.B. of Bar
Harbor, and their children, in New Jersey.
Rangers rescued two people seriously injured in separate falling accidents last week. On the afternoon of June 8th, a 19-year-old Massachusetts man was jumping around on the rocks near the summit of Acadia Mountain with friends when he slipped and fell approximately 10 feet off a boulder, then rolled down the steep mountainside for an additional 75 feet. Rangers and the Mount Desert Island (MDI) SAR team set up a series of low angle raises and lowers to get him back onto the trail and then down the steep trail to the trailhead. He sustained head trauma, facial injuries, and a broken neck in the fall. Two days later, on the afternoon of June 10th, rangers received a 911 call reporting that a 23-year-old woman had fallen approximately 30 to 35 feet. Upon arrival, they found that the Montana woman had been bouldering (rock climbing without ropes) on the sea stack at Monument Cove, located along the park's rocky shoreline. It was her first time climbing. At a distance of 30 to 35 feet above the ground, she fell from the rock face and landed on the cobblestone beach below. After a technical rope rescue by park rangers and MDI SAR, she was flown from the scene by a Life Flight helicopter. The woman sustained extensive injuries, including a broken neck, a basal skull fracture, a broken collar bone, bilateral ankle fractures, and thoracic bleeding. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
A 22-year-old University of Maine student hiking the upper section of the Precipice Trail last Saturday morning fell approximately 60 feet to a trail below her location and suffered several serious injuries. Rangers responded to the report of the accident along with Lifeflight of Maine, Bar Harbor FD, Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue, and Acadia Mountain Guides. The Lifeflight helicopter landed on the summit of Champlain Mountain, dropping off critical supplies and paramedics and flight nurses. Medical personnel from several agencies provided advanced life support while technical rescue teams placed anchors and hauling systems above the woman to facilitate a vertical raise (none of the three hoist-capable helicopters from northern New England were available at the time). The woman was packaged in a litter, and, attended by two medics, was raised vertically approximately 250 feet to the summit of the mountain. She was then carried approximately a mile to the waiting Lifeflight helicopter and transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. The rescue took five-and-a-half hours to complete and involved 39 responders and rescuers. Despite their efforts, she was pronounced dead by Eastern Maine medical staff shortly after 5 p.m. The Precipice Trail is a non-technical climbing route, reportedly the steepest non-technical trail in the National Park Service. The trail follows rock ledges up the east face of Champlain Mountain and features iron-rung ladders and handrails to assist hikers. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
Two men - C.F. and R.W. - left the north boat launch on Long Pond for a day of fishing on Wednesday, April 17th, and were seen by other fisherman at 3:30 p.m. near Rum Island (the island is within the park and about half of the land mass around the lake is owned by the NPS). A 30-mile-per-hour wind was blowing that day, sufficient to form whitecaps on the 875-acre lake. A local resident noticed that their truck and trailer were still in the boat ramp parking lot that evening; they were still in the lot the next morning, so the same resident called Mount Desert Police Department. They began an investigation and the Mount Desert Fire Department launched a rescue skiff on the lake. The park and the Maine Warden Service were called in to assist. Firefighters found a capsized 14-foot skiff and a body floating in the water in the southeast end of the lake. Park staff and Maine wardens recovered R.W.'s body from the 45 degree water. The search for C.F. continued for two more days. Engaged in the search were divers, boats with side-scan sonar, Mount Desert Island SAR ground teams, Maine Search and Rescue Dogs teams, and police officers, firefighters and rangers. Divers found his body on April 20th. Neither of the fishermen was wearing a lifejacket, though the boat was equipped with them. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
On April 28th, a 21-year-old student from Old Town, Maine, was lead climbing on a 5.7 pitch on the South Wall of the Precipice on Champlain Mountain when he fell 25 feet. The climber was above the two pieces of protection he'd placed on the granite wall; the second piece of protection, a #4 mechanical cam, pulled out of the rock face when he fell. The climber's partner, who was belaying him from below, was unable to pull in the excess rope fast enough to prevent him from falling the 25 feet to the base of the rock face. The climber was not wearing a helmet and sustained serious injuries, including multiple skull fractures, a C1 fracture, and other unknown injuries. Rangers were assisted by paramedics from Bar Harbor Fire Department, Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue, and local climbers who were on scene. The injured climber was carried by litter for about thirty minutes to a waiting ambulance and then taken to Mount Desert Island Hospital and later taken by LifeFlight ground to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
The park received a 911 call reporting three injured rock climbers near Otter Cliffs on the morning of June 16th. The cliffs are located along the Atlantic Ocean on the rocky Maine coastline. Rangers and personnel from Mount Desert Island SAR and Bar Harbor Fire and Rescue responded by land while the Bar Harbor Police and Coast Guard responded by sea. Once on scene, rangers and a Bar Harbor paramedic rappelled down to the climbers to stabilize their injuries and package them into litters. The park rescue team, Mount Desert Island SAR, and climbing guides employed high angle rescue systems to hoist the injured to the top of the climbing area, where they were carried out to an awaiting ambulance. Two of the three climbers sustained significant injuries and were taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. They are reportedly in good condition. Rangers are leading the investigation. From all reports, it appears that that two novice climbers were being instructed by a guided climbing service when the accident occurred, and that all three climbers were tied into the same rope system. The instructor and one of the students were on top of the climbing area, and the other student was standing on a ledge 25 feet below. As the guide began his descent to assist the climber below him, the rope to which he and the others were tied was severed by a sharp rock edge. The guide ultimately fell approximately 15 feet onto the climber below. Still tied to the instructor, the second climber was pulled from the top and fell the full 25 feet, landing beside the other two. Acadia Mountain Guides has a commercial use authorization to provide guided climbing services in Acadia National Park. Although the investigation continues, no charges are pending. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
Just after noon on January 14th, park dispatch received a 911 report from hikers of a motionless man alongside the rocks near the Schooner Head Overlook Trail. They said that the man appeared to be dead. Rangers responded and found the body of a 67-year-old man from Boxford, Massachusetts. The apparent cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Information from the family and his medical history suggested that he committed suicide. The autopsy confirmed that information. Supervisory Park Ranger Will Overton is the lead investigator. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
On February 16th, a 33-year-old Maine man fell while ice climbing with two friends, sustaining a fractured back in a fall that was estimated to have been about 20 feet. Rangers Richard Rechholtz and Chris Wiebush, members of Mount Desert Island SAR team, and members of Bar Harbor Fire and EMS reached the man via a trail and a closed section of roadway and carried him out. A contributing factor to the accident was the decision to climb on soft, thin ice. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
A visitor called the park late on the afternoon of May 25th and reported finding a body in Duck Brook beneath the three-span, 90-foot-high Duck Brook Bridge on Paradise Hill Road. The first ranger on scene found the body of a 23-year-old man from Mount Desert Island. Rangers and members of the Mount Desert Island SAR team recovered the body via a steep-angle raise of about 75 feet. The investigation continues, but at this time there is no indication of foul play. Ranger Rechholtz was the incident commander. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
While en route to a harbor to get pulled from the waters for the season on October 7th, a local charter fishing boat began taking on water offshore of Acadia National Park. Fishermen in the area assisted the boat's captain to safety as the 50-foot wooden boat, the RV Tiger Shark, filled with water and submerged to its gunwales. The wind and currents brought the vessel aground against the rocky shoreline south of Acadia's Thunder Hole. Park rangers and members of the local fire department responded. The Coast Guard ascertained that the vessel contained 100 gallons of diesel fuel. With the forecast calling for rain, lightning, and four- to seven-foot seas over the next day, the Coast Guard and the Maine State Department of Environmental Protection worked quickly to remove the fuel and other hazardous materials from the vessel. Two days after the wreck, the 1,300-pound submerged engine was retrieved. Park rangers are in communication with the owner and insurance company over removal of the wreckage and remaining shoreline debris. Jason Flynn is the incident commander and Bob Bechtold is the safety officer for the operation. [Jason Flynn, Park Ranger]
On the morning of July 27th, a 38-year-old visitor sustained potentially life-threatening injuries in an accident that occurred on the Park Loop Road near the Champlain North Ridge Trailhead. Witnesses said that members of a family got out of their vehicle at a scenic pull-off along the road and that shortly thereafter the vehicle rolled backwards towards other vehicles, park visitors, and oncoming traffic. While family members attempted to stop it by pushing against the vehicle's exterior, the driver attempted to reenter to apply the brakes. The vehicle, however, gained momentum due to the steep slope and they were unable to stop it. In the process of attempting to enter the moving vehicle, the driver was knocked to the ground by the open car door and was subsequently overrun by the front wheel. The vehicle crossed the road and came to rest in the ditch and against the base of a cliff. The driver was transported by Bar Harbor Ambulance to a waiting Life Flight helicopter, where she was transported to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine. Investigating rangers determined that the car's shifter was not in the 'park' position. The driver sustained multiple chest injuries but is in stable condition. [Stuart West, Chief Ranger]
Recent winter storms and flooding have encased the Sieur de Monts Nature Center, parking lots, bathroom structures, Spring House, and Wild Gardens of Acadia in more than a foot of water and ice. The full extent of damage remains unknown. The parking lot is closed until further notice Frozen ground, snow accumulations and rainfall last week left water in areas that would normally flood once every 25 years. That water, plus two subsequent temperature spikes and plunges, created the flooding, said park spokeswoman Christie Anastasia. "This kind of flooding normally happens in spring when we don't have these freezing temperatures," Anastasia said. "I'd attribute it to changing weather patterns. I think the words that would be hovering over most scientists' heads right now would be 'climate change.' " Sources: Acadia National Park news release, Bangor Daily News.
A hiker with an injured leg was rescued on the morning of Monday, September 3rd, by rangers and others who used a helicopter to get her off a mountain at Acadia National Park. The 53-year-old Boston woman was hiking on the Dorr Mountain Ladder Trail with some companions when a falling rock that weighed 200 or 300 pounds landed on her leg. She was in steep terrain when the accident happened, about a third of a mile from the trailhead. The emergency call reporting her injuries came in at 7:19 a.m. About a half hour later, park rangers and paramedics from the Bar Harbor Fire Department arrived at her location. They found that she'd sustained significant lower leg injury from the falling rock, treated her, and — due to the terrain and the severity of her injury — called the Maine Forest Service to ask for a helicopter to extract her. While they were waiting for it to arrive, they moved the woman to a ledge so she could be more easily taken off the mountain, lowering her roughly 30 feet with a rope and a litter. The helicopter picked her up; she was then flown to the Bar Harbor ball field, where an ambulance transported her to the Mount Desert Island Hospital, also in Bar Harbor. Eight Acadia rangers, two paramedics, ten rescue personnel from Mount Desert Island Search & Rescue, two park volunteers and the crew from the Maine Forest Service were involved in the rescue. Source: Bangor Daily News.
On Thursday, April 11th, the body of A.E. was found on the rocks between Sand Beach and Thunder Hole along the Atlantic Ocean. He'd been missing since the previous Monday. On Tuesday, rangers noticed that a car belonging to A.E. had been parked at the Schooner Head overlook since before the previous day's snowstorm. They searched the immediate area but were unable to locate or contact A.E. A friend of A.E. reported that he went to the area on Wednesday evening to look for him; he and another friend found a backpack belonging to A.E. on the rocks near a sheer cliff. The Maine Warden Service led the ensuing search and brought in a dog team. Also involved were personnel from the Coast Guard, the Maine Marine Patrol and the Maine Association for Search and Rescue. On Thursday, the search continued by land, water and air, and A.E.'s body was spotted late in the morning. The cause of death has not yet been determined. Source: Liz Graves, Mount Desert Islander.
During the early hours of Saturday, August 31st, a rollover crash occurred on the Park Loop Road, killing all three passengers. The driver has been arrested on manslaughter charges. He allegedly spent Friday night drinking in downtown Bar Harbor before hitting the road with his friends. Rangers have charged the driver, P.M., with three counts of manslaughter. In Maine, manslaughter is a Class A felony punishable by up to 30 years in jail. P.M. called 911 to report the crash at 2:47 a.m. on Saturday. Investigators who arrived at the crash site found that he had suffered some cuts and scrapes and that he smelled of alcohol. He reportedly told investigators that he had been out drinking with friends in Bar Harbor and that they had ended the night around 1 a.m. "with a couple of shots of alcohol" at the Carmen Verandah bar and nightclub. He said that he lost control of the vehicle on a curve and hit a tree. Evidence at the scene, including skid marks and damage, suggest that P.M. was driving well over the posted speed limit of 25 mph. Source: Charles Eichacker, Bangor Daily News.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities, Acadia NP — The park will be closing a six-mile section of its carriage road network next year while improvements are made to the road. The closed section will be around Eagle Lake in Bar Harbor. The shutdown is expected to run from April to November. Source: Bill Trotter, WGME News.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities, Acadia NP — The Islesford Historical Museum on Little Cranberry Island will be closed the rest of the year will the building is rehabilitated. The project, which got underway in November, is expected to last throughout the summer and will prevent the museum from opening in 2020. The project should be completed in time for the seasonal museum to reopen in the summer of 2021. Source: Bill Trotter, Bangor Daily News.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities, Acadia NP — The 45 miles of carriage roads in the park were closed to all users on March 12th until they dry out and become firm enough to prevent damage to their gravel surfaces. Warmer weather and wet conditions have softened the carriage roads and made them susceptible to damage. Source: National Park Service.
On the evening of April 17th, a 19-year-old woman was rescued after falling 20 to 30 feet down an oceanside cliff at the Cooksey Drive Overlook. She was taken by the Northeast Harbor Ambulance Service to Mount Desert Island Hospital with what appeared to be non-life-threatening injuries. The two-and-a-half-hour rescue operation involved 16 members of Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue (MDISAR) and five Acadia National Park rangers. Mount Desert police and fire personnel also responded. The woman reportedly fell while trying to walk across a rock bridge at the overlook. Rescuers secured her in a litter and then raised her to the top of the cliff using a system of ropes and pulleys. This was the first incident on MDI in which rescuers wore masks and took other precautions to minimize the chance of coronavirus transmission. Source: Dick Broom, Mount Desert Islander.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Acadia NP — A federal judge has ruled that Bar Harbor police violated the Constitution by forcing the driver of a car in the deadliest incident in the history of Acadia National Park to submit to a blood test without securing a warrant. The judge approved a motion to suppress the results of a first blood alcohol test taken at Mount Desert Island Hospital about 90 minutes after the August 31, 2019, crash, which killed three people. McKee argued that because the crash took place on federally owned land, law enforcement should have obtained a warrant to take blood from P.M. after he refused to submit to the test voluntarily. The judge ruled that Bar Harbor police had plenty of time to secure a warrant and rejected federal arguments that a warrantless blood draw was necessary because time was pressing. Source: Nick Sambides Jr., Bangor Daily News.
On August 14, emergency responders rescued two individuals. At Sand Beach, an 18-year-old dove into shallow water before needing assistance. Rangers and bystanders helped stabilize him on a backboard and he was taken to Bangor by Life Flight. An hour later, a 6-year-old sustained head and neck injuries when he fell about 50 feet into a shallow pool adjacent to the Canon Brook Trail. Over 30 responders from the NPS, Maine Forest Service, Friends of Acadia Summits Stewards, and Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue responded and the victim was transported by Life Flight to a local hospital. The park said it has seen a 65% increase in rescues over 2019. Source: Press Herald
On August 28, rangers came upon a man at an old ranger cabin on Schoodic Head Road. He appeared anxious and confused and told them he was having an intestinal issue and couldn't find a bathroom. Shortly afterward, the rangers found a pickup truck with a handgun in plain sight under the center armrest. They questioned the man, who tried to run and ignored shouts to stop. A ranger subdued him with a taser. Upon a more extensive search, several other guns, additional magazines and ammunition, hard body armor plates, homemade firearms suppressors, and an open container of alcohol were found in the truck. Several charges were filed. Source: News Center Maine
On August 26, kayakers reported an unoccupied dinghy. NPS staff recovered it on the shore of Otter Island the following day, then conducted searches of the nearby areas in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard for two days. The search was called off after the weather turned on August 28. The Ashland County Sheriff's department is looking for any information the public may have. Source: WDIO
Early in the morning on August 31, 2019, a group of four people was driving on Park Loop Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle on a curve and hit a tree. The driver survived, while the three passengers died at the scene. The group had spent the previous hours at a tavern and night club and the driver had a blood alcohol content of 0.095%. Investigators said the car was driven at 75 mph in a 25-mph zone. The driver pled guilty to three counts of manslaughter and two counts of operating under the influence and now awaits sentencing. Source: Bangor Daily News July 13, 2022 In August 2019, a 31-year-old was responsible for the death of three passengers while driving under the influence on Park Loop Road after a night of drinking in Bar Harbor (previously reported in the February 9, 2022 Coalition Report when the individual pled guilty). On July 8, the driver was sentenced to 41 months in prison for three manslaughter charges, two charges of operating under the influence, and one unsafe operation of a motor vehicle charge. Source: WABI August 24, 2022 On August 11, a visitor came upon a deceased person in their 40s on one of the park's carriage roads. The individual was believed to have died of a medical event while riding a bicycle. The state medical examiner's office is investigating the cause of death. Source: Bangor Daily News August 24, 2022 On June 27, a 35-year-old was hit and killed by a vehicle on the campus of the Schoodic Education and Research Center. After a month-long search by law enforcement, a 35-year-old suspect was arrested in Cancun, Mexico on July 20 by Mexican authorities and the U.S. Marshals Service Mexico Foreign Field Office. On July 27, the individual made their first court appearance, but was not required to enter a plea yet. The individual remains in custody until a bail date can be set. It is the first suspected homicide in the park in 35 years and only the fourth since the park was established in 1916. Source: WMTW, New York Post, WABI, Bangor Daily News September 18, 2022 On September 10, a 20-year-old was sitting on a rocky ledge near Thunder Hole when a large wave hit and dragged the individual into the water. The waves had been particularly large due to Hurricane Earl. The Coast Guard was notified immediately, and they were able to locate the individual and rescue them from the water. The individual was transported to Bar Harbor to be checked by emergency medical staff, and was found to be uninjured in the incident. Source: Bangor Daily News October 19, 2022 On October 7, human remains were found near the Fabbri Picnic Area. On October 13, the NPS announced that the cause of death was suicide. The investigation was conducted by the NPS and the Maine State Police's Major Crimes Unit. Source: WABI, WGME
On October 20, a 35-year-old individual entered a not guilty plea in Hancock County Superior Court in connection with a hit-and-run death of the individual's partner outside of the Schoodic Education and Research Center early in the morning on June 19, 2022. Source: News Center Maine
An individual has spray painted red blazes onto trees, rocks, and cairns on the Spring, South Ridge Penobscot, Penobscot East, and Deer Brook trails. The park has said that these blazes create confusion because the NPS has marked trails with blue blazes. The markings are considered vandalism. The park is working to fix the damage and the investigation is ongoing. They have asked for any information the public can provide. Source: News Center Maine
On April 14, a 17-year-old was hiking near Otter Cliff with friends when the individual fell about 25 feet. NPS staff and Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue responded and attempted life-saving measures, but they were unsuccessful. The Maine Office of Chief Medical Examiner is investigating the incident. Source: Miami Herald
On April 23, a wildfire began along the St. Sauveur hiking trail. Fire departments from Southwest Harbor, Bar Harbor, Lamoine, Mount Desert, Tremont, and Trenton responded, and the Maine State Forest Service coordinated water drops from its helicopter. The fire was contained to a half-acre and was suppressed in three hours. The park did not comment on the cause, but it did remind visitors that "contained charcoal and wood fires are allowed only in campgrounds and designated picnic areas within park-provided receptacles or in private grills, and they should be monitored closely at all times." Source: Acadia National Park
On June 20, the park closed the one-way 0.7-mile segment of Park Loop Road between Kebo Street and Sieur de Monts in Bar Harbor due to emergency culvert repairs. Road damage occurred last winter, but only recently culminated in a full blockage, flooding, and the partial collapse of two culverts on the northern edge of Great Meadow. The park is working to open the road as quickly as possible; no opening date has yet been announced. Source: Acadia National Park
Many park units across the northeastern seaboard preemptively closed locations in advance of Hurricane Lee. Source: National Parks Traveler
On January 10, a storm hit the park, creating "significant damage" to facilities in the park, including roads and trails. The Schoodic Loop Road and Ocean Drive were closed for a time, and have since reopened. Source: WGME, Acadia National Park
On May 11, two fires started along the St. Sauveur Trail. Personnel responded from Southwest Harbor, Mount Desert, Tremont, and the Maine State Forest Service helicopter. One was contained at 0.1 acres, while the other was contained at 0.25 acres. Both fires were extinguished within three hours. The incident is currently under investigation by the NPS. No cause was listed, though the park reminded the public that charcoal and wood fires are only allowed in campgrounds and designated picnic ares. Source: Acadia National Park
On June 24, a 24-year-old was climbing on South Bubble Mountain when they fell about 50 feet and became stuck. Personnel from the NPS and Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue responded and evacuated the individual through the use of high-angle rope rescue techniques. The individual was then able to hike down to their vehicle alongside rescuers and drove themself to a local hospital. Source: Bangor Daily News
A 24-year-old rock climber slid and fell about fifty feet down a rock face in an area around South Bubble Trail near Jordan Pond. The NPS and Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue performed a high angle rescue. The individual then was able to walk off the trail and transported themself to a local hospital. Source: WABI
On June 25, a 71-year-old fell and broke a leg on the South Bubble summit. Personnel from the NPS, Friends of Acadia Summit Stewards, Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue, and Bar Harbor Fire Department responded and performed a carry-out. The individual was then transported to Mount Desert Island Hospital via ambulance. Later that day, a 60-year-old fell and sustained a knee injury on the Gorham Mountain Trail. Personnel from the NPS, Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue, and Bar Harbor Fire Department responded and performed a carry-out. The individual was transported to the Mount Desert Island Hospital via ambulance. Source: WDEA
On July 13, a 73-year-old went kayaking alone from the end of Seely Road in Bar Harbor, Maine. After failing to return, a family member notified the Bar Harbor Police Department. Personnel from the Maine Marine Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, and NPS initiated a search. NPS staff found the individual's deceased body in the water near the Thrumcap, a small island near their put-in. The individual was wearing a life jacket. Their kayak was not found. The individual will be examined by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner's Office. Source: State of Maine Department of Marine Resources
On July 24, the park received a report that three individuals were seen partway up the Precipice Trail on Champlain Mountain, which is off-limits to the public due to an annual seasonal closure for the protection of endangered peregrine falcons and their nesting sites. The closure is clearly marked at the trailhead and widely publicized across social media platforms. The park has pictures of the individuals and is looking for any information the public might have about them or the incident. Source: Acadia National Park
The individuals that trespassed in the closure area of the Precipice Trail on Champlain Mountain (see 8/7/24 Coalition Report), turned themselves in. The individuals, ages 22, 20, and 19, will be charged with violation of a superintendent's closure, a class B misdemeanor. Source: Mount Desert Islander
On September 9, a 70-year-old was cycling on the Park Loop Road near the Cadillac North Ridge Trail crossing when their foot dislodged from a clip-in pedal and they lost control of their bicycle. They took a head-first crash, resulting in "significant injuries." They were wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. NPS staff arrived on scene shortly after the accident, and "performed life saving measures." Personnel from the Bar Harbor (ME) Fire Department transported the patient to downtown Bar Harbor, and the individual was then transferred by a LifeFlight of Maine helicopter to the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. The patient was said to be in "critical condition." Source: Acadia National Park
On September 18, a 58-year-old experienced "a serious medical event" while hiking on the Beehive Trail. The individual was halfway up the vertical section of the trail. A team of NPS and Mount Desert Island (ME) rescuers assessed the situation and requested a helicopter from the Maine Forest Service. They were able to use a short-haul rescue technique to extract the individual. They were then transferred to a Bar Harbor Fire Department ambulance and transported to Mount Desert Island Hospital. The trail was closed for about an hour during the incident. Source: Acadia National Park
The 70-year-old cyclist that crashed on Park Loop Road on September 9 (see 9/18/24 Coalition Report) passed away due to their injuries on September 11. Source: Bangor Daily News
On April 21, a 911 call reported an unresponsive individual outside a vehicle in a pullout on Schoodic Loop Road south of Frazier Point. Personnel from the NPS, Maine State Police, Winter Harbor (ME) Police, and Schoodic EMS responded to the scene. The individual was pronounced deceased at the scene, and their body was taken to the state medical examiner's office to determine identity and cause of death. The NPS is leading the investigation. Officials have stated there "was no threat to public safety at any time during the incident." Source: News Center Maine
On June 23, a 20-year-old fell about 20 feet while climbing at the South Wall of Champlain Mountain. A group of other climbers carried the individual to the Park Loop Road, and personnel from Bar Harbor (ME) Fire Department and the NPS responded to the scene. The fire personnel transported the patient by ambulance to medical care. On June 25, an individual collapsed and hit their head near the summit of Cedar Swamp Mountain. Personnel from the NPS and "local EMS" responded to the scene and found the individual not breathing and without a pulse. They were able to sustain the patient until transport by Life Flight of Maine to Eastern Maine Medical Center. The individual later passed away from their injuries. On June 30, a 40-foot sailboat ran aground near Cape Ann Ledge on the southern side of Isle Au Haut. A 72-year-old and two other individuals were onboard. The boat broke apart on the rocks, and all three went overboard. They were all wearing life jackets and were in the water for over an hour. The two members of the party were able to drag the 72-year-old to the shore, but the individual was unresponsive. NPS personnel responded to the scene to support the Maine Marine Patrol. The 72-year-old was pronounced deceased, and their body was transported to Ellsworth for medical examination. The two survivors were transported to Stonington for medical attention, and were released later that day. Source: Acadia National Park, Maine Department of Marine Resources
In October 2023, an individual became angry that they could not pay their entrance fees in cash, and allegedly threw cash and their wallet at an NPS staff member, and pounded on the door of their entrance booth. At the time of the incident, they were issued citations for engaging in fighting, violent, or threatening behavior, and for a failure to pay the entrance fee, a total of $200 in fines. However, the individual refused to pay "because it would have been an admission of guilt." They claimed they never received copies of the violations they requested from the administrative office of the federal court, nor were they notified of a second court date. On March 18, 2025, armed officers came to the individual's house and the suspect was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct. They were not home at the time, and a week later, county sheriff personnel arrested them. They were released on a personal recognizance bond. The suspect has argued that accommodations for their autism have not been made throughout the legal proceedings. Source: WGME
On January 28, the Bar Harbor Police Department received report of a 24-year-old believed to be stranded on Bar Island. Personnel from the NPS, U.S. Coast Guard, Maine Warden Service, Maine Marine Patrol, and Maine Association of Search and Rescue responded. They were unable to locate the individual upon arrival, and conducted an overnight search, including canine resources. The following morning, the individual was located deceased. No further information was given about the individual's circumstances. Source: Acadia National Park
In the wake of the death of a 24-year-old stranded during high tide on Bar Island (see 2/4/26 Coalition Report), the Town of Bar Harbor has taken steps to have a boat in "warm storage" that is accessible and ready to deploy. Response to the individual was delayed because the park's boat "did not become operational" during the incident and Bar Harbor did not have a boat in the water or in accessible warm storage for immediate deployment. Source: Bangor Daily News
On July 11, a 61-year-old went swimming in Echo Lake near the Ikes Point boat launch. As they exited the water, they experienced "a medical emergency," becoming unresponsive in the water. Within 30 seconds, others nearby were able to extract them. They did not survive the incident. Source: Bangor Daily News, Bar Harbor Story
On July 17, an individual fell 30 feet into the water at Monument Cove near Thunder Hole. Bystanders pulled the individual from the water, and they were reported to be vomiting salt water, unable to use their legs, had a head laceration and possible broken bones, and was "losing alertness." The Coast Guard, NPS, and Bar Harbor (ME) Fire Department responded to the scene and transported the individual to the Seal Harbor pier. An ambulance took the individual to a field across from Seal Harbor Beach, and the individual was then transported via LifeFlight of Maine to a local hospital. Source: Bar Harbor Story
On August 5, a group was setting up their campsite at Seawall Campground when a 62-year-old individual believed to be intoxicated told them they were going to get their gun from their vehicle and kill them. Personnel from the NPS, Southwest Harbor (ME) Police Department, Bar Harbor Police Department, and Mount Desert Police Department responded to the scene. The individual was arrested for disorderly conduct. Source: Bar Harbor Story | |