Delaware Water Gap |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2025. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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Thursday, May 22, 1986 They were attending USF&W hearings in Medford. Drove down to look at tree in a yard. Several were walking along road shoulder w/ backs to approaching vehicle, driven by elderly woman. Vehicle swerved across lanes & hit A.N. No warning at all. Vehicle swerved across road, then back again. Vehicle not going fast -- no reason for loss of control. Both parties taken to hospital w/ broken bones.
Location: 1.5 miles north of Dingmans Bridge Summary: Mr. C.M.B. had been "partying heavily" with friends on 8/16 and into early hours of 8/17. Everyone left party at 1:30 a.m., and no one saw him thereafter. Motorcycle found in Delaware River at 1:40 pm on 8/17. It had gone slowly down steep slope into river. Park had three SCUBA divers in river most of 8/18, and will continue search with boat today. State police helicopter will be on scene, too. Next of kin NOT notified. Follow-up: Body found at 10 a.m., 8/20/86, five miles south of Dingman's Ferry.
Location: 1/2 mile S. of Millbrook, NJ On 11/14, the park was notified by New Jersey authorities that Mr. G.C., who was believed to be in the area of the park, had written to a party in Nevada saying that he was going to commit suicide by overdosing on pills. A ranger found G.C. dead in his vehicle at the above time and place. Since the area is in proprietary jurisdiction, the state of New Jersey is investigating.
Location: Delaware River, PA side S.R. was fishing alone from a small boat which apparently overturned. A nearby fisherman in a canoe came alongside and S.R. was able to grasp the side of the canoe which took him to shore. He appeared awake and alert but soon lost consciousness. The rescuer ran to a nearby home and called park headquarters. A ranger responded and arrived at approximately 9:30. He administered CPR until the ambulance arrived and transported S.R. to the hospital. He was pronounced dead at 10:30. Coroner, state police, and next of kin notified. Cause of death unknown at this time.
Location: 209 near Milepost 17 Mrs. R.P. lost control of the vehicle, ran off road and hit a pole. Victims were extricated. Mrs. R.P. was medivaced and pronounced dead at the hospital. Her husband was taken to the hospital with lesser injuries.
Location: Mt. Tamany Hunters found the body of Mr. S.J.B. off a hiking trail on Mt. Tamany. He had been dead for one to two weeks. An autopsy proved inconclusive, but further tests will be conducted to determine if drugs were the cause of death (the victim had a history of drug abuse and depression). There were no indications of foul play.
Location: Buttermilk Falls J.M., 27, of Colts Neck, NJ, was hiking along Buttermilk Falls with two companions on the 19th. While attempting to cross the falls, J.M. slipped on some moss and fell approximately 70'. Rangers responded, and J.M. was evacuated by helicopter to the Lehigh Medical Center in Allentown, PA. Doctors report that he fractured several limbs and his skull, and that he is presently in a coma. The prognosis for recovery from the coma is not good.
Location: Bushkill Access Area S.W., 18, of East Stroudsburg, PA, attempted to swim across the Delaware River from the Bushkill Access Area to the New Jersey side late on the afternoon of the 16th. He apparently tired about half way across, called for help, then turned back toward the Pennsylvania shore. A park visitor swam to S.W. with a tube, but was unable to hold onto him. The visitor made three unsuccessful dives in an attempt to rescue S.W.. Three divers from the park recovered the boy's body several hours later near the point where he was last seen.
Location: River Road 1/4 mi. S. of Zion Church On Wednesday, July 27, 1988 during an aerial overflight of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area numerous cannabis plants were observed growing in the corn fields along River Road. The cannabis plants were scattered throughout the fields and growing in the various corn rows A total of 225 cannabis plants were eradicated with an estimated street value of $112,500.00. The plants ranged 3 ft. to 6 ft. in height. No sinsemillia plants were located. No arrests were made and no booby traps were encountered during this eradication effort. During the overflights an additional 90 cannabis plants were detected on private property, adjacent to the Park boundary. Pennsylvania State police were notified and eradicated those plants on Saturday, 7/30/88.
Location: Delaware River D.G., a 19-year-old resident of Barbados who was visiting relatives in Jersey City, attempted to swim across the Delaware River with his brother-in-law on August 7th. About half way across the hundred-yard stretch of river, he got into trouble; his brother-in-law went to his assistance but was not able to help him. D.G.'s body was recovered by an NPS team of three divers that evening.
On the morning of January 12th, D.L. and his wife were driving on Route 209 in the park when he hit an icy stretch of road and slid into a power pole. D.L. was extricated from his car and transported to Pocono Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 2 p.m. His wife was admitted into the same hospital with multiple fractures. (Ginny Paci, MARO).
A single-engine Cessna 152 experienced mechanical difficulties and made an emergency landing in the park just after 3 p.m. on the 9th. There were no injuries and the plane was not damaged. P.B., the pilot and instructor, and W.A., a student-passenger, were on a flight Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to Morristown, New Jersey, when they were forced to land in a cornfield about three miles north of Bushkill. FAA investigators from Allentown are looking into the incident. (Jim Arnott, CR, DEWA).
On the afternoon of the 13th, local residents spotted an upside-down boat floating in the river north of Milford Beach on the Delaware River and called the Milford police department. The park and other authorities were advised, and a dozen divers - all from neighboring volunteer fire departments - began searching the river later that day. At the same time, the park's contract fire helicopter searched from the air and twelve ground searchers worked along the shore. No sign of the boat's occupant, 65-year-old P.R., was found by the time the search was suspended at dusk, but it was determined that the boat was anchored in the river and not adrift. Divers began searching again on the 14th, and found the body early in the afternoon near the point where the boat had been anchored. P.R. had apparently been fishing and had fallen in the river. The water temperature was about 42 degrees. No other contributing factors are known at this time. (Kathy Jope, RAD/MARO).
On September 11th, R.C., 19, of Warren, New Jersey, was reported as missing by his family when he failed to return home by early evening. On the following day, rangers found R.C.'s clothes on the shore at Milford Beach on the Delaware River; his vehicle was parked nearby. The park dive team began a search for him, and found his body in 20 feet of water off the beach early in the afternoon. It appears that R.C. was wading in the water when he slipped over the 20-foot drop-off and was unable to make it back to shore because he was a poor swimmer. The area is signed with warnings of the deep drop and notices that swimmers swim at their own risk because there is no lifeguard on duty. (Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, via CompuServe message from Ginny Paci, RAD/MARO).
The Hartwick House, a building near the Dingman's Ferry bridge in New Jersey which the park had purchased and was planning to raze, was destroyed by fire on the night of October 3rd. There was nothing of value in the house; its contents had been salvaged when the building was vacated by the lessee. The fire was discovered by hunters just after 9 p.m. An investigation by New Jersey State Police and the park's law enforcement specialist determined that the fire was set by an arsonist. (CompuServe message from Ginny Paci, RAD/MWRO).
At 10 p.m. on the 15th, a single-engine Piper Warrior II was forced down on the east side of Route 209 in the park. The pilot, J.K., 19, of Houston, Pennsylvania, managed to put the plane down in a cornfield with minimal damage to the plane and no injuries to the passengers on board - J.G., 30, his wife, R.G., 25, and their eight-month-old baby, S.G. It has been determined that the crash was caused by engine failure. (Jim Arnott, CR, DEWA, via CompuServe report from Ginny Paci, RAD/MARO).
At 6 p.m. on the 25th, a ranger saw smoke issuing from a corner of the upper story of the Shanna House, a National Register historic structure off Highway 209 about two miles south of Milford. Fire departments were summoned, and 12 volunteer companies - four each from Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey - responded. The fire, which spread to the roof and burned portions of the building's upper stories, was brought under control just after 9 p.m. Highway 209 was closed from 6:15 p.m. until after midnight. Investigators have since determined that the fire was started by an arsonist. There have been a half dozen arsons in that area over the fall, and two people have been arrested. Damage to the house, which served as an inn during the 19th century and was acquired by the NPS in 1983, has been estimated at approximately $150,000. It was being readied for historic leasing at the time of the fire. (Jim Arnott, CR, DEWA, via CompuServe message from Kathy Jope, RAD/MARO).
On the morning of the 24th, a motorist passing through Dingman's Ferry noticed, smoke coming out of the rear of the NPS-owned residence of supervisory dispatcher Debra O'Leary. The park and local authorities were promptly notified, and six Pike County fire departments and the NPS responded. By the time the fire was extinguished, the back section of the house had burned and the remainder of the building had suffered smoke and water damage. The cause of the fire has not. yet been determined, but it is believed to have been accidental. Both NPS and private fire investigators are conducting a follow-up investigation. A damage estimate has not yet been completed. (CompuServe message from Kathy Jope, RAD/MARO, 11:50 EST, 12/26).
Just after 6 p.m. on the 28th, rangers were notified that E.T., 30, of Atlanta, Georgia, had fallen about 150 feet down a steep slope along one of the larger falls in Adams Creek on the Pennsylvania side of the park. The park's search and rescue team reached the area approximately two hours later and found E.T. in a bowl-like area at the bottom of steep vertical cliffs. E.T. was suffering from hypothermia after over four hours in cold water and had two broken vertebrae in her back, a fractured ankle and lacerations to her face and hands. Rescue efforts were hampered by the terrain and E.T.'s medical condition, but she was finally extricated and brought out six hours later following a very difficult rope rescue. Local paramedics transported her by ambulance and helicopter to a hospital in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The superintendent and chief ranger cite the team members for their "sheer determination and skill" in this rescue. Team members include Bill (Tardwell, Randy Seese, Phil Mennenoh, Marion Damiano- Nittoli, Susan McIntyre, Marshall Neeck, Art North, Mike Steel, Wayne Valentine and Bill Wright. (Chris Ward, CR, DEWA, via (CompuServe message from Ginny Paci, RAD/MWRO, 3:30 p.m. EDT, 5/2/90).
On May 27, 1989, park rangers arrested R.E.Z. and charged him with failing to stay in his traffic lane, driving under the influence of alcohol, operating a motor vehicle under the influence with a presumptive EAC level above .10, and possessing an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle. A month later, R.E.Z. appeared before a U.S. magistrate and entered a plea of guilty to driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol [36 CFR 4.23(a)(1)]; he was later sentenced to 15 months federal probation and a fine of $2,000. R.E.Z. subsequently appealed the judgement of conviction to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Among other reasons for the appeal, R.E.Z. contended that the $2,000 fine was too high and that the proper amount should not have been in excess of $500, as per 36 CFR 1.3. On May 18th, the court ordered R.E.Z. to pay the $2,000 fine, and stated the following: ".. .this court is in agreement with the magistrate's reasoning in imposing the $2,000 fine, since 36 CFR 4.23(a) (1) does not specify a fine and 36 CFR 1.3(a) does not, by specific reference, exempt the offense from the $5,000 fine that can be applied under 18 USC 3571(e)." Copies of the entire order may be obtained from Clark D. Guy, criminal investigator, Delaware Water Gap. (CompuServe message from Clark Guy, DEWA, 3 p.m. EDT, 5/30).
On August 4th, T.M., 21, of Brooklyn, New York, and several companions were picnicking at Depew Recreation Site on the New Jersey side of the river. T.M. and a companion attempted to swim across the river. At about midpoint, the two turned around and attempted to return to shore. Approximately 100 feet from the bank, T.M. began having problems while his companion continued on. Another member of the group saw that T.M. was in trouble, swam out to him and attempted unsuccessfully to help him to shore. Rangers arrived on scene within twenty minutes and an NPS diver found T.M. about ten minutes later in 20 feet of water. CPR was begun immediately. T.M. was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. T.M. was an aerobics instructor and a qualified lifeguard. (CompuServe message from Tracye Allen, RAD/MARO, 8/7).
On July 2nd, rangers received information that marijuana plants were being grown inside the park in two cornfields near Highway 209 on the Pennsylvania side of the park. Approximately 150 plants were found in the fields. Surveillance was begun on the area, and extended to 24 hours each day on the 13th. Electronic surveillance was added on the 23rd. On September 9th, plants were removed from one of the two fields, and surveillance was tightened on the other. On the evening of the 11th, J.T. of Arlington, Virginia, and D.B., of Newark, Delaware, were seen entering the cornfield. As they left the field, rangers moved to intercept them. D.B. got into his car and fled, but was pursued and stopped. J.T. was caught and placed on the ground; while the ranger covering him with his weapon awaited backup, however, J.T. jumped up and fled into the corn field. He was chased and apprehended a short time later. The investigation continues; a follow-up will appear tomorrow. (Telefax from Hal Grovert, CR, DEWA, 9/12/90).
On the evening of the 11th, J.T. of Arlington, Virginia, and D.B., of Newark, Delaware, were arrested in a cornfield in the park while attempting to harvest some marijuana which was being grown among the corn rows. Upon further investigation, rangers determined that J.T.'s real name was E.E., and that he had previously been arrested for a variety of offenses, including assault, possession of marijuana, resisting arrest, theft, and breaking and entering. Earlier on the 11th, D.B. and E.E. had flown into Mount Pocono airport from Vermont, where they both live, then had rented a car and driven to the cornfield. FBI agents, who are providing assistance on this case, subsequently seized the airplane, which belongs to D.B.. A detention hearing was held on the 14th. E.E. is being held without bond; D.B. was released to the custody of his parents, who posted the $100,000 bond through a lien on their residence. Indictments were being sought from a grand jury in Scranton yesterday. The investigation continues in an attempt to link several local people to the marijuana field and to determine whether or not D.B., E.E. or any of these individuals are connected with another nearby marijuana patch which was raided on the 11th by state police. (Telefax from Hal Grovert, CR, DEWA, 9/19).
A hunter discovered human skeletal remains in the woods off of Old Mine Road on the morning of October 20th. The remains were taken to the Sussex County medical examiner's office. Later that day, the examiner reported that dental records indicated that the remains were those of L.M.M., 27, of Vernon, New Jersey, who was reported missing on June 23, 1990. A search of the area on the following day turned up other items of evidence. The park, New Jersey state police, Vernon police and FBI are cooperating on the investigation. (Telefaxed report from Hal Grovert, CR, DEWA, 10/22).
On August 17, 1991, S.A. of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, was arrested for assaulting ranger Franklin Wade and charged with under assault on a federal officer under 18 USC. S.A. hit Wade with her Plymouth Voyager during a law enforcement contact in the Kittatinny visitor center parking lot. S.A. subsequently pled guilty in federal court to a lesser felony charge. On January 10th, she appeared in federal district court in Trenton, New Jersey, to receive her sentence. S.A., who was about six months pregnant at the time of the sentencing hearing, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and one year of supervised probation, required to pay a $500 fine, and ordered to participate in mental health and alcohol abuse rehabilitation programs upon her release from confinement. She was also ordered to write a letter of apology to Wade within 30 days. [CompuServe message from DEWA, 1/27]
On January 29th, rangers discovered a cardboard box in the woods near a pullout on Highway 209 in the park's Pennsylvania District. Several bottles of undetermined substances, a beaker and several used filter papers were found in the box. A chemical analysis was conducted on the substances, and it was determined that they were employed in the manufacture of methamphetamines. An investigation is underway in conjunction with the Pennsylvania state police. [Telefax from Hal Grovert, CR, DEWA, 2/4]
On September 11, 1990, D.B. and E.E. were arrested by park rangers while harvesting marijuana planted between rows in a corn field in the park. The arrests followed a two-month-long surveillance operation. On February 21st, D.B. pled guilty to possession with intent to manufacture and distribute marijuana (21 USC 841(a)(1)). The maximum penalty for the offense is imprisonment for a period of 20 years and/or a fine of $1 million. E.E. pled guilty to the same charges two weeks prior to Bolger's appearance. The U.S. attorney expects that each of the men will receive sentences of from four to five years in jail. [Telefax from Hal Grovert, CR, DEWA, 3/7]
Just before 7:00 p.m. on the 17th, the park communication center received a report of a fire in an unoccupied historic structure along the Delaware River about one mile south of park headquarters. Upon arrival, responding rangers and local fire departments found the building fully involved and adjacent wildlands on fire. The fires were suppressed without incident. No estimate of damages is yet available. Rangers and a Pennsylvania state police fire marshall are investigating. [CompuServe message from Karl Theune, Acting CR, DEWA, 3/18]
Late on the morning of March 25th, a Motorola radio technician opened the locked gate on the road to the park's repeater on Mt. Minsi, then closed and locked it behind him. When he came back down about 40 minutes later, he found a package sitting on top of the gate. It was completely wrapped in plastic and had two wires coming out of it which were entwined in the gate's lock mechanism. Investigation by park rangers showed that there were two mortar rounds within the box with homemade fuses that were attached to the gate. An EOD unit from Fort Monmoth, New Jersey, was summoned. They employed an electrically powered robot to remove the device from the gate, then took it to a safe area and detonated it. The explosion caused no significant resource damage. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) was notified and an investigation is underway. [Telefax from Hal Grovert, CR, DEWA, 3/27]
On the afternoon of April 11th, four Canadian citizens who were vacationing in the Poconos saw a vehicle hit a duck. They pursued the vehicle, stopped it, made a citizen's arrest of the driver, and called the park dispatch office requesting assistance. They reported that the offender was operating under the influence; the suspect could be heard in the background loudly protesting and declaring his innocence. The Canadians had confiscated his car keys and identification, however, thereby preventing his departure from the scene. Ranger Brian McDonnell and a Pennsylvania state trooper responded. The suspect failed a field sobriety test and was arrested by the state trooper for driving under the influence. The duck did not survive the incident. [CompuServe message from Hal Grovert, CR, DEWA, 4/12]
The park dispatcher received a report of a hiker having problems on the Appalachian Trail in the Kittatinny Subdistrict on the afternoon of the 27th. Responding rangers found W.J., 45, of Jackson, New Jersey, suffering from what was later diagnosed as an acute myocardial infarction. W.J. was with a group of Boy Scouts who were backpacking along the trail. He was stabilized and carried out to a helispot, where he was evacuated to a local hospital. W.J. is reported to be resting and recovering. [Telefax from Hal Grovert, CR, DEWA, 4/29]
A fire was discovered in the Simmons House, a vacant parkowned structure, at about 4:15 p.m. on the afternoon of the 27th. Units from three volunteer fire companies responded. Upon arrival, they found that the structure was completely engulfed in flames. The interior and roof of the house were destroyed, but the stone frame remained mostly intact. The structure had a previous history of fires and was in poor shape. The cause of the fire appears to be arson. A joint investigation by the park and the New Jersey state police arson unit is underway. [Telefax from Hal Grovert, CR, DEWA, 5/28]
F.S., 40, and R.M., 21, drowned about 100 yards downstream from a state park boat ramp while canoeing on the Delaware River on the afternoon of August 8th. R.M. was reportedly in one canoe with her husband, and F.S. was in another with his wife. F.S.'s canoe capsized as they were drifting through a relatively calm area with shallow water (from two to seven feet deep). R.M.'s canoe then overturned as they attempted to rescue F.S.. Neither F.S., a nonswimmer, nor A.M. was wearing a life jacket. F.S. was pulled from seven feet of water about 20 minutes later by a visitor and a New Jersey state ranger and resuscitation efforts were begun. He was transported to a local hospital, but pronounced dead upon arrival. A.M.'s body was recovered an hour later. [CompuServe message from Karl Theune, DEWA, 8/9]
Ranger Franklin Wade was deliberately struck and injured by a woman in a Dodge Caravan who attempted to run him over in the park's visitor center on Friday night. She was later arrested and will be charged with assault on a federal officer. Wade received injuries to his left leg. A report on the incident is pending. [Telephone report from Bob Reid, RAD/MARO, 8/17]
At about 11:00 p.m on August 16th, seasonal ranger Franklin Wade came upon a passenger van partially blocking the access to the parking area at the Kittatiny Point Visitor Center. He positioned his patrol vehicle behind the van, called in the plate, then approached the vehicle on foot. The adult female in the front passenger seat appeared intoxicated; she said that she was waiting for her husband, who was relieving himself in the nearby woods. While Wade was talking with her, the woman jumped into the driver's seat, started the vehicle, and backed the van about ten feet before realizing that Wade's patrol vehicle blocked the exit. As Wade walked around the front of the van, the woman accelerated forward, striking Wade and carrying him on the hood for 15 to 18 feet before he rolled of its left side. Wade drew his revolver, but reholstered as the van left the area on Interstate 80 at a high rate of speed. Wade suffered injuries to his hip and leg and was transported to a local hospital. Meanwhile, seven other rangers, joined by New Jersey state troopers and New Jersey park rangers, began a search for the van and additional subjects. A search of the area for the woman's male companion proved fruitless, but the van and woman driver were found one hour later at a truck stop/motel off the interstate east of the park. The female was taken into custody by a park ranger and state police. It appears that the information given regarding her husband was fabricated to divert Wade's attention. Wade was x-rayed, treated for contusions of his lower left leg, knee and thigh, but was released later that night and was able to escort his attacker to jail to await an appearance before a magistrate on seven violations of 36 CFR and 18 USC charges of assaulting a federal officer. [CompuServe message from Ginny Paci, RAD/MARO, 8/19]
On August 17th, a ten-year-old boy and his father attempted to climb the shale cliff near Route 209. The boy became stuck on a ledge after climbing about half way up the 120-foot-high cliff; he was unable to safely climb up or down because of the loose, crumbly nature of the rock. His father attempted unsuccessfully to reach him. Ranger William Cardwell saw the boy's father attempting to reach his son, instructed both to stay put, and summoned the park rescue team. Cardwell was joined by Randy Seese, Ron Matthews, Scott Stevens, Marshall Neeck and Steve Clark. They climbed and traversed the slope north of the boy, then lowered one team member to him. The boy was secured in a harness and both he and his rescuer were lowered to the ground. The youth was not injured. [Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, via CompuServe message from Ginny Paci, RAD/MARO, 8/19]
S.A. of Nazareth, Pennsylvania, has been arraigned on seven CFR violations and one felony count of assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon for her attack on ranger Franklin Wade on August 16th. S.A. was arraigned before a federal magistrate judge in Newark and released on a $5,000 bond (10% cash) on the assault charge pending indictment by the U.S. attorney's office. [Bob Wilson, LES, DEWA, via CompuServe message from Bob Reid, LES, RAD/MARO, 9/4]
L.F. was driving north on Route 209 in his pickup on the afternoon of September 19th when he skidded into the southbound lane while attempting to slow for another vehicle and collided with a 1988 Oldsmobile operated by S.S., 68, of Havertown, Pennsylvania. The force of the collision caused the trailer L.F. was towing to break free from the pickup's hitch. The trailer hit the front of S.S.'s car, collapsed the car's front and roof as it rolled over it, then hit a Chevy Cavalier operated by R.P. of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. The Cavalier had already struck a guard rail as R.P. attempted to avoid the trailer. S.S. was extricated from his vehicle and medevaced to a local hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery for multiple injuries. He died later that evening. A total of eight individuals were in the three vehicle involved in the accident; four were treated for injuries. Route 209 was closed to traffic for over and hour while S.S. was extricated and other victims were treated. [CompuServe message from Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 9/20]
On August 26th, visitors to Delaware Water Gap saw two men breaking into their vehicle and chased them into Worthington State Forest, which is within the park's legislative boundary. A search and stakeout of a suspicious vehicle by park rangers resulted in the apprehension of L.E. and R.S. A search incident to the arrest led to the discovery of stolen property from several car clouts which had occurred in the immediate area. Due to limited jurisdiction (proprietary in that section of the park), the investigation was conducted jointly with New Jersey state police officers. Additional interviews with other suspects in the case led to the discovery of sufficient information to charge L.E. and J.J. with one count each of burglary, theft and criminal mischief. The investigation is continuing, and more charges may be forthcoming. Information received so far indicates that these two men are members of a larger group which has been active in burglaries and larcenies in a three state area. The investigation leading to the arrests was conducted by ranger Wayne Valentine and criminal investigator Greg Jablonski. [CompuServe message from Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 9/26]
Park dispatch received a report of overdue hikers at about 9:30 p.m. on the evening of the 26th. The group, comprised of six 12 to 14-year-olds from Woodmere Academy and the Lawrence County Day School, were overdue at the Brink's Shelter on the Appalachian Trail. Although inexperienced in outdoor activities, the group was reported in good physical shape and amplyequipped. Due to their youth and inexperience, though, the park initiated a hasty search in conjunction with rangers from Stokes State Park and New Jersey state troopers. The overdue party was eventually located by ranger Brad Clawson atop Mount Paradise around 3:30 a.m. They were about two-and-a-half miles south of their destination. Arrangements were made for the group to remain at that location through the night and to hike out with an adult leader the next morning. [CompuServe message from Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 9/27]
On October 2nd, rangers received information from a citizen that marijuana was being cultivated in an area north of Zion Church Road. Investigation confirmed that there was a marijuana plot at that location, and that some of the plants had already been removed. Electronic surveillance equipment was set up at the location the following day, and an around-the-clock watch was begun. Due to problems encountered with the equipment and difficult weather conditions, the operation was suspended on the morning of the 8th. A total of 35 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $34,000 were subsequently seized. There are no suspects in the case at this time. [CompuServe message from Chris Ward, DEWA, 10/10]
On October 14th, A.S., 20, and S.J., 24, and two friends, all of them from Philadelphia, were rock scrambling without technical gear on a near vertical slope above the Point of Gap overlook when Semati lost his footing and hand holds and fell. S.J. attempted to reach him without success, and both subsequently fell about 40 feet to the talus slope below. Rangers responded, stabilized the two men, and executed belayed evacuations to the overlook parking lot. A.S. was treated at the scene for multiple lacerations to the head, a fractured clavicle, and possible fractures of his lumbar vertebrae, then transported to a local hospital by medevac helicopter; S.J. was treated at the scene for a fractured right ankle, a fractured right hand, and multiple lacerations of the head, then taken by ambulance to another hospital, where he was treated and released. The other two climbers were not injured in the incident. [CompuServe message from Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 10/15]
A single-engine, single-seat homebuilt airplane crashed into the Delaware River at the north end of the park on the afternoon of October 23rd, killing the pilot, 26-year-old L.R., a flight instructor from Franklin Lakes, New Jersey. Witnesses say the plane, which appeared to be having engine problems, struck and cut a cable TV wire which stretches across the river, flipped over, then crashed into three feet of water. The force of the impact caused the rear-engined airplane to break apart. A park maintenance employee who saw the crash joined several others in wading out to the plane and pulling L.R. to shore. At the request of the FAA, park divers assisted in the removal of the wreckage from the river. The fuselage and other debris have been stored pending an FAA investigation. [CompuServe message from Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 10/24]
On September 11, 1990, R.B. and E.E. were arrested for cultivation of over 140 marijuana plants in corn fields along Highway 209. The pair were charged with cultivation of marijuana and conspiracy under 21 USC. During a subsequent joint NPS-FBI investigation, it was learned that the two men were also connected with an interstate operation which was manufacturing and distributing marijuana and other criminal activities. A $60,000 aircraft flown by R.B. and E.E. to an airport near the park was seized by the FBI and forfeiture procedures were initiated. The two men subsequently entered guilty pleas in federal court to the marijuana cultivation charge and recently received their sentences. R.B. was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison, three years of supervised probation, and a $10,000 fine. E.E. received five years and three months in prison, three years supervised probation, and a $1,000 fine. E.E. is currently being investigated in another federal district for other criminal activities. [CompuServe message from Robert Wilson, LES, DEWA, 10/25]
On the afternoon of October 27th, ranger Mike Fernald saw a woman who appeared to be photographing a house on a privately-owned tract of land within the park. As he talked with her about being on posted land, a man exited the house, which had been forcibly entered, and approached Fernald. Backup was called and available rangers responded. A pat down of the man led to the discovery of a ten-inch-long knife concealed in a coat pocket. Both the man and woman were detained until state officers could arrive. They were arrested and charged with New Jersey criminal violations for trespassing, forcible entry and vandalism. [CompuServe message from Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 10/31]
On the evening of November 1st, the Blairtown police department notified the park of a missing 45-year-old woman who was a manic depressive and had recently twice attempted to commit suicide by drug overdose. Off-duty ranger Wayne Valentine had seen a woman meeting her description at an Appalachian Trail trailhead about an hour and a half earlier and had reported the contact to a patrol ranger. Rangers were soon able to confirm that the woman Valentine had contacted was the woman being sought. Since temperatures were dropping and rain was forecast, a search effort was begun with two hasty teams and a dog team. The woman was found about a half-mile from the trailhead by the dog at 9:30 p.m. The hasty teams had earlier passed within 40 feet of her, but hadn't been able to see her because of the darkness. The woman was found lying head down in a semi-conscious state on a steep slope, and it was determined that she'd ingested large quantities of Prozac, Valium, Tylenol and other unidentified medications. She was taken to a medical facility and is reported to be recovering. According to her doctor, she would not have survived the night if she hadn't been found. [CompuServe message from Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 11/4]
Early on the evening of November 9th, the Pennsylvania State Police advised rangers that two men had committed an armed robbery just outside the park and that they were fleeing in a stolen vehicle toward the park. Rangers Deborah Forbes, Mitch Williams and Greg Jablonski responded; while in the process of doing so, they were advised that the stolen vehicle had crashed within the park. Forbes arrived at the scene first, secured the weapon which had been used in the robbery (a starter's pistol), then helped local EMS responders provide medical assistance to the vehicle's driver, M.C., 26, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Forbes then detained M.C. until state troopers arrived and took him into custody. The second suspect, a juvenile runaway from Philadelphia who'd left the scene of the accident on foot, was picked up by a passing motorist and taken to the post office in Bushkill. Williams accordingly headed for the post office and contacted the juvenile. Williams found that he had sustained a gunshot wound in the hand and provided first aid, then detained the juvenile with Jablonski until the state police could arrive on scene. Both suspects were treated, released to the state police, and imprisoned pending the filing of multiple felony charges. NPS and state investigators have since determined the sequence of events prior to the accident. After the two men committed the first armed robbery, they fled in the victim's vehicle, which soon broke down. A passing motorist stopped, helped the two men push the vehicle off the road, then gave the men a ride. Once in the vehicle, the juvenile drew his gun on the driver and told him to get out. As they drove off in the second victim's vehicle, the two men got into an argument and crashed. The incident is believed to be drug related. The state police are continuing the investigation. [CompuServe message from DEWA, 11/20]
Following a weekend during which at least nine larcenies from motor vehicles occurred in the park's Kittatinny Subdistrict, rangers began a surveillance operation on the Dunfield Creek parking lot on February 15th. Ranger Marion Damiano-Nittoli, who was in a hidden position, observed J.C., 32, forcibly enter an unattended vehicle while his wife, L.Q., 23, acted as a lookout. The couple had their three-year-old son with them. The family matched the description of the suspects associated with the car clouts which had occurred the previous weekend. Rangers Steve Clark, Rich Shreffler and Wayne Valentine were alerted, stopped the suspects' vehicle when they left the area, and arrested J.C. and L.Q.. J.C. was charged by the New Jersey state police on eight counts of burglary, seven counts of theft, possession of burglary tools, and possession of marijuana. L.Q. was charged with possession of burglary tools. An investigation is underway into the couple's involvement with other recent car clouts in the park, and additional charges are pending. [CompuServe message from Barry Sullivan, acting CR, DEWA, 2/18]
On the morning of February 13th, fee collector Joel Schwartz advised ranger Rex Vanderford that a vehicle at the Resort Point Overlook had been parked at the same location for two days. During the preliminary investigation, Vanderford learned that the vehicle was registered to a local business and that it had been signed out to W.S., 63, who had been reported missing about three weeks earlier. W.S. was being investigated by the Pennsylvania state police for business fraud and embezzlement, and authorities said that he might be armed with a small caliber handgun. Vanderford and ranger Scott Stevens began a search and found W.S.'s body in a nearby wooded area. Evidence at the scene and other information led investigators to the conclusion that W.S. committed suicide. The cause of death was determined to have been a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the head. [CompuServe message from Bob Wilson, LES, DEWA, 2/18]
On the night of February 7th, dispatch received a phone call from a park resident in New Jersey who had heard gun shots near Zion Lutheran Church across the river in Pennsylvania. Rangers Ed Appel and Randy Seese drove to the church, which is considered to be a significant historic structure. They found about 30 empty 12 gauge shotgun shells on the ground in front of the building, and holes from shotgun blasts in the building's front door and window. They also found that a rear basement door had been pried loose and that entry had been made into the church. Rangers Susan McIntyre and Dan Messaros and criminal investigator Bob VanNortwick joined Appel and Seese and began a search of the building. They discovered the remains of an exploded pipe bomb upstairs on the floor of the sanctuary. About 20 graves in an adjacent cemetery were also found to have been vandalized. A damage estimate will be completed as soon as investigators have collected all evidence. A joint investigation with ATF and the Pennsylvania state police is underway. [CompuServe message from Bob Wilson, LES, DEWA, 3/9]
On April 17th, rangers observed two people apparently collecting artifacts in a recently plowed field within the park. When contacted, the two had several lithic points in their possession. A consent search was made of their vehicle, and rangers found numerous artifacts, weapons, wire snares and drug paraphernalia. Although initially charged with violations of 36 CFR, it's anticipated that additional charges will be filed under 16 USC pending determination of the value of the artifacts seized. [Telefax from Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 4/24]
Just after noon on May 25th, L.H.R., 19, of Hackensack, New Jersey, drowned in the Delaware River just south of Tocks Island. L.H.R. was attempting to swim across the river from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, but failed to reach the shore. Park divers recovered his body around 4:30 p.m. in seven feet of water. Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to have been a factor in his death. L.H.R.'s drowning was the 48th such incident recorded in the park. Rangers and New Jersey state troopers are investigating the incident. [cc:Mail message from Tracy Brant, RAD/MARO, 5/26]
On July 8th, rangers arrested J.C. of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, for a series of auto burglaries on the Pennsylvania side of the park. J.C. has been indicted by a federal grand jury and, if convicted, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. A week later, New Jersey state troopers arrested G.P. for auto burglaries which occurred on the New Jersey side of the park following a joint investigation by rangers and state police officers. G.P. has admitted to three of the burglaries and has been implicated in several more. He will be tried in New Jersey state court. These two arrests are expected to resolve the majority of the auto burglary cases which have occurred in the park this summer. J.C. and G.P. are believed to have operated independently. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 7/20]
On November 23rd, the opening day of bear season in the park's Pennsylvania District, rangers came upon an area which had been baited to attract bears. Surveillance of the location was begun, and two persons were subsequently apprehended for hunting over the baited area. Under the cooperative agreement the park has with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, state game officers were notified and the case was referred to the state for prosecution. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 11/25]
At 5 p.m. on the afternoon of November 27th, D.C., 19, and S.W., 17, both from Bangor, Pennsylvania, became stranded on a vertical slope above the Point of Gap overlook. At midnight, D.C. attempted to descend and fell about 30 vertical feet. The park's rescue team responded and conducted a technical extrication of the pair without incident. D.C. had sustained a laceration to the top of his head, multiple abrasions and a bruise to the chest. S.W. was evaluated for hypothermia. Both were taken to a local medical center, where they were treated and released. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 11/30]
The body of a 27-year-old man was found in the back seat of a vehicle parked in an overflow parking area in the New Jersey District on November 29th. Initial investigation by rangers, New Jersey state troopers and the Sussex County prosecutor's office revealed no obvious signs of foul play or suicide. Preliminary indications are that he had been dead for 24 to 36 hours. An autopsy has been scheduled. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 11/30]
On December 7th, the opening day of the New Jersey deer season, hunting pressure was unusually heavy in the park's New Jersey District, with over 5,300 hunters in the field. Protection activities in the district, where hunting is permitted, included plain clothes and bear poaching surveillance operations, maintenance of check points, decoy operations, and uniformed patrols. During the day, seven illegal kills occurred, three guns were seized, scores of citations were issued for violations, a juvenile hunter who fell out of a tree stand was medevaced to a trauma center, and a great horned owl was rescued. There were no reported hunter accidents involving firearms. Tomorrow is the last day of the six-day season. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 12/11]
At about 3 a.m. on December 27th, two people were killed in a single-vehicle accident on Route 209. The vehicle struck a tree at a high rate of speed, then burst into flames. Rangers and volunteer firefighters extinguished the fire and discovered the victims. Identification was made via dental records. The cause of death for both victims was determined to have been severe trauma. Weather was not a factor, and blood alcohol tests were negative. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. A Pennsylvania state police accident reconstruction specialist is assisting in the effort. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 12/29]
Investigation of a motor vehicle accident that occurred on Highway 209 on December 27th has revealed that one of the victims may have been killed prior to the accident. Bloodstains found in the victim's home in Maryland will be DNA matched to tissue samples from both victims. Maryland police are investigating the incident as a probable homicide. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 1/26]
Frederick County detectives who have been investigating the fatal motor vehicle accident which occurred on Highway 209 on December 27th have classified the death of S.S. as a homicide. According to the lead investigator on the case, sufficient evidence was found in the S. residence to convince them that S.S. was killed at that location. A baseball bat, which was seized as evidence and is believed to be the weapon used in the crime, shows evidence of her blood; lab tests for DNA are pending. S.S.'s husband, G., who is a suspect in the murder, was also killed in the accident, which may have been a suicide. The park is continuing to assist Frederick County in its investigation. [Dennis Burnett, DR, DEWA, 2/10]
On the afternoon of February 10th, ranger Michael Williams spotted a vehicle traveling northbound on Route 209 that matched the description of a vehicle wanted by police in Burlington, Vermont. The vehicle was stopped, and the driver, C.R.H., was arrested without incident and taken to the Pike County jail pending extradition to Vermont. C.R.H., whose real name is Carl Holtsclaw, was wanted for nine individual felony counts of aggravated sexual assault on his juvenile daughter; he is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal background who has fled prosecution on numerous occasions in the past. A homemade .22 caliber weapon constructed from a pipe was found in C.R.H.'s vehicle. Burlington police told rangers that they were very pleased at the arrest, and that they would have gone anywhere in the country to get him. [Dennis Burnett, DR, DEWA, 2/11]
At about 1 a.m. on January 30th, ranger Phil Mennenoh stopped a vehicle on Route 209 for investigation of possible driving under the influence. While attempting to give the operator, J.C., a field sobriety test, J.C.'s husband T.C., who was a passenger in the vehicle, attempted to interfere. Both C.s subsequently became very argumentative and disorderly, and Mennenoh called for backup. Ranger Martin Golden arrived in less than five minutes. Golden and Mennenoh were able to separate the C.S, but both continued their disorderly behavior. While Mennenoh proceeded with administration of the field sobriety test to J.C., Golden attempted to get T.C. back into his vehicle. At that point, T.C. pulled a switchblade knife from his pants pocket, pointed it at Golden, and threatened his life. Both C.s were arrested. On February 9th, a federal grand jury in Scranton handed down an indictment against T.C. for assault on a federal officer. [Dennis Burnett, DR, DEWA, 2/12]
On the morning of April 14th, three fishermen - J.M., B.F., and A.R., all from New Jersey - put in at Dingman's Launch on the Delaware River within the park. Their 14-foot aluminum outboard capsized almost immediately, dumping the three men into 41 degree water. Their cries for help were heard by a toll collector at Dingman's Bridge; the toll collector advised rangers, who responded by boat and by throwing lines from both shores. J.M. and B.F. made it to shore on their own, where they were assisted by rangers. A.R. floated about three miles downstream, where he was picked up by the park's patrol boat. None of the three were wearing life jackets, but they did have floatable seat cushions which they were able to use to keep themselves afloat. All three were taken to Mercy Hospital in Port Jervis for examination because of their exposure to cold water. The boat was recovered by rangers. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 4/14]
On the morning of May 16th, ranger Deborah Forbes stopped M.P., 27, and a male companion while they were hitchhiking along Route 209 in the Pennsylvania District. While Forbes ran checks on the pair, M.P. asked permission to relieve himself in the woods adjacent to the roadway. The computer check revealed that the New Jersey state police in Sussex County wanted M.P. for terroristic threats, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle, and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle. The warrant for him stated that he would resist arrest and attempt to flee if possible. Other rangers and Milford police officers responded quickly to the scene and apprehended M.P. about 15 minutes later as he was attempting to scale a nearby cliff. M.P. said he would have gotten away if it hadn't been for the quick responses of rangers and officers. He was turned over to the Pennsylvania state police for extradition to New Jersey. [CRO, DEWA, 5/18]
D.P., 15, of Jackson Heights, New York, fell about 25 feet into a steep ravine near Dingman's Creek on May 21st and suffered lacerations on his face and back and a broken nose, tibia, and arm. D.P. was attempting to cross the ravine on a fallen log at the time. He climbed out of the ravine on his own, then was assisted down the trail to the Dingman Fall's visitor center by his father and a friend. Rangers Mueller and Forbes met the group and began medical treatment. D.P. began convulsing and started to lose consciousness, so an air ambulance from Lehigh Valley Medical Center was summoned to evacuate him. After further medical attention, his condition improved, and it's expected that he will be released soon. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 5/24]
During the month of May, car clouts occurred in various front and backcountry parking areas in the park's Pennsylvania district. On May 30th, a surveillance operation of two parking areas was set up. Ranger Ed Apple, who was watching the Hackers Falls lot, spotted a young male, later identified as 22-year-old T.D., break into a vehicle and steal various items. T.D. was arrested by rangers Apple, Troy Mueller, and Randy Seese. An investigation is continuing to determine if T.D. has committed other such crimes in the park. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 6/1]
Around 7:45 p.m. on July 20th, the park's communications center received a call that an individual was trapped on a ledge at the Childs Park picnic area. The park's technical rescue team responded and found M.K., a 20-year-old youth counselor, clinging to a 12-inch-wide shale ledge 50 feet above the base of Fullmer Falls. Several youths in his group had dared him to jump to this ledge; although he reached it, he was unable to retreat from the ledge, which began to crumble beneath him as he moved. The team performed a technical rescue and removed Kowaski from the ledge at 10:20 p.m. M.K. had no serious injuries, but was slightly hypothermic. Delaware Township fire and ambulance assisted at the scene. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 7/21]
R.F., 39, drove into the parking area of the New Jersey District ranger station at 7:15 a.m. on the morning of July 25th and told rangers that he had shot himself in the chest. He had also lacerated his left wrist and was bleeding profusely from his wounds. He was stabilized and taken to a hospital, where he was later reported to be in critical but stable condition. R.F. had parked in an isolated section of the park at 4 p.m. the previous day, hiked across a stream into the woods, and shot himself in mid-sternum with a long rifle round from .22 caliber rifle. The bullet exited his back, missing his vertebrae. R.F. had then cut his wrists. [Barry Sullivan, DR, DEWA, 7/28]
On September 15th, a maintenance worker who was collecting trash found five red plastic bags labeled "Biological Hazard" in a trash can at the Tom's Creek picnic area in the park's Pennsylvania District. Other labels indicated that the bags contained body fluids. There were no markings indicating their origin. During the investigation, the maintenance worker told rangers that he'd seen similar red bags before, but that he hadn't paid any attention to their contents. Rangers accordingly suspect that the dumping has been going on for some time. The bags were turned over to local authorities and the investigation continues. [Chris Andress, RCR, RAD/MARO, 9/15]
On the afternoon of December 16th, a surveillance/sting operation resulted in the arrest of a suspect when he shattered the window of a bait vehicle and withdrew property from it. H.A., Jr., 47, was charged with being a fugitive from justice, possession of a stolen vehicle, driving on a suspended license, larceny from a motor vehicle, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. H.A. has a long criminal history of vehicle thefts, forgery, narcotics trafficking, and prison escapes. Additional charges are pending which stem from numerous similar incidents in a two- state, five-county region over the past two months. The string of larcenies began in early October, all with the same MO; over a score had been reported by early December. Investigators believe H.A. committed all these clouts. Members of the multi-agency operation, which was in its fourth day of operations when the arrests occurred, included NPS rangers, the county prosecutor's office, and New Jersey state police and state park rangers. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 12/17]
On the evening of January 6th, rangers responded to the report of an individual who'd been shot on Raymondskill Creek near Raymondskill Falls. They found the body of J.B., 23, of Milford, Pennsylvania, lying on a large rock near the creek. Preliminary investigation indicates that J.B. died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound from a 9mm handgun that was found next to his body. A joint investigation is being conducted by rangers and Pennsylvania state troopers. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 1/7]
Around 8 p.m. on the evening of January 22nd, park dispatch was contacted by a woman who reported that her husband, E.M., 28, had gone skiing in the Blue Mountain Lakes area and was about three hours overdue. A hasty search was initiated by rangers on cross-country skis. E.M. was located at 11:30 p.m. about a mile from his vehicle. Rescuers had to drag a litter through snow that was from three to four-feet deep in sub-zero temperatures to evacuate E.M. to an ambulance, which then took him to a nearby landing zone for helicopter evacuation. E.M. suffered frostbite injuries to his hands and feet and had a low core temperature of 84 degrees. He was not properly dressed for cross-county skiing, nor prepared for a night out. It's unlikely that he would have survived the night if he hadn't been located and rescued. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 1/24]
H.A., Jr., 47, was arrested on December 16, 1993, during a surveillance/sting operation involving NPS rangers, the county prosecutor's office, and New Jersey state police and state park rangers. H.A., a career criminal, was observed and photographed breaking into and removing property from a "bait" car. He was charged with being a fugitive from justice, possession of a stolen vehicle, larceny from a motor vehicle, driving on a suspended license, and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. H.A. had been involved in possibly as many as 100 vehicle break-ins over the preceding three months in a five-county, two-state region. He recently pleaded guilty in county court to burglary, receiving stolen property, and theft, and has been sentenced to seven years' incarceration with a minimum of three years' time due to his lengthy criminal record. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 3/29]
Around 5:20 p.m. on April 2nd, a call came into the park's communications center reporting that two hikers were in trouble in the vicinity of Point of Gap overlook above the Delaware River on the Pennsylvania side of the park. Rangers responded and found two 17-year-old male juveniles stranded on the talus slope several hundred feet above the parking area. The park's rescue team responded, and the two hikers were lowered separately by ropes over the next three hours. The pair said that they'd started out from the parking area, had gone directly up the talus slope, and had eventually ended up in a location where they could neither go forward nor retreat. Thirteen rangers were involved in the rescue. [Dennis Burnett, DR, DEWA, 4/4]
Around 7:30 a.m. on April 6th, S.N., 18, was found semi-conscious by his father in Worthington State Forest, which is within the boundaries of the park. S.N. had been abandoned along a nearby roadway by two camping companions, and spent the night partially clothed and under the influence of hallucinatory and other drugs. He was taken to Pocono Medical Center, where he was admitted in critical condition. An investigation was immediately begun by forest staff, who learned that another boy, J.L., 16, had been abandoned along the Appalachian Trail on top of Kittatinny Ridge. The foursome had apparently backpacked into the park with the intent of camping out for two nights; for reasons that are as yet unknown, the group separated, and S.N. and J.L. were left in the woods while heavily under the influence of a combination of drugs. A joint park/forest search was initiated. J.L. was found alive but semi-conscious at 7 p.m. that evening about a half mile from the point last seen. He was found by Dan, a Brittany spaniel, his handler, Katrene Johnson of West Jersey Canine SAR, and ranger Ron Matthews. J.L. was suffering from the effects of hypothermia and still under the effects of the drugs he had taken. At the time he was found, there were 50 people from ten state and federal agencies and volunteer groups participating in the search. An NPS overhead team from the park, with ranger Barry Sullivan as incident commander, managed the incident in cooperation with state personnel. An investigation is underway. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 4/7]
Just after noon on Monday, June 27th, rangers were notified that a visitor had fallen from the top of Buttermilk Falls in the New Jersey District. Thirteen-year-old Boy Scout N.R. was washing himself in a pool at the top of the falls; when he looked over the edge of the falls, he slipped, tumbled down the face of the falls, and landed on fellow Boy Scout Keith Bader, 15. The park's rescue/evacuation team performed a belayed carry-out from the falls. N.R. was then flown to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where he is in guarded condition with fractures to the skull and pelvis, lacerations to his spleen and liver, and kidney problems. Bader made his way to the base of the falls by foot prior to rangers' arrival; he was taken to Newton Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for bruises and abrasions and later released. Initial emergency calls were made via cellular phone by one of the Scout leaders. [Dennis Burnett, Acting CR, DEWA, 6/28]
On the afternoon of Sunday, July 10th, E.M., 14, of South Paterson, New Jersey, drowned while swimming off Smithfield Beach. According to reports made by his companions, E.M. and two friends swam about 60 feet out to the buoy line which defines the swimming area, rested briefly, then started back to shore. E.M. soon began having difficulties staying afloat; one of his friends tried to help him, but had to let go when E.M. pulled him under. By the time the lifeguards on duty at the beach were advised of the incident, E.M. was no longer visible. The lifeguards immediately ordered all swimmers out of the swim area, then began a line search for the victim. Rescue efforts were slowed due to the difficulty of getting the approximately 350 swimmers out of the water. E.M. was found underwater about eight to ten minutes after the incident was reported. Resuscitation efforts were immediately begun by park staff and local EMS responders. He was taken to Pocono Medical Center, then airlifted to a hospital in Danville, where he died late that evening. There's no indication that alcohol or drugs were involved. An investigation into the incident is underway. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 7/11]
E.G., 24, of Jersey City, New Jersey, drowned while swimming in the Delaware River near the Depew recreation area just before 1 p.m. on July 16th. According to reports made by his companions and several witnesses, E.G. waded out in the water to a depth of about five feet, remained there for several minutes, then appeared to have a seizure and disappeared under the river's surface. E.G. was pulled from the water by a companion. He was treated by park and local EMS personnel, then airlifted to Lehigh Valley Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. E.G. was under medication for epilepsy and had had a seizure about two hours prior to the incident. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 7/18]
On the morning of August 16th, the body of 24-year-old D.R. was found in a wooded area in the park near the Delaware River. D.R., who was found by his father and a police officer from Middlesex, New Jersey, was reported to be despondent about personal matters. As a youth, D.R. spent his summers in the park and stayed with his grandfather, a former park inholder. D.R.'s grandfather died about seven years ago while fishing in the same area where his grandson was found. The death is being investigated jointly by rangers and the Pennsylvania State Police. Preliminary investigation indicates that D.R. died as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. [Dan Kirschner, Supervisory Park Ranger, DEWA, 8/16]
On August 16th, aerial overflights to detect marijuana cultivation were conducted over portions of the Pennsylvania District of the park. Rangers, utilizing a helicopter and crew supplied by the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, discovered and eradicated 23 marijuana plants growing in three separate plots within the boundary near the borough of Delaware Water Gap. A decision to seize the plants rather than maintain surveillance on them was made due to a lack of manpower caused by many of the park's personnel being on the western fires and the fact that the plots were near a residential area where residents could observe the helicopter hovering above the plots. [Robert Wilson, Acting CR, DEWA, 8/19]
Last week, contractors completed work within a forested area of the park which stemmed from restitution being made from a resource violation which occurred last year. In August, 1993, a local summer resident was charged and subsequently pled guilty to cutting and damaging trees within a pristine hemlock grove. The 26-year-old defendant felled eight trees, and made several circumferential saw cuts to three very large hemlocks which were well over 100 years old and measured approximately 40 to 45 inches in diameter. Contract arborists examined the hemlocks, determined that two of the trees would succumb to their injuries, and treated the remaining trees with bark trace in an attempt to save them. Rangers were interested in seeking restitution to restore the area and remove the standing hemlocks, which were considered to be potential hazards to visitors and a nearby residential area. The park's maintenance division assisted by writing a contract to mutual specifications for bid, which was awarded to a local tree company. The defendant was ordered by the court to pay $2,000 to the contractor in restitution. The park administrative division held the check in abeyance until the work was completed to standards specified in the contract. The large hemlocks will be used by a local historical society for restoration of an old grist mill within the park. This was the park's first significant resource violation involving restitution, which was only possible through the combined efforts of the several involved divisions. [Linda Alick, Acting DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 9/13]
Fee collector Ed Rish, 48, suffered a heart attack and passed away at his home on the evening of September 23rd. Rish had worked in the park at the Route 209 fee collection stations since 1992. He is survived by his wife, Kathy, and his 15-year-old son, Christopher. A private funeral is planned. Cards of condolence may be sent to the Rish's at 134 State Street, Nanticoke, PA 18634. [Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 9/26]
During overflight operations on August 26th, a marijuana field was located near Walpack Center in the park's New Jersey district. Electronic surveillance of the patch was begun, and a video camera subsequently taped tending activity in the patch. On September 25th, a team of rangers began watching the field. Just after 11 a.m., G.T., 53, parked his vehicle near the area and walked into the patch carrying a saw. After he'd harvested half the plants and placed them in the trunk of his car, the members of the team identified themselves and made the arrest. The operation was conducted jointly with Sussex County officers, who filed numerous state charges against G.T., including two felony counts for cultivation and possession with intent to distribute. The cash value of the prime sensimilla plants was placed at $40,000. [Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 9/26]
M.C., 70, of Matamoras, Pennsylvania, was heading southbound on Route 209 in her 1993 Toyota Tercel on the afternoon of October 2nd when her vehicle crossed into the northbound lane just north of Bushkill and struck a 1993 Ford Explorer being driven by C.S., 60, of Bronx, New York. C.S. attempted to avoid M.C.'s vehicle, but was unable to do so; his vehicle was struck head-on in the front driver's side. CPR was begun on M.C. by responding EMTs. She was then taken to Pocono Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. C.S. and his five passengers were also transported to the center and treated for injuries. Investigation into the cause of the accident is continuing. [CRO, DEWA, 10/3]
Early this fall, Lt. Col. J.M. approached park staff to seek support for a program to commemorate prisoners of war and MIAs through the lighting of memorial watchfires at several locations in the park on October 22nd. J.M. represented several veterans organizations and had the support of the United States Army National Guard; he had also made arrangements for retired General William Westmoreland, commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam, to speak at the occasion. The event was held on the arranged date amid considerable fanfare. General Westmoreland gave the keynote speech before about 200 veterans at Smithfield Beach and the memorial watchfires were lit there and at three other locations. Prior to the event, however, chief ranger Doyle Nelson, law enforcement specialist Bob Wilson, and criminal investigator Bob Van Nortwick, all of whom served tours in Vietnam, began to have suspicions about J.M.'s Army service. They initiated an investigation that led to the discovery of several significant errors in J.M.'s story. While this investigation was still underway, J.M. was involved in a drunk-driving accident and was arrested by local police. During subsequent questioning, J.M. confessed that he was a complete fraud and that he had never spent a day in the military. Park staff are now working with FBI agents and Army authorities to determine J.M.'s real identity and find out how he came to hold legitimate Army identification cards. J.M., who had an imposing military presence, wore a number of ribbons and several medals, including the Silver Star. Until challenged, he had convinced military officers of all ranks of his authenticity. J.M. said that he had served as Westmoreland's briefer in Vietnam in 1966, that he'd been captured while on a recon mission in 1968, and that he helped keep fellow POWs inspired and alive by making a small flag from a piece of clothing, blood and the juice of berries. J.M. is still being held; bail has been set at $25,000, considered to be a record for a drunk driving case. He was scheduled to head a local Veterans Day parade next week, but it appears unlikely that he will be available. [Bill Halainen, MA, DEWA, 11/2]
On November 15th, a federal grand jury in Scranton returned a one count indictment against J.M.M. for impersonating a military officer during ceremonies held at Smithfield Beach on October 22nd. If convicted, J.M.M. could face up to five years in jail and a fine of $250,000. J.M.M. was arrested by FBI agents when he appeared for a preliminary hearing on drunk driving charges brought against him by a local police department. It's expected that J.M.M. will be arraigned on the federal charges within ten days. He is currently free on bail. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 11/16]
On the afternoon of November 17th, W.G., 49, was hunting pheasant in the New Jersey District when his 12 gauge shotgun accidentally discharged and he was stuck in the abdomen and left arm with bird shot. W.G. wrapped his arm with a dog leash, packed a roll of toilet paper into his abdominal wound, then walked about a mile to his car and drove to a nearby residence for assistance. W.G. was medivaced to a medical center, where he was admitted and listed in serious condition. Doctors discovered that several pellets perforated his colon; he will therefore be held for a few months so that he can be monitored for infection. He may also face reconstructive surgery. [CRO, DEWA, 12/2]
Between October 29 and December 24, 1994, eight rangers from the park's Pennsylvania District participated in a Wildlife Enforcement Team (WET) operation which led to two arrests and the issuance of 116 violation notices to 70 suspects. The WET was developed recently to interdict hunting/poaching violations. A large number of the operations were coordinated with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Several operational tactics were employed in the operations, including roving surveillance (patrol) during the day and night, hunter vehicle check points, and simulated wildlife (decoy) placements. The decoys included pheasants, ruffed grouse, turkey, deer, and bear. The most effective tactic was the daytime use of the decoy. A local television station filmed the WET at the beginning of an operational period as part of a bear poaching story. The team also conducted many other types of resource protection patrols and resource management projects during times when hunter activity was low. For further information contact, ranger Don Philpot via cc:Mail at DEWA South Zone or call 717-588-9570. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 1/18]
On March 16th, a federal judge in Scranton sentenced J.M.M. to a year's probation for impersonating an Army colonel during ceremonies featuring retired General William Westmoreland that were held in the park at Smithfield Beach on October 22, 1994. J.M.M. was also ordered to undergo psychiatric counseling and to turn over to the FBI any uniforms and military identification cards in his possession. J.M.M. has spent most of his time since his arrest in either a psychiatric ward in East Stroudsburg or at a Catholic halfway house in Scranton. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 3/22]
On the afternoon of April 4th, ranger Rich Shreffler came upon four women in a roadside field cutting and bagging three to five inch high daylilies (Hemerocallis sp.). The women were employing large straight knives to cut the daylilies, and had already collected 439 plants. One of the women said that she knew she was in a park, but that the daylilies were being collected for her use and not for commercial resale. She also explained that she was going to dry the plants, make a tea, and use the tea as medicine for a kidney ailment. The woman was cited for digging and removing plants; her companinions were warned. [Wayne Valentine, SDR, DEWA, 4/6]
On the afternoon of June 6th, three men from Queens, New York, waded across the Delaware River from the New Jersey shoreline to Depew Island. As they started to swim back, one man began to struggle. Another member of the party attempted to help the struggling man by grabbing his arm, but had to let go as the water began pulling him under. He then looked for the third member of the party, but could not find him. A fisherman on the Pennsylvania side who witnessed the trio struggling in the water summoned help, and rangers and local rescue squads responded. The bodies of the two missing men, both in their early 20s, were found a short time later. The river current was a bit above average at the time of the incident. An investigation into the cause of the drownings is underway. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 6/7]
A six-day-long search for J.S., 76, who was last seen fishing along Little Bushkill Creek just outside the park, has been suspended. More than 200 volunteers, dog teams, divers and CAP and state police aircraft were involved in the search, which was conducted in and around the park. No trace of J.S. has yet been found. An investigation into his disappearance will continue. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 6/7]
On July 31st, rangers Randy Seese and Kevin Tillman stopped a vehicle which lacked a state safety inspection sticker. The operator, J.S., was found to have numerous outstanding park violation notices against him and was on probation for possession of dangerous weapons. J.S. gave verbal consent for a search of his vehicle. The rangers found 11 individually-wrapped packets quarter-ounce packets of marijuana under the driver's seat, and arrested J.S. for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney's office, J.S. pled guilty to simple possession and traffic offenses. [Bob Wilson, Acting CR, DEWA]
On the afternoon of October 22nd, fifty golfers and several employees of Shawnee Resort became stranded on Shawnee Island (an inholding within the park) when the bridge connecting the golf course to the mainland was destroyed by floating debris on the Delaware River, which had risen rapidly to ten feet above normal levels due to very heavy rains over the previous 24 hours. Local rescue personnel and rangers responded and evacuated all parties on the island to the shore. No injuries were reported. Due to the high rate of flow and high volume of debris in the Delaware, access to the river has been restricted and will remain so until water levels drop. [Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA]
K.E.A. and A.F. were hunting in the park on October 21st when they stopped to field dress some squirrels they'd taken. When a flight of ducks approached, K.E.A. picked up his shotgun by its pistol grip; the trigger caught on some brush, the weapon discharged, and the pellets struck A.F. on the lower front portion of his right leg. They were able to report the incident at park headquarters, where an ambulance picked up A.F. and transported him to a local hospital. K.E.A. told investigating ranger Chuck Kanopsic that the safety on the shotgun was not on at the time of the incident. [CRO, DEWA]
On October 29th, rangers discovered a freshly killed deer in Peters Valley, a section of the park closed to hunting. A wildlife forensics investigation conducted by ranger Pete Roehrs put the time of death at approximately 11:35 p.m. the previous evening. The nature of the wounds to the deer were such that death would have occurred within 30 minutes of the time the deer was shot. Increased patrols in the area that evening led to the investigation of a suspicious vehicle parked along the roadway; backup was summoned, and a ranger from an adjoining New Jersey state park responded. The occupant of the vehicle, M.W., a resource manager for New Jersey Fish and Game, said that he'd heard a shot about a quarter mile away. When patrols of the area proved fruitless, ranger Mike Fernalld returned to New Jersey Fish and Game's field office to interview M.W.. The rangers found M.W.'s vehicle behind the office and discovered fresh blood in the bed of the truck and a rifle and spotlight in its cab. Further investigation led to the discovery of a hidden, freshly- killed deer and two people hiding behind the building. Conservation officers from New Jersey responded to provide assistance. M.W. confessed to his involvement in taking the deer and implicated the others. The investigation is continuing; charges against the men are pending. [Barry Sullivan, DR, New Jersey District, DEWA]
On the afternoon of June 1st, the park began a search for J.S., 76, who failed to return from a fishing trip to Bushkill Falls, just outside the park. J.S. was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. The search for J.S., which lasted six days and involved 322 people from 38 agencies, proved fruitless. On November 25th, a hunter who lives outside the area reported that he'd found J.S.'s fishing equipment, vest and license when hunting in the park in October. The hunter had attempted to contact J.S. at that time, but without success. He was unaware that J.S. was missing until he saw an article in the local paper on the 25th. The hunter took rangers and state troopers to the area where the equipment had been found. A second search was begun, which led to the discovery of several articles of J.S.'s clothing and what were subsequently determined to be J.S.'s remains. The latter were found in the park and just outside the original search area. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA]
Ranger Troy Mueller suffered a dislocated shoulder while arresting J.V. for driving under the influence on December 8th. J.V. had been stopped for erratic driving, and was found to be under the influence of both alcohol and drugs. J.V. resisted arrest and had to be physically controlled by Mueller and ranger Randy Seese. After J.V. had been locked up, Mueller noticed a sharp pain in his shoulder. He was taken to a local emergency room and treated for the injury. During the altercation with J.V., two vehicles passing the scene collided with each other. The apparent cause of the accident was rubbernecking to observe the tussle between J.V. and the rangers. [CRO, DEWA]
On the afternoon of December 9th, rangers Mike Croll and Jamie Britt spotted a man attempting to conceal himself in the woods along Old Mine Road in the park's Kittatinny Subdistrict. The man, subsequently identified as R.K. of Clifton, New Jersey, had a freshly-killed, antlerless white-tailed deer in his possession - an illegal taking, as it was during antlered deer season. The rangers determined that R.K. was hunting while under the influence of alcohol and in possession of illegal ammunition; he also at times pointed his loaded weapon at them. Investigation revealed the location where the deer had been shot and killed, and freshly-fallen snow showed that R.K. had been the only one in the area. A necropsy performed at the scene by ranger Mike Fernalld revealed that the animal had been shot and died about an hour earlier, thereby supporting the cause and time of death. R.K. was charged with multiple federal violations and also faces further charges from New Jersey wildlife officers. [CRO, DEWA]
The heavy rains which fell throughout the Mid-Atlantic regions and New England on Friday, January 19th, coupled with the melting of several feet of snow throughout the area, caused severe flooding in several parks. The following reports - some preliminary and by phone - were received as of this morning; more are expected later today: * Delaware Water Gap - Streams and a small dam began overflowing throughout the park late on the evening of Friday, January 19th. Maintenance crews were called out and worked through the night to check water flows and open roads. In the early hours of Saturday morning, ice jams further up the river broke up, releasing large amounts of impounded water. It soon became evident that the Delaware River was rising very rapidly; combined crews of maintenance and protection staff evacuated two employee families and most of their household goods from homes adjacent to the river. The incident command system was activated at 3 a.m. Route 209, a significant north-south artery through the park, was closed, as were a half dozen other park roads which had been flooded. A state police helicopter was brought in to rescue one resident living in the park under a special use permit, but he declined evacuation, noting that 1955 flood waters had been higher in his living room than the 1996 flood. Operations throughout the day focused on life safety and securing of property. The river crested at about five feet over flood stage in mid-morning, then began to recede fairly rapidly. On Sunday, team efforts focused on reopening roads and on assessing the damage that flood waters had caused. Route 209 was opened at 5 p.m. following inspection of 15 bridges and clearance of ice, mud and debris from the roadway. The damage assessment revealed the following: o Employee residences - The river came very close to both residences, but entered neither. Park staff returned all household goods to both homes. o Milford Beach - The interiors of the facilities at the beach were flooded and will have to be completely renovated. Trees, shrubs and fencing were all severely damaged and will require replacement. An assessment of road and parking lot surfaces will not be possible until the large amounts of sediment and debris are removed from the area. o Smithfield Beach - All fences and about three-quarters of the landscaping at the beach will have to be replaced, and large amounts of debris will have to be removed. o Route 209 - Although the highway has been reopened, significant work will be required to repair or replace shoulders, potholes, headwalls, and signs. o New Jersey roads - At least three roads in the New Jersey section of the park will require major rehabilitation; others will require repairs to surfaces, replacement or repair of culverts, and similar work. o General facilities - The park lost numerous trash cans, dumpsters, picnic tables, river buoys and similar items, all of which will have to be replaced. Assessment work will continue throughout the next few days. A priority will be to determine the status of the numerous small dams in the park. Estimates of the cost to repair or rehabiliate park areas will not be available until late on Monday at the earliest. The overall cost is expected to be substantial. The Delaware River Basin Commission has confirmed that floows on the Delaware were the highest since the record flood of 1955. A series of impoundments built since that time captured much of the runoff (an estimated 60 billion gallons), thereby limiting the extent of flooding. [CR, CHOH; Einar Olsen, RAD/NCFO; Bill Halainen, IO, Wet and Wild Incident, DEWA]
Additional reports have been received regarding the impacts of last week's floods: * Delaware Water Gap - The park's damage assessment team has largely completed its work and has prepared estimates of the cost of the damage inflicted by the flood. The total has been placed at $2 million. About three-quarters of that amount - approximately $1.4 million - is associated with repairs to roads and bridges. The road work includes repairs to or replacement of riprap under bridges, culverts, potholes, road heaves, drainage structures and road surfaces on Route 209 and nine other roads in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Most of the balance of the sum is associated with necessary repairs and rehabilitation of Milford Beach, Smithfield Beach, the boat ramp at Dingmans Ferry, and the Dingmans Falls, Raymondskill Falls and Childs Park trails, all in Pennsylvania, and the Depew picnic area and Kittatinny Point visitor center parking lot in New Jersey. The remaining amount stems from washouts of numerous driveways and road entrances throughout the park and from the replacement costs for signs, buoys, picnic tables, and similar smaller items which were damaged or washed away by flood waters. Many areas in the park remain closed. [Einar Olsen, CR, RAD/NCFA; Bill Halainen, DEWA]
A fire was detected along the Appalachian Trail on the New Jersey side of the park on April 6th. While hiking in to size up the fire, ranger Pete Roehrs encountered a group of eight men, five of them doctors, who'd been in the area of the fire. One member of the group, Syed Hyder, was very ill, and an ambulance was summoned to pick him up at the trailhead. In their hurry to escape the fire, the members of the group had discarded packs, clothing, and other camping equipment. These items, many of them burned, were found spread throughout the fire scene. Further investigation revealed that several members of the group were in possession of controlled substances. A criminal investigation into the origins of the fire is underway, and additional charges against members of the group are pending. [CR, DEWA]
While hunting turkeys early on the morning of May 18th, P.D. of Butler, New Jersey, was accidentally shot by his companion, J.A. of Newark, New Jersey. J.A. said that he thought he saw a turkey running by him and took a shot at it. P.D. had attempted to warn J.A. of his location by whistling and was starting to stand up when J.A. fired. P.D. was able to drive himself to the hospital and took J.A. with him. Doctors removed one pellet from his forehead and another from his right forearm. J.A. was charged under a New Jersey statute for reckless endangerment. Ranger Pete Roehrs and state officers are investigating. [Barry Sullivan, DR, DEWA]
On the afternoon of July 14th, an adult male counselor from a juvenile halfway home got into a physical confrontation with two juvenile females from the home at Smithfield Beach. The two girls, aged 14 and 15, attacked the counselor, biting, bruising and scratching him. A third female juvenile entered the fray to protect the counselor and stop the fight. At that point, two male NPS lifeguards attempted to break up the brawl and were kicked and punched by the combatants. Rangers were summoned and took all but the lifeguards into custody. The juveniles were turned over to Pennsylvania state troopers; because of overcrowding at the juvenile detention facility, however, they were released to the custody of the halfway house. Charges are pending. [Ed Whitaker, DR, DEWA]
Nearly five inches of rain from Hurricane Bertha fell on the park on July 13th, significantly raising water levels in both the Delaware River and drainages throughout the watershed. The high water caused the closure of main park beaches, which led many visitors to retreat to various creeks the following day to escape the heat and humidity. Around 4 p.m., rangers and volunteer firefighters from Milford responded to a report of an injury at Hackers Falls. A teenage girl had jumped from a rocky ledge above the falls, landed in fast-moving flood waters funneling through a constricted canyon, then hit a rock ledge, which knocked out some teeth and dazed her. A teenage boy entered the water in an attempt to rescue her, but was carried into a submerged rock which injured his ribs. Both made it to shore. The small parking lot for the falls was so full that vehicles had to be towed out of the way to permit the ambulance to get within 200 yards of the scene of the incident. The victims were taken to a hospital in New York, where the girl was admitted and the boy was treated and released. [Ed Whitaker, DR, DEWA]
A tanker truck carrying 46,000 pounds of potassium hydroxide ran off the eastbound lane of Interstate 80 adjacent to the Kittatinny Point visitor center on the morning of August 8th. Rangers responded to assist a multi- agency incident management team with the evacuation and securing of the visitor center area and the Delaware River upstream from the site of the incident. Park personnel remained on scene throughout the day and into the evening while the hazardous material was safely transferred to another tanker for removal from the area. The driver and a passenger in the truck were transported to a nearby medical center for treatment of minor injuries. Excessive speed is suspected as the cause of the accident. [Bob Wilson, Acting CR, DEWA]
An investigation begun in March into an adjacent property owner's report of debris dumping resulted in a felony auto insurance fraud case. Ranger Deborah Girard, working with the Pennsylvania State Police auto theft unit, investigated a burned-out car which had been cut into pieces and left on park land. After reconstructing the VIN, Girard was able to determine that the vehicle pieces were from a car which had been reported stolen to New York City police. Investigation revealed that the victim of the alleged theft had recently purchased another car of the same make and model, but one year newer. Girard's crime scene work and initial leads were turned over to an insurance investigator and the NYPD auto crime division. In late August, detectives filed charges against the owner for insurance fraud, attempted grand larceny, falsifying business records, providing a false written statement, and falsely reporting an accident. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA]
On September 20th, B.K., 47, recently discharged from a veteran's hospital, arrived in the park's New Jersey District, and was observed acting strangely. At 8 a.m. the next morning, rangers Wayne Valentine and Brad Clawson found him asleep in a sleeping bag near Catfish fire tower on the Appalachian Trail and woke him to check on his well-being. They found that he had a backpack stuffed with 78 packs of cigarettes and two bottles of whiskey; indications were that a third bottle had been consumed since his arrival the previous afternoon. Investigation revealed that B.K. had stopped at a nearby campsite at 3 a.m. to inquire about the tower's location, that he'd threatened suicide the day before he came to the park, and that a neighbor of his had recently committed suicide by jumping off a bridge. Due to B.K.'s suicide threat, his inadequate preparation for the trail, and concerns over his well-being, Valentine and Clawson escorted him to a nearby hospital for psychiatric evaluation. Although not substantiated, B.K. claimed that he'd hiked the entire Appalachian Trail in 1974. [Barry Sullivan, DR, DEWA]
Ranger Troy Mueller noted a red glow in the sky just west of Dingmans cemetery in the park's Pennsylvania District on the evening of October 12th. He hiked to the location and found an abandoned cabin burned to the ground. A hand line was quickly established around the ensuing surface fire. The fire was controlled by 11 p.m. Arson is suspected. The investigation continues. [Karl Merchant, IC, DEWA]
L.A., 41, was killed when he apparently lost control of his vehicle while heading northbound on River Road and struck a tree. Ace was declared dead at the scene. An autopsy revealed that his blood alcohol level was .22 at the time of the accident - more than double the legal limit. Preliminary findings also indicate that the vehicle was traveling at a speed above the posted limit. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA]
On February 13th, the body of 27-year-old B.H. was discovered in the caretaker house on the premises of the Walpack Environmental Education Center, a park cooperator, in the New Jersey District. He apparently died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the head. B.H. was employed as a cook at the Walpack Inn, a private inholding, and was temporarily house sitting at the center. Ranger Brad Clawson, law enforcement specialist Bob Wilson and New Jersey state troopers investigated the incident. [CRO, DEWA, 2/14]
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 Delaware Water Gap NRA (New Jersey/Pennsylvania) - Heavy, blowing snow and numerous fallen trees forced the closure of all park roads from late Monday night through early morning on Tuesday. Snow removal and tree clearing work was suspended on Monday night due to hazards from falling trees. One park employee was forced to spend the night in her vehicle due to road closures while commuting home and another was unable to leave home because of fallen trees. Several park residences are still without power. The storm caused two motor vehicle accidents and a structural fire from arcing powerlines. [Rick Obernesser, CR, CACO; Dan Dattilio, CR, MIMA; Rob Yates, DR, ACAD; Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 4/2-3]
Ranger Troy Mueller came upon a pickup truck during a final sweep of the Milford Beach area of the park at 11:30 p.m on Sunday, May 12th. A check of the vehicle led to the discovery of the body of T.S. of Matamoras, Pennsylvania, who had apparently died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound to his head. A shotgun and semi-automatic handgun were found next to his body, along with a brief note. T.S., who was in his late 30s, was an employee of Pike county and is survived by his wife and three daughters. A joint investigation is being conducted by park staff and Pennsylvania state troopers. [Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 5/12]
A joint undercover operation to investigate reports of sexual misconduct in park areas culminated early this week with several arrests. Rangers from Delaware Water Gap and the New Jersey state park service and officers from the Warren county prosecutor's office conducted the operation at the Kittatinny Point visitor center, Dunfield Creek trail head (on the Appalachian Trail), and an adjacent rest area on I-80. During two, four-hour periods, four individuals were arrested for sexual contact or solicitation for sexual favors and another 20 individuals approached undercover officers and engaged in sexually explicit conversations. The latter were not charged. Follow-up interviews and an associated investigation continue. Ranger Wayne Valentine was IC for the joint operation. [Barry Sullivan, New Jersey DR, DEWA, 5/21]
On the afternoon of Sunday, July 27th, R.W., Jr., 38, attempted to swim across Hidden Lake and back, a distance of about 300 yards. R.W., who was wearing jeans, began struggling on the return trip about 60 feet from shore and went under the water surface. A visitor, G.A., swam out to the spot where he went under, found R.W. on the bottom of the lake, and pulled him to shore. R.W. was pulseless and was not breathing. G.A. and another visitor began CPR while a third visitor ran to a nearby ranger resident to report the incident. L.M., a nurse who also happened to be on site, assisted with the resuscitation effort, which soon resulted in the return of Winter's heartbeat. Rangers Dan Kirschner and Chuck Kanopsic arrived on scene within four minutes of the call and provided oxygen, an oral airway, and suction. R.W. began to breathe on his own, but his initial efforts were weak. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was kept on a respirator until he began to breathe on his own. R.W. has since regained consciousness and is able to answer questions, but has no memory of the incident nor of being at Hidden Lake on that day. [Dan Kirschner, Zone Supervisor, DEWA, 7/1]
On the afternoon of July 7th, a park visitor reported recent fire damage to a structure located on the Freeman Tract Road on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware River. Investigating rangers found that about 20% of the roof of the Stone Spring House had burned as a result of an arson fire. The monetary damage to the house, which was constructed around 1840, has been placed at about $4,500. [Bob Wilson, LES, DEWA, 7/16]
On the afternoon of July 25th, D.M., her two children, aged 13 months and four years, and their unleashed dog were hiking along an unmaintained trail in the park about a half mile from the nearest road. D.M. was carrying the youngest child in a back pack. The dog, which was running about a hundred feet ahead of D.M., discovered and began barking at two black bears. The larger bear then ran directly toward D.M.. She shouted at it, but it continued running toward her. The bear stood on its hind legs, lunged at D.M., knocked her to the ground, and began biting and clawing her. The 13-month-old was thrown from the backpack during the attack. After a few seconds, the bear broke off the attack. D.M. immediately stood up and resumed shouting at the bear, positioning herself between the bear and her children as it circled and made four bluff charges toward them. The bear eventually moved off, and they were able to reach the road, where three park visitors picked the trio up and brought them home. The dog, which had run off during the attack, was waiting there for them. D.M.'s husband took her to a local hospital, where she was treated for an avulsion on the left side of her face, a smaller wound to the right side of her face, and three claw lacerations to her right upper chest. Both facial wounds required treatment by a plastic surgeon. Rangers and Pennsylvania state game officers investigated the incident, but were unable to locate the bear. D.M. said that she understood that the bear's reaction had been a natural one. No action will be taken against the animal. [Jennifer Kavanaugh, PR, DEWA, 7/26]
A brief but violent thunderstorm crossed the southern section of the park on the afternoon of August 16th, blowing down numerous trees and knocking out power in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. River Road and Old Mine Road were closed within the park along with several connecting roads to adjacent communities. Local power companies estimated that nearly 150,000 people were affected by the power outages. Power remained out on the following day, resulting in the closure of Smithfield Beach. The storm's impacts were most severe in Worthington State Forest, which is within the park's boundaries in New Jersey; about 250 trees were knocked down, several vehicles and/or tents were crushed, and three campers were injured. Park rangers and maintenance employees moved rapidly to reopen roads to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles and crews into the state forest. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 8/18]
A bomb threat which was received by the Delaware Bridge Commission around 1:30 p.m. on August 15th led to the closure of the I-80 bridge over the Delaware River. The caller indicated that the bomb was to go off at 4 p.m. the park moved quickly to close and evacuate the nearby Kittatinny Point visitor center and to warn and evacuate all river users in the area. The river access points at Kittatinny Point and Smithfield Beach were closed, and all river users were diverted off the river upstream from the bridge. State police teams swept the bridge. No bomb was found, and the bridge reopened at 4:15 p.m. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 8/18]
While checking the park campground around 1:30 a.m. on August 31st, ranger Troy Mueller had to talk with several people about a noisy party. Shortly thereafter, Mueller saw one of the party who he knew to be impaired - T.F., 30, of Red Bank, New Jersey - driving at a high rate of speed through the campground, returning some children to their campsite. Mueller flagged her down to talk with her; she told him to get out of her way, then struck him twice with her van. Mueller struck the windshield of the van with his flashlight in an attempt to defend himself. Mueller and ranger Randy Seese called for backup; three rangers and a local officer responded, and they took Franklin into custody at her campsite. T.F.'s father attempted to impede the officers and was also subdued and arrested. The F.s were transported to a county jail. Doctors determined that Mueller suffered soft tissue injuries to his knee and lower back. He will remain off-duty for a week. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 9/2]
A 39-year-old man from Chalfont, Pennsylvania, knocked on the door of the New Jersey district ranger's office around 1 p.m. on October 21st and advised rangers Mike Fernalld and Barry Sullivan that he'd just cut his wrists. The rangers provided emergency first aid and summoned an ambulance, which transported the man to a nearby hospital. While he was being treated by the rangers, the man, who was dripping wet, reported that he'd first tried to drown himself by immersing himself in nearby Flatbrook Creek; when that effort failed, he cut his left wrist, but bandaged it before heading for the ranger station. The man, who is on medication for paranoia and schizophrenia, is expected to recover from his injuries. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 10/21]
M.N., 39, of Jermyn, Pennsylvania, leaped about 60 feet to his death from the I-80 bridge which crosses the Delaware River some time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on October 21st. A Pennsylvania state trooper working a truck weight detail near the bridge noted that a truck parked near the toll plaza had been sitting there with its engine running for some time. The trooper checked the area around the bridge and found M.N.'s body submerged in the river near the Pennsylvania shore. No witnesses have yet been located. Ranger Mike Zirwas is investigating along with state police officers. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 10/21]
District ranger Karl Theune, 46, died on the morning of Friday, October 24th, following a long and tenacious battle with cancer. Karl began working in the park in 1970, just a few years after it was created. Following an initial appointment as a GS-3 fire control aid, he worked in a variety of seasonal and part-time laborer, park aid and park technician positions until he took a career position as a GS-5 park technician in the fall of 1975. During that same year, the park acquired jurisdiction over the Delaware River, and Karl soon became supervisor of what was then the River Subdistrict. He became subdistrict ranger in 1981, then river district ranger in 1983. Karl was the dive master for the park and served a term as regional dive officer for Mid- Atlantic Region. During his career, Karl received numerous letters of commendation, awards for safety, professionalism and management of river operations, and several special achievement and performance awards for his outstanding work as a ranger. But Karl was much more than even these accomplishments indicate. His skills, dedication, and love for his work were well-known among his co-workers, both past and present. He set a standard for dedication to service, commitment to work, and attention to detail. Karl was committed to improving the safety of visitors on the river; he established a river camping and services program which increased recreational opportunities for visitors, while striking a balance with the protection of park resources. Ranger Art North, who worked closely with Karl for most of his career, offered this observation: "Karl was an individual of uncommon common sense. He was a mentor, colleague, and friend to many people on the park's staff, and he will be missed by all." Karl is survived by his wife, B., his father, H., his mother, M., and his sister, L. There will be a viewing between 6 and 9 p.m. this evening at the Joseph Pula Funeral Home in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania; the funeral will take place at 10 a.m. tomorrow at St. Matthews Church in East Stroudsburg. Condolences may be sent to B.T., and/or to Mr. and Mrs. T. Contributions may be made to the Karl Theune memorial fund, which is being established to confer an annual park award for excellence in ranger service. Checks should be made out to the DEWA Employee Association, and submitted care of Bill Halainen, Delaware Water Gap NRA, Bushkill, PA 18324. [Art North, Bill Halainen, DEWA, 10/27]
On October 4th, the opening day of New Jersey's deer archery season, a hunter reported seeing a black bear which had been shot by an arrow run by his deer stand. Since there is no open season for black bears in the state, district ranger Barry Sullivan and ranger Mike Fernalld investigated. Physical evidence was gathered; the reporting party provided a description of the suspect's vehicle, its plate number and the probable location where the bear had been shot. A joint investigation was begun the following day with New Jersey Fish, Game and Wildlife wardens. An arrow was found with suspected black bear hair and blood on it. Samples were collected for forensic examination. On October 6th, Fernalld and a state warden interviewed Dominick Campaignio at his residence in Edgewater, New Jersey. In plain view were cigarettes which matched the brand found at the shooting site and arrows which almost exactly matched the arrow found. Campaignio initially denied having shot the bear, but ultimately signed a full confession after being confronted with the evidence which had been collected. Campaignio will appear in state court on November 19th. [CRO, DEWA, 10/17]
On October 6th, a group of hunters in New Jersey reported that they'd shot and tracked an eight-point deer, but that a man driving a red Jeep had stolen the deer before they could catch up with it. District ranger Barry Sullivan and ranger Mike Fernalld made contact with the jeep's owner, O.L., the following day. O.L. said that he had been hunting alone and had not taken a deer. Examination of the deer carrying rack on the Jeep revealed the presence of fresh deer blood. O.L. subsequently admitted to failing to tag a deer, failing to register it at a deer checking station, and having it butchered and taken to a taxidermist overnight. The deer's entrails were found and hair, tissue and meat samples were taken for forensic examination. An arrow was also found at the kill site which exactly matched the arrows in O.L.'s quiver. He was issued violations for the offenses by state game officers. The Tru Life Taxidermist shop, owned by Domingo Bardales of North Bergen, New Jersey, was visited by game officers the next day, and the animal was confiscated. The taxidermist was cited for accepting an unregistered deer. On October 15th, O.L. was found guilty of the charges filed against him in state court. [CRO, DEWA, 10/17]
Over the weekend of September 27th and 28th, a de-horned Brahma bull weighing between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds escaped from a rodeo show at the Shawnee Mountain ski area, which is located just outside of the park. The bull wandered into the southern end of the park during the first few days of October and was spotted by a bow hunter in a corn field near River Road on the evening of October 3rd. The bull was later seen at several other locations in or near the park. A search for the animal was begun which involved three people from the Barnes rodeo company, as many as eight people from the ski area, and six rangers. The bull disappeared, though, so the effort was scaled back to regular patrols of the area by rangers and Shawnee Mountain employees. The bull reappeared on the evening of Saturday, November 8th; it was darted with an immobilizing drug by a Shawnee Mountain employee, but still managed to evade a team of about ten rangers who attempted to track it down through cornfields around Hialeah recreation area in the dark and rain. The bull was spotted by Pennsylvania state troopers at that same location early on the evening of November 11th. Rangers and the Shawnee Mountain employee arrived within minutes. The bull was darted with 10 cc of immobilizing drug, but the drug had little effect and the bull subsequently disappeared in the woods. A state police helicopter with infrared search capability was summoned and arrived in the area around 11:30 p.m. The bull, which was still mobile despite the anesthetic, was spotted from the helicopter within a few minutes. The animal was again darted, but still did not go down. It required two more darts to immobilize it. An effort was made to hobble the bull, but it got to its feet and began walking off as this attempt was being made. Because of the bull's size, its unpredictable behavior and the lack of sufficient additional anesthetic, there were serious concerns that it would again get away and that it might run into a visitor or be struck by a car on a heavily-traveled nearby road. The bull was accordingly dispatched by the Shawnee Mountain employee. At one time or another, about a dozen rangers assisted in the two-month-long effort to locate and capture the bull. [CRO, DEWA, based on reports from Dan Kirschner, South Zone Supervisor, PA District, 11/12]
On November 10th, Hess Environmental Laboratories, located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, pled guilty in federal district court to nine felony counts for crimes associated with its environmental testing work for Tobyhanna Army Depot, three private companies and the park. The company will pay a $2 million criminal fine and $1.5 million in restitution for mail fraud, false statements, conspiracy to fraud the United States, and violations of the Clean Water Act. The company defrauded the park while conducting tests associated with soil contamination around underground storage tanks and historic structures with lead paint. M.K., former lab director for the company, received a 12-month prisons sentence for seven felony violations, including mail fraud, false claims and statements, and aiding and abetting; J.M., the present lab director, was convicted of several felony violations, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, false statements, and mail fraud. The case was investigated by criminal investigators from the Army and EPA and by EPA's inspector general. [Einar Olsen, NPS Environmental Crimes Coordinator, NCSO, 11/12]
On the evening of November 16th, ranger Don Philpot investigated a report of a suspicious blood trail that appeared to lead onto park land. Tracking was made easy by a recent snow fall and clear foot prints. Philpot followed the blood trail to a large bait pile on private property adjacent to the park. Tracks and sign at the end of the trail revealed that a deer had been removed by vehicle. Philpot contacted the Pennsylvania Game Commission and a joint investigation was undertaken. That investigation revealed that two men had killed three deer out of season, at night, with a light, and over a baited field. Evidence was collected and surveillance of the area begun. On November 24th, the opening day of bear season, the suspects' vehicle was discovered within the park. Field interviews were conducted and written statements taken from the two men. They admitted to killing the three deer - one from within the park, two outside the park over the illegal bait. All three were transported through park lands. Philpot issued two misdemeanor Lacey Act violation notices; game commission wardens are attempting to suspend the men's licenses for the next five years. During the investigation, it was determined that rangers had contacted the same two men on November 8th and charged them for shooting a decoy pheasant from a vehicle on a park road. [Don Philpot, PR, DEWA, 11/26]
While heading home form work on the afternoon of February 25th, cash clerk supervisor Joel Schwartz spotted smoke coming from around the front door and windows of a home in the borough of Delaware Water Gap. Schwartz summoned assistance from the borough's volunteer fire company through park dispatch. At that point, flames broke through the wall next to the front door. Schwartz checked the other side of the two-family house and found no one at home; the building's owner appeared on scene and attempted to enter the structure, but Schwartz convinced him to stay outside. When the fire company arrived, Schwartz, who is a retired fire chief and carries turnout gear in his vehicle, assisted in suppressing the blaze. Damage was kept to a minimum and there were no injuries. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 2/27]
On the morning of March 1st, G.K., who holds a 30-year historic lease in the park-owned Delaware View House, discovered that the building, which now houses a general store, had been forcibly entered, vandalized, and burglarized. An attempt was also made to cut phone lines and discontinue power to the building. Among other items, the thieves stole some inexpensive jewelry and several hundred one dollar bills which G.K. had thumb-tacked to interior walls with business cards attached as part of a charitable fund-raising effort. Subdistrict ranger Wayne Valentine had advised G.K. several times that the display was an invitation to a break-in. G.K. had marked most of the bills with a conspicuous pink X immediately to the left of Washington's portrait. Suspicions quickly focused on several nearby Blairstown, New Jersey, residents, and an immediate effort was made to contact local stores and filling stations in the area by phone or visit to advise owners to be on the lookout for the 'marked' currency. The owner of a local convenience store, who had been notified just an hour earlier, reported that an individual was using the currency to pay for purchases. S.C., 18, was taken into custody shortly thereafter by ranger Chris Kross and a local officer and charged with possession of stolen property, then interviewed by criminal investigator Bob Van Nortwick. Blairstown police conducted a consent search of S.C.'s quarters and discovered a substantial amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Charges are pending in Sussex County, where the burglary occurred, in Warren County, where the stolen property and drugs were found, and in federal magistrate's court. S.C. admitted to taking 299 one dollar bills, but said that he wouldn't be so stupid as to use them if he knew the bills were marked. [Barry Sullivan, Acting CR, DEWA, 3/2]
On the afternoon of January 21st, Pennsylvania District rangers were notified of an overturned canoe in the Delaware River with two victims in the water. District ranger Ed Whitaker and office assistant Kelly Althouse responded and found that R.B., 39, and V.V., 37, had been pulled from the river by David and Michael Moshinskie, two brothers who were passing through the park. R.B. and V.V. had capsized their canoe in 36 degree water; both were completely soaked and in the intermediate stages of hypothermia - R.B.'s body temperature was 94 degrees, and V.V.'s was in the high 80s. Whitaker, Althouse and ranger Larry Commisso stripped the men of their wet clothing, wrapped them in blankets and sleeping bags, and placed them near radiators in the district office. Their extremities were kept below the heart level, oxygen was administered through heat pads, and gradual rewarming was initiated. V.V. was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Newton, where he was treated and released. R.B. declined transport. V.V. recently sent a letter to the park expressing his "deep appreciation" for the efforts made by park staff: "My life passed in front of me that day, and I would not be here today without Ed and the two Samaritans who gave me a ride. My wife and children want to thank the January 21 heroes." [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 3/9]
E.S., 48, of Clifton, New Jersey, was shot while turkey hunting in the Pompey Ridge area of the park around 11 a.m. on Monday, April 20th. E.S. was struck by 13 #6 birdshot pellets fired by Angel Santana, 34, of Newark, New Jersey, and received wounds to his right hand, right leg, abdomen, and chest. Santana was about 175 feet from E.S. when the accident occurred. E.S. was treated by rangers on site, then transported by ambulance to a nearby helispot, where he was airlifted by a state police helicopter to Morristown Memorial Hospital. He was released later that night. The incident is being investigated by rangers and by New Jersey Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife wardens. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 4/20]
On April 9th, Hess Environmental Laboratories was sentenced to pay $5.5 million in restitution to 415 victims - including the park and Tobyhanna Army Depot - for various instances of environmental testing fraud, which the firm was convicted of earlier in the year. W.H., Jr., a former president of the company, has also been indicted on four charges, including conspiracy to defraud the United States, false statements, mail fraud, and violations of the Clean Water Act. [Einar Olsen, RCR, NCRO, 5/12]
A.B., 78, of Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, was killed in an auto accident on Route 209 near Dingmans campground on June 22nd. Injured were her husband, W.B., 77, who was driving, and her daughter, T.A.B., 37, who was riding in the rear seat. They were treated on the scene, then transported to Newton Memorial Hospital. Witnesses indicated that the car, which was heading north at the time, drifted across the road and hit two trees on the opposite side. The NPS and Pennsylvania State Police are investigating. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 6/22]
Boy Scout troop leader A.B., 42, was hiking on the Appalachian Trail with a group of scouts on the afternoon of July 8th when he was bitten on the left hand by a large rattlesnake. According to witnesses, A.B. apparently attempted to handle the snake, but lost control of the "smart end." A cellular phone call was made to the Boy Scout camp; staff at the camp called 911, then sent an EMT and a stokes litter to carry A.B. out. When they reached A.B., they found him attempting to walk out. He was placed in a litter and taken to a waiting ambulance. A.B.'s left hand, arm and head began swelling during the carryout, and he began slipping in and out of consciousness during the last part of the trip. He was admitted to Newton Memorial Hospital. His condition is not known. [Dispatch, DEWA, 7/9]
Ranger Wayne Valentine stopped to check a van parked along a rural dirt access road to a popular day use area on August 3rd. He found M.P., 50, of Union City, New Jersey, with a partially devoured ear of fresh corn on his lap - and an open container of liquor nearby. The appearance and size of the corn was consistent with the feed corn growing in the adjacent fields, which are under agricultural permits. Further investigation revealed that M.P. and his four compatriots had stolen an additional 477 ears of corn, which were found in the vehicle. M.P. and the others with him were cited on multiple charges for misappropriation of property, weapons and open container violations. On August 8th, Valentine again contacted M.P., who had another three bags of stolen corn and another open container of alcohol in his possession. This time, M.P. received a mandatory appearance citation. The street value of the feed corn has not yet been determined. [CRO, DEWA, 8/14]
Ranger Troy Mueller was dispatched to a report of a disabled vehicle near Zion Church about a half hour after midnight on September 7th. Although the vehicle at first appeared to be unoccupied, a woman sat up with her back to the window as he approached. She had a knife in her hand. Mueller got her to open the locked door, then asked her what she was doing. She said that she was gong to kill herself, but couldn't decide whether to use the knife or the pills in her handbag; she also told him that she'd made a prior attempt at that location, but that the knife was too dull, and showed Mueller several cuts on her abdomen. She showed him five suicide letters. Mueller was able to calm her down and get her to turn over the knife. He placed her in protective custody and took her to a local medical center for involuntary commitment. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 9/8]
A local resident came upon a car fire on National Park Drive at the south end of the park around 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 24th, and reported it to the county's emergency dispatch center. Ranger Chuck Kanopsic responded along with engines from the Upper Mount Bethel fire department. Firefighters opened the car's trunk after the fire was knocked down and found a body inside. State troopers and a crime scene unit were summoned and a joint investigation was initiated. The remains of a shotgun were found in the vehicle, but the cause of death is not yet known. Efforts are still underway to identify the victim. Homicide is suspected. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 10/26]
On the evening of October 18th, rangers Troy Mueller and Randy Seese were talking to the driver of a car parked in the Hialeah picnic area when the man, later identified as P.R., suddenly put the car in gear and fled from the area. The rangers pursued the vehicle, which came back as stolen, but lost contact south of the park. On the morning of the 21st, Mueller spotted the vehicle in the village of Shawnee, which is adjacent to the park's boundary. The vehicle was parked outside the housekeeper's dormitory for the Shawnee Inn. Surveillance was begun while other units headed to the area. A records check run on P.R. revealed an extensive criminal history (simple and aggravated assault, assault with deadly weapons, burglary, drug possession, and conspiracy to distribute drugs) and an outstanding "no bail" extradition warrant from New Jersey for a probation violation. Six rangers and two state troopers secured and entered the dormitory with the permission of the resort and arrested P.R. on multiple charges. The case was turned over to the state police, who had received the original stolen car report from Easton, Pennsylvania. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 10/23]
Rangers made a number of illegal hunting cases on October 3rd, the opening day for the deer bow seasons in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey (hunting is permitted in the park): o Ranger Mike Fernalld encountered hunters who reported that an antlerless deer had been shot in an area where only antlered deer may be taken. Fernalld followed fresh drag marks to a parked vehicle and saw an antlerless deer in plain view in the bed of the truck. The driver, N.R., 28, confessed to shooting the deer. N.R. was also cited for failing to tag the deer and for hunting with an invalid hunting license. o Rangers Ron Matthews and David Dinger came upon a Jeep Cherokee with an antlerless deer on the roof carrier. They found that the driver, J.K., 38, had illegally camped on the Appalachian Trail the previous night, then gone hunting in the morning. He allegedly shot the deer on the east side of Kittatinny Ridge, then dragged it five miles to his vehicle on the west side of the ridge. Investigation revealed that he had taken the deer at another location where the taking of antlerless deer was prohibited. o Ranger Fernalld received a report of someone shooting deer with a shotgun. He obtained a description, and soon confronted 25-year-old D.W.. When D.W. saw Fernalld, he took off his orange hunting vest and concealed his shotgun near a tree. Fernalld determined that D.W. was following a blood trail through the woods. D.W. first claimed he was hunting squirrels, then admitted to shooting a six-point buck with bird shot. He said that his plan was to find the deer, bring it back to the car, retrieve his bow hunting license, stick the deer with an arrow, then claim it as a bow kill. Evidence at the scene indicated he'd also used one-ounce, 12-gauge slugs rather than bird shot. D.W. denied shooting the slugs, but changed his story when confronted with the fact that the primer hits and extractor marks on the shell matched the firing pin and extractor on the shotgun and that this evidence would be used in court. A second man hunting with D.W., 65-year-old S.S., was also hunting with a gun loaded with slugs, though he claimed to be hunting for squirrels. o The Pennsylvania District's wildlife enforcement team, acting on intelligence gathered by team members, apprehended four men who were shooting over bait. The operation was conducted in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Team members and a state warden entered the field before dawn and waited for the men to enter their stands, then arrested them for shooting over bait. There were four bait piles in the area, each containing more than 50 pounds of shelled corn and sweet feed. The hunters, all from the New York City area, confessed to having baited the area for several days. Later that day, another hunter in a tree stand was cited for having cut down two trees to clear a shooting lane. [CRO, DEWA, 10/19]
A 16-year-old boy fell between 40 and 60 vertical feet at the lower Raymondskill Falls on the afternoon of November 24th. He and his mother were visiting the area when he decided to climb over a protective fence to take a photograph of the falls for her. Although he held onto a tree, the tree gave way, and he plunged through shrubs and small timber into the water at the base of the falls. The victim's mother drove to the home of a ranger who lives nearby and reported the accident. Park rescuers found the boy suffering from an apparent head injury, a sensitive abdomen, and mild hypothermia. The medical packaging and low-angle, belayed carryout took the rescue team about two and a half hours. Several agencies from Pennsylvania and New Jersey also responded and assisted. The boy was flown to a hospital in New Jersey, where he was found to be suffering from lacerations, a severe concussion, and a severely bruised spleen. Ranger Karl Merchant was IC; ranger Dan Kirschner was the initial responder and lead park EMT; ranger Ron Matthews lead the technical evacuation team. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 11/25]
Ranger Ron Matthews came upon and investigated vehicle tracks going one way down a dirt access road to the Delaware River on Sunday, March 7th. The tracks led him to two men who were looting a secured historic structure. Investigation by Matthews and ranger Mike Croll revealed that the two men had been to four other historic structures in the park that afternoon and had forced their way into at least two of them. Their vehicle contained a pot- bellied stove and other cultural artifacts. Both men have extensive criminal histories, including convictions stemming from thefts and possession of stolen property. They were arrested and incarcerated pending initial appearance before the magistrate on charges of trespassing and misappropriation of property. [Wayne Valentine, Acting DR, New Jersey District, DEWA, 3/9]
On the afternoon of Friday, March 26th, three climbers - D.O., T.F. and J.S. - decided to take advantage of the nice weather to go rock climbing on Mount Minsi at the south end of the park. D.O. and T.F. began climbing an established route; J.S. waited for his companions at the base of the pitch. During the climb, D.O. evidently dislodged a large rock, which knocked him off the mountain. T.F. was in the process of catching him when the climbing rope was severed by the falling boulder. D.O. fell another 130 to 150 feet to the talus slope below. J.S. heard the rock hit the ground near him. When he checked it, he came upon D.O.. J.S. detected shallow respirations and a soft pulse. He ran down across the talus field to a nearby highway and stood in the road until a vehicle stopped. The driver notified the county dispatch center via her cellular phone. J.S. then returned to D.O. and began administering CPR. Rangers and paramedics arrived on scene about 40 minutes after the fall and determined that D.O. had died. The park's high angle rescue team, comprised of rangers and representatives from the Pennsylvania and New Jersey forestry services and New Jersey state parks, worked themselves into a position above T.F., who was stranded on the cliff, and assisted him in climbing to the top of the rock face. Team members and fire and rescue personnel from several other agencies then removed D.O.'s body via a belayed carry-out down the talus slope in the dark. The response involved about 60 people from seven agencies. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 3/27]
A teenager from Newton, New Jersey, slipped and fell to his death in the Raymondskill Creek area near Raymondskill Falls on the afternoon of May 11th. Witnesses reported that he had been swimming and jumping off of the nearby rocks with three friends. His friends and a passerby looked for him in the water after he fell but were unable to find him. Park dispatch received the report around 5:25 p.m. Rescue personnel from the park, Milford Fire Department, Pennsylvania Forest Service, Pennsylvania State Police and New Jersey Forest Fire Service responded. Divers found the boy's body under a rock shelf at the base of one of the upper waterfalls - not part of the main Raymondskill Falls. The area is popular with area youths. Jumping from ledges or cliffs higher than six feet at any of the waterfalls is prohibited by regulation. [Karl Merchant, North Zone Supervisor, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 5/11]
Just before 7 p.m. on the evening of May 11th, a motorcyclist heading south on Route 209 in Bushkill at a high rate of speed crossed over into the oncoming lane in front of a Ford van, failed to make the curve, and was thrown into a guide rail. Although he was wearing a helmet, the force of the impact caused massive and fatal head and chest injuries. Rangers responded and assisted state police with the investigation and traffic control. [Jennifer Kavanaugh, PR, DEWA, 5/11]
R.A., 21, of Orange, New Jersey, drowned in the Delaware River at the Depew recreation site on the New Jersey side of the river around 10:40 a.m. on Sunday, May 30th. R.A. was swimming 15 to 20 yards from shore when he began struggling and went under. Boaters and other visitors attempted a rescue, but were unsuccessful in locating him. Ranger Wayne Valentine responded and found R.A. in about five feet of water. He was brought to shore and CPR was immediately begun. An ambulance from Blairstown took him to Hackettstown hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The investigation is continuing. [A.J. North, DR, River District, 5/30]
Rangers received a report of a man who was missing and last seen swimming in the Delaware River near Depew Recreation Site around 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 4th. D.B., 30, reportedly on a picnic with friends and family, attempted to swim across the river, but went under before reaching the other side. A search was immediately begun and the park's dive team was brought in within a half hour. No sign of D.B. was found and the search was discontinued at 9:45 p.m. The search resumed on the following morning. Rangers were aided by a New Jersey state police helicopter, by New Jersey state parks and forests staff, and by New Jersey and Pennsylvania regional SAR, search dog, rescue, and underwater recovery units. A member of the latter found and recovered D.B.'s body at 4:15 p.m. on July 5th. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 7/5]
Five juveniles and two adults went swimming at Blue Mountain Lake in the park's New Jersey District on the afternoon of Sunday, July 11th. They all went out to an island in the lake's center; while on the way back, M.B., 15, of Dover, New Jersey, slipped off his air mattress and disappeared underwater. The other members of the group were unable to find him. The incident occurred at 3:20 p.m. A 911 call was relayed to the park shortly thereafter. Members of the park's dive team entered the lake at 5:50 p.m. and recovered M.B.'s body within minutes. An autopsy will be conducted. New Jersey state troopers are investigating. [Ed Whitaker, Acting CR, DEWA, 7/11]
A northbound tractor trailer went off the east side of Route 209 north of Bushkill at 4:30 a.m. on July 16th. The truck hit a large tree and came to rest against a utility pole, where it burst into flames. The driver, Edward Hechman, kicked out the back window of the cab and escaped the burning vehicle. The fire was suppressed by a local fire department, and the driver was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he is in stable condition. The tractor was totally consumed by the fire. About 90 gallons of diesel fuel was spilled; it was cleaned up on the 17th. The highway was closed and traffic was detoured for about four hours. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 7/16]
Ranger Mike Fernalld came upon a truck parked in a unusual spot along a dirt road in a low visitor use area in the New Jersey District just after 10 p.m. on Friday, July 16th. He found a suicide note taped to the steering wheel of the vehicle. The body of R.Y., 65, of Landing, New Jersey, was found a short distance away. He had apparently died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound to the chest. The incident is being investigated by the New Jersey State Police and the NPS. [Brad Clawson, Ops Supervisor, DEWA, 7/17]
Two drownings occurred in the park over the past weekend. On Friday, July 30th, D.O., 19, of Newark, New Jersey, drowned in the Delaware River just off the Depew recreation site in the New Jersey District. D.O. was attempting to swim across the river when he began struggling in the current, yelled for assistance, then went under. A companion attempted to rescue him, but was unsuccessful. District ranger/diver Wayne Valentine located D.O.'S body in about ten feet of water. The second drowning occurred in similar circumstances on Sunday, August 1st. J.Z., 22, of Jersey City, New Jersey, and a companion decided to swim across the Delaware River from Kittatinny Point in New Jersey to the Pennsylvania shoreline. J.Z.'s companion turned back when they were half way across; J.Z. made it to the opposite shore, but began struggling on the return trip and went under. A visitor and a seasonal ranger from the nearby Kittatinny Point visitor center ran into the water, pulled him to shore, and began CPR. Additional rangers and an ambulance crew were on scene within minutes and continued resuscitation efforts. Although witnesses said that J.Z. hadn't been submerged for more than a minute, efforts to revive him proved fruitless. The latter incident took place at the same time as a response to a sizable wildfire on Kittatinny Ridge in the New Jersey District and the rescue of an injured climber from a cliff face opposite Kittatinny Point in the Pennsylvania District. [CRO, DEWA, 7/30 and 8/1]
The following updates have been received from parks being affected by Hurricane Floyd: o Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA/NJ) - The park is preparing for downed trees, potential loss of power, and potential flooding of tributaries to the Delaware River. A review has also been conducted of the four dams in the park currently being reconstructed. Three of the four do not appear to pose any concerns; staff have been working with the contractor on the fourth dam to place some additional material where there may be some risk of washing out the work in progress. [Ken Garvin and Daryl Rhodes, SERO, 9/15-16; Barbara Goodman, Superintendent, TIMU/FOCA, 9/15; Linda Brown, CR, MOCR, 9/15; Jim Zahradka, IC, CALO, 9/15; Gary Bremen, IO, BISC, 9/15; Mike Johnson, CR, FRSP, 9/15; Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 9/15; Rick Nolan, CR, FOMC, 9/15; Dave Griese, CR, FIIS, 9/15; Mike Litterst, PAO, COLO, 9/15; Denise Pearce, CAHA, 9/15; LES, CAHA, 9/16; Nora Martinez, CR, CANA, 9/16; Hattie Squires, MOCR, 9/16; Martha Bogle, COSW, 9/16; Dave Parker, FOMA, 9/16; Wally Mattis, CM, FOFR, 9/16; Gordie Wilson, FOMA/CASA, 9/16; John Tucker, Superintendent, FOSU/CHPI, 9/16; John Burn, CR, ASIS, 9/16]
The following updates have been received from parks affected by Hurricane Floyd (from north to south, more or less): o Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA/NJ) - The park was struck by heavy rains but only moderate winds (30-40 mph). Two main roads - River Road in Pennsylvania and Old Mine Road in New Jersey - are closed due to downed trees. Several earthen dams in the park were stressed by the influx of runoff but none failed; park and contractor crews monitored them through the night. The river gauge on the Delaware River reads just under 12 feet this morning. The river is expected to crest at 18 feet tomorrow morning, and does not flood until it reaches 25 feet. [Ken Garvin and Daryl Rhodes, SERO, 9/16; Jim Burnett, CR, COLO, 9/16; Earle Kittleman, PAO, NCRO, 9/16; Robert Hickman, Superintendent, PRWI, 9/16; Norm Williams, CM, TIMU/FOCA, 9/16; Brian Peters, CR, CUIS, 9/16; Jim Zahradka, DR, CALO, 9/16; LES, CAHA, 9/16; Chris Revels, KIMO, 9/16; John Breen, Superintendent, FOPU, 9/16; Dispatch, DEWA, 9/17; Greg Stiles, Ken Johnson, SHEN, 9/16; Kevin FitzGerald, CR, CACO, 9/16; John Tucker, Superintendent, FOSU/CHPI, 9/16; Jose Rosario, CR, GATE, 9/16; Rosemary Williams, CANA, 9/16; Rick Nolan, CR, FOMC, 9/17; Tim Mauch, SPR, RICH, 9/17]
The following updates have been received from parks affected by Hurricane Floyd (north to south): o Delaware Water Gap NRA (NJ/PA) - Between eight and twelve inches of rain fell on the park, largely on Thursday. The four earthen dams currently being reconstructed all held, but two significant leaks had to be stemmed at one (Little Egypt) and a second (Pickerel) came only inches from being overtopped. Aggressive pumping and/or shoring of all four began on Thursday and continues. Remaining damage stemmed largely from road erosion caused by heavy runoff. The road to the Depew recreation area will be closed indefinitely. Based on information received from parks in both Southeast and Northeast Regions, the NPS Type II team (Bob Panko) was released on Friday afternoon. [Einar Olsen, RCR, NCRO, 9/17; Mike Shaver, ACR, SAHI, 9/17; Sandy Rives, FRSP, 9/17; Bob Woody, IO, CAHA, 9/17; Ann Childress, MOCR, 9/17; George Liffert, IC, PRWI, 9/17; Jim Burnett, CR, COLO, 9/17; Paul Henry, NPS Superintendent, FLETC, 9/17; John Burns, CR, ASIS, 9/17; Jeffrey Collins, CR, HOFU, 9/17; Kevin FitzGerald, CR, CACO, 9/17; John Tucker, FOSU/CHPI, 9/17; Scott Kalbach, VAFO, 9/17; Martin Zweig, RLES, NERO, 9/17; Gordie Wilson, Superintendent, CASA/FOMA, 9/19]
The park received a report of two overdue canoeists on the Delaware River on the evening of September 28th. Rangers Mike Zirwas and Jennifer Kavanaugh began a search for the married couple, who had rented a canoe from a local business permittee, and found them in pitch darkness just a hundred yards north of the point where they'd put in at Smithfield Beach. The couple had been dropped off that morning and instructed to head downstream to Kittatinny Point. They had instead paddled upstream against the current, covering about three miles in six hours of steady paddling. According to the woman: "When we reached the fourth set of rapids and the water was still going the wrong way, we decided we had probably been going the wrong way." They turned around and paddled for 90 minutes, then pulled over to the shore to wait for morning - not realizing how close they were to the boat ramp where they'd put in seven-and-a-half hours previously. Both were okay and in remarkably good spirits. [Jennifer Kavanaugh, PR, DEWA, 10/8]
J.L., 79, of Elmhurst, New York, was heading east on Pennsylvania Highway 739 near Dingmans Bridge on the afternoon of October 18th. He failed to negotiate the last curve before the bridge; his car went off the road and tracked straight into a large tree. There were no indications of braking or any skid marks. An off-duty New Jersey police officer stopped immediately and rendered aid to J.L., who was wearing a seatbelt and had been further protected by a deployed air bag. He was conscious and suffering from only minor external injuries, but complained of chest pain and tenderness to his left lower leg. Rangers and local firefighters and ambulance corps members extricated him from the vehicle and prepared him for transport to a hospital in Newton, New Jersey. J.L. died the next day during emergency surgery for complications arising from internal injuries suffered in the accident. [CRO, DEWA, 10/19]
P.N., 85, of Allentown, Pennsylvania, died in a single-vehicle accident on Route 209 near Briscoe Mountain Road around 7:20 p.m. on the evening of December 8th. P.N.'s wife, B.N., 81, was driving the vehicle; she was severely injured and had to be medevaced to a trauma center. Passers-by were administering CPR to her when rangers arrived on scene. The P.N. vehicle struck and broke a power pole, causing the downing of live lines carrying 34,000 volts of electricity and threatening electrocution. Power company crews accordingly responded along with rangers, state troopers, and local fire and ambulance companies. The cause of the accident has not yet been determined. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 12/9]
On the morning of December 23rd, Pennsylvania state troopers and East Stroudsburg police found the remains of a homicide victim they'd been searching for since November just off River Road in the Pennsylvania District. The body was found about 50 feet inside the tree line east of an agricultural field. Although the remains have not yet been positively identified, all indications are that the victim is a man who was murdered in nearby East Stroudsburg in early November. State and Stroudsburg police are investigating. [Brian McDonnell, PR, DEWA, 12/23]
On Sunday, February 27th, rangers rescued three men who became stuck on Minisink Island in the Delaware River when passing ice temporarily jammed at that point and clogged the river. The men - D.B., 30, J.K., 39, and R.B., 39, all from Connecticut - had come down the river in a canoe and johnboat on Saturday, then camped for the night on the island. Increasing temperatures during the night caused several upstream ice jams to break loose, then stall at the south end of Minisink Island, stranding the trio. Rangers were not able to reach the island by boat, so employed a hauling system to drag them and their johnboat across the ice jam to the New Jersey shore. It took several runs to collect all their gear and their canoe. The three men were found to have fireworks and controlled substances in their possession. They were cited for possession of marijuana, possession of fireworks, and camping outside a designated area. [A.J. North, DR, River District, DEWA, 2/27]
Park dispatch received a report of a vehicle stuck near the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks at Point of Gap within the park on the afternoon of Saturday, April 15th. Dispatch then received a report that the vehicle had been hit by a train. Rangers Mike Williams, Mike Zirwas, Mark Hnat and Mike Croll responded. They found that the alleged operator, W.E., and passenger, T.G., were under the obvious influence of alcohol. Although several stories were given, it appears that the pair had been drinking at a friend's house and that they'd then decided to go four-wheeling, even though neither possessed a valid driver's license. W.E. almost immediately got the Nissan pickup struck on the tracks. As they were attempting to free the truck, a passing motorist advised them that a train was heading toward them. The Nissan was on a blind curve, so the engineer wasn't able to see it until it was too late to stop. The two men got out of the way just before it hit. There were no injuries, but the truck did not survive. An investigation is underway in conjunction with Norfolk Southern railroad police. [Mike Williams, PR, DEWA, 4/16]
Ranger Chris Kross was on foot patrol in the visitor center parking lot off Interstate 80 on the afternoon of May 25th when he saw a naked man sitting in the back seat of a parked van. When he approached the van, he saw a naked woman lying on the back seat. Kross contacted the pair; when the door opened, he was immediately overwhelmed by the strong odor of marijuana. The 41-year-old man agreed to a consent search of the van, which led to the discovery of a one pound bag of marijuana, numerous rolled marijuana cigarettes, several spent marijuana cigarettes, and drug paraphernalia. He said that he had just returned from a day trip to New York City, where he claimed to have purchased the bag of marijuana for $2,000. Investigation revealed that he routinely runs wholesale shipments of frozen pierogies - and marijuana - from the city to locations in eastern Pennsylvania, and that he also managed to rendezvous frequently with his companion in the park during these trips, an arrangement that has apparently been on-going for several years. It's not yet been determined how long he's been running pierogies and marijuana to the tri-state area. Felony charges were filed against him for possession of controlled substances, disorderly conduct, and illegal weapons. [Wayne Valentine, DR, DEWA, 5/30]
On the evening of Saturday, July 1st, G.P., 22, of New York City, drowned in the Delaware River just off the Depew recreation site in the New Jersey District. G.P. and a group of friends swam from the shoreline to Depew Island in the center of the river. On the way back, G.P. and two of his companions began struggling in the water. Nearby picnickers rescued two of the three with a ring buoy, but G.P. went under. The park was notified, and the park's dive team searched the river bottom until darkness set in. Rangers and volunteers resumed the search on Sunday. Despite intensive efforts continuing from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., no sign of him was found. On Monday, a helicopter from University Medivac flew over the river and search dogs worked the river banks, also without luck. G.P.'s body was finally found by members of the Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit just before 4 p.m. about a mile down river in 15 feet of water. Numerous agencies participated in the search effort. [Bill Laitner, Superintendent, DEWA, 7/3]
On the afternoon of July 18th, N.S., 26, of Alloway, New Jersey, was bitten on the left forefinger by a rattlesnake at the Appalachian Mountain Club's Camp Mohican facility in the park's New Jersey District. At the time of the incident, N.S. was participating in AMC's Wilderness Awareness School along with about 65 other visitors. He was taken to Newton Memorial Hospital, where doctors discovered he was allergic to anti-venom. N.S. is still under treatment and slowly recovering from the bite. N.S. evidently found the four-foot-long snake in a brushy area near one of the camp's cabins. The camp's director warned him that the snake could strike, and others in the area warned him that he was getting too close to it. Witnesses subsequently told investigating rangers that N.S. had been involved with the snake for about 45 minutes and that he actually picked it up with his bare hands. After allowing those around him to touch the snake, he put it down and was bitten as he attempted to release it. These witnesses also noted that the snake was calm at first, but became agitated as time passed. The incident occurred when camp officials were away from the group. [Chris Kross, PR, New Jersey District, DEWA, 7/21)
Just before 1 p.m. on July 25th, park dispatch received a report that a woman had been found floating in the Delaware River and that Worthington State Forest personnel were performing CPR on her on Woodcock Bar. Rangers responded and assisted in providing CPR and in getting the woman to the shore. She was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Stroudsburg, where she was pronounced dead at 2 p.m. An investigation was begun in an effort to determine her identity. Rangers learned that she was S.C., 44, of Philadelphia, and that she had been visiting a local resort with a group of mentally challenged people from a residential home. S.C. and a companion had joined a group from the resort who went out onto the river from the park's Smithfield Beach just after 10 a.m. that morning. Most of the others were in canoes; S.C. and her friend were in tubes and were wearing life jackets. At some point, S.C. got into trouble. Her companion came ashore, walked to a nearby road, and got a ride back to the resort. She didn't tell anyone that S.C. was in trouble, though. S.C. was spotted drifting in the water by passing canoeists, who notified state rangers. The coroner has confirmed that the cause of death was drowning. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death is underway. S.C. was still wearing her life jacket when found. [CRO, DEWA, 7/25]
Climber S.R., 22, a student at Haverford College near Philadelphia, fell about 120 feet to his death while climbing a cliff on Mt. Tammany around 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 29th. S.R. and climbing partner T.G. had completed a technical climb of the difficult "Double Overhang" route and were in the process of rappelling down from the top when the accident occurred. S.R. was descending on a double-rope rappel, utilizing a sling left by other climbers as an anchor. According to T.G., S.R. had descended about 15 feet when the anchor failed, causing him to fall to the ground. T.G. descended and checked S.R., but could not detect either a pulse or breath. T.G. then descended down a scree slope to Interstate 80 and flagged down a passing motorist. The motorist in turn used his cell phone to make a 911 call. A state trooper and local fire and EMS reached the scene at 8:20 p.m. The found that S.R. had suffered extensive and severe traumatic injuries and had no pulse or respirations. A carryout of the victim's body was completed after midnight by the park's high-angle rescue team and a township search and rescue squad. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 7/30]
While on patrol late on the evening of August 3rd, ranger Chuck Kanopsic came across a fire at the edge of Community Drive near its intersection with River Road. He called for a bladder bag to put out the blaze. As he approached it, though, there was an explosion, so he retreated. The park's wildland fire investigator was called in. When the rangers approached the scene, they found that there was a corpse in the fire. Pennsylvania State Police from the Swiftwater Barracks are heading the investigation, which is being conducted jointly with the park and FBI. The woman has been identified as 19-year-old B.W., a local resident. The investigation continues. [CRO, DEWA, 8/4-7]
On the evening of August 8th, the Pennsylvania State Police arrested D.C. and M.L. for the murder of 19-year-old B.W. B.W.'s burned body was found off Community Drive on August 3rd. The arrests capped a multi-agency investigation involving the Pennsylvania State Police, Monroe County DA's Office, NPS, FBI and various other metropolitan police departments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. During the five-day investigation, there were as many as 35 investigators, rangers, forensic technicians and assistant district attorneys involved in interviewing people and processing the numerous leads developed in a variety of locations in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. According to complaints filed in county court, B.W., M.L. and D.C. were involved in a love triangle. M.L. coerced D.C. into killing B.W.. D.C. lured B.W. to the Pocono Region with the story that he was picking up his suitcases for a trip the two would be taking to Florida. They reportedly got into an argument while stopped at the Hialeah Airpark parking lot off River Road. That argument degenerated into a fight, and D.C. told investigators that it ended with him shaking her until she quite moving. He put her in the trunk of his car, drove to Community Drive, placed her body on top of her suitcase and garment bag, poured gasoline over everything, set the fire, then fled. The county DA thanked all the involved agencies for working together in this cooperative investigation. He is considering seeking the death penalty for D.C. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 8/9]
Heavy rainfall in the Delaware River basin on the afternoon and evening of August 12th (the same storm that caused the widely reported heavy flooding in northern New Jersey) caused a sudden, four-foot rise in the river and stranded 39 visitors at park campsites on islands in the Delaware. Rangers from the River District, personnel from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and staff from commercial canoe rental companies worked throughout the day on August 13th to recover boats and equipment and shuttle surprised campers to take-out points. There were no injuries, but one person was arrested for boating under the influence. He was seen operating his motorized raft in an erratic manner and was evidently celebrating the recovery of the raft, which had washed away from his camp site during the night. [A.J. North, DR, River District, 8/20]
A 40-year-old New York man drowned in the Delaware River near Hialeah picnic area on the afternoon of Sunday, September 3rd. A.T. of Corona, New York, had waded out to Woodcock Bar Island with friends. They then decided to float downstream. One of the juvenile members of the group evidently got into deeper water and panicked. A.T. attempted to make a rescue, but got into trouble himself. Although the youth was able to make it to shore, A.T. went under. His companions went for help. At 4:25 p.m., the park dispatcher heard Shawnee Fire Department units being dispatched to a possible drowning in the park over a scanner and notified rangers. River District rangers A.J. North and Mike Zirwas were on patrol in the area and responded to the point where A.T. was reportedly last seen. Shortly after arriving, Zirwas spotted A.T.'S body about 40 yards off shore. The two rangers brought him to shore and began CPR at 4:34 p.m. They continued CPR with members of the Shawnee Fire Department while carrying A.T. up the steep river bank. An ambulance from Bushkill Ambulance Service transported him to the Pocono Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 5:40 p.m. A.T. was reportedly a "weak swimmer" and was not wearing a lifejacket. Hialeah picnic area does not have a lifeguarded swim beach. Smithfield Beach, which is less than two miles upriver from the picnic area, was open and lifeguards were on duty at the time of the drowning. [A.J. North, DR, River District, DEWA, 9/3]
On Friday, September 1st, rangers found the body of a 41-year-old California man at Hemlock Pond in the park's New Jersey District. He had evidently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound sometime during the previous 24 hours. The victim had sent a suicide note to his father, which was received early on Friday afternoon. Information in the note indicated that his body could be found at Hemlock Pond in "Delaware Water Gap State Park." The father, who lives in New Jersey, contacted local police, who notified Worthington State Forest rangers, who in turn notified the park. Rangers immediately began a search for the victim. His vehicle was found at Crater Lake, not far from Hemlock Pond, and his body was subsequently found at the edge of the pond, a 9mm handgun still in his hand. State police also responded. The medical examiner pronounced the victim dead at 6:30 p.m. Investigators determined that he'd flown from San Francisco to Baltimore, where he rented a vehicle and drove to the park. He apparently chose this location because he had hiked to the pond several years previously. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 9/2]
The wife of a 47-year-old Stroudsburg man who had made prior suicide attempts contacted Pennsylvania State Police and reported him missing around 2 a.m. on September 21st. A state trooper found his vehicle in the park on Mosier's Knob Road around noon and advised the park. Rangers began a search for the man shortly thereafter, and found his body within the hour. The medical examiner ruled that he'd died from a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound. About 20 people were involved in the search, including three Northeast Search and Rescue dog teams. A Pocono Medical Center helicopter was also utilized. [CRO, DEWA, 9/21]
The park and adjacent Worthington State Forest were hit by a series of car clouts during the month of September. A "bait" vehicle was obtained from the Warren County prosecutor's office and parked at the Farview trailhead with a purse inside. On September 24th, watching rangers saw a vehicle arrive on scene. A.W. got out, threw a rock through the driver's side window, reached in and stole the purse. He then got back in the car, which was being driven by A.M. Their four-year-old daughter was in the back seat. Rangers stopped their vehicle a short distance from the trailhead and took A.W. and A.M. into custody without incident. They have since been linked to a dozen other car clouts in the park and state forest. Rangers conducted a search of the motel room where A.W. and A.M. were staying and recovered stolen property, including items belonging to a person not associated with any of the break-ins in either area. State and federal charges have been filed against the pair; additional charges are pending. A.W. is being held in the Morris County Detention Center on numerous warrants. A.M. has been released on her own recognizance. Neighboring agencies have been contacted regarding other incidents of car clouting in their jurisdictions. The investigation is on-going. [Joe Hinkes, PR, DEWA, 9/24]
On the weekend of November 4th, the park hosted the United States Orienteering Federation's nationally-sanctioned championships in the area surrounding the Pocono Environmental Education Center, located in the park's Pennsylvania District. There were 600 registered participants representing 20 states and 10 countries. Orienteering is a sport in which participants use a highly-detailed map and a compass to find points called "controls" in the landscape. A standard cross-country orienteering course consists of a start, a series of control sites that are to be visited in sequential order, and a finish. The route between control sites is not specified and is entirely up to the orienteer. Courses were offered based on age and technical ability. Ages ranged from small children with their parents to several participants who were over 70; course lengths ranged from 2.5 to 8 kilometers. There was one reported injury. On Saturday, a participant impaled his upper thigh on a stick and had to be evacuated by the park's rescue team. He was treated and released from the hospital that night. Sunday's course ran smoothly, with no reported injuries. (Michele Kuna, SPU Coordinator, DEWA, 11/7)
G.S., 35, of Oak Ridge, New Jersey, was injured by shotgun pellets on the morning of November 11th while hunting in the park on the opening day of pheasant season in New Jersey. He was hit on the top of his right hand, in the corner of his right eye, and in his right temple. G.S.'s father took him to a local hospital for treatment. Although the wounds were deep, G.S. suffered no serious injuries. G.S. and his father were hunting in standing corn (permissible in New Jersey) at the time of the incident. Two other hunters were also in the area. A bird went up and one of the other hunters shot at it from about 30 or 40 yards away, hitting G.S.. The hunters were close enough to see each other. G.S.'s father yelled to them that his son had been injured, but neither of the other two hunters came to their aid. The investigation continues. [Brad Clawson, Acting DR, New Jersey District, DEWA, 11/13]
J.B., 58, of Voorhees, New Jersey, was hunting deer from a tree stand off the Peters Valley-Dingmans Road around 9 a.m. on the morning of December 5th. J.B. shot a deer, then fell 20 to 30 feet while descending from the tree stand to get it. He lay on the ground for about three hours before he was found by other hunters in the area. They notified park dispatch around 12:30 p.m. and seven rangers responded immediately along with a local rescue squad and paramedics. J.B. was conscious and communicative, but complained of pains to his back and chest. He was flown to Morristown Hospital via a Northstar helicopter ambulance and was subsequently pronounced dead at the hospital. The cause of death is not yet known; an autopsy is being conducted. Rangers will be investigating. Preliminary indications are that J.B. was not using the safety straps available with his hunting stand when the accident occurred. [Mike Fernalld, PR, New Jersey District, DEWA, 12/5]
A non-historic garage located on the grounds of the historic Peirce House just outside of Milford, Pennsylvania, burned to the ground in the early hours of Friday, December 8th. A passerby saw fire issuing from the building just before 4:30 a.m. and reported it to authorities. Fire departments from Westfall, Dingmans, Milford, Matamoras, Montague (New Jersey), and Huguenot (New York) responded and quickly contained the blaze, but not before the building was totally consumed. Pennsylvania State Police arson investigators are investigating. Preliminary results point to arson or possibly an unattended fire left by a homeless person in the building's basement. The structure had been empty for many years and was under consideration for use as a storage facility. It was associated with the Peirce House, once the residence of noted philosopher Charles Peirce and his spouse Juliette, but was not contemporaneous with the Peirces. [Susan Zoccola, Acting DR, DEWA, 12/10]
On the morning of December 8th, rangers responded to a single-car accident on Community Drive. Ranger Mark Hnat arrived just four minutes after the call and found that the driver - 17-year-old high school student D.B. - had no pulse and was not breathing. D.B. was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner. The accident was evidently caused by a combination of excessive speed and snowy, icy road conditions. An autopsy revealed the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. State police are continuing the investigation. [Susan Zoccola, Acting DR, DEWA, 12/10]
On Thursday, December 28th, the body of murder victim L.H. was found in the park near Hackers Falls, located off Route 2001 a few miles southwest of Milford, Pennsylvania. The discovery followed a confession made by the woman's husband, J.H., who was in custody at the time for a probation violation. J.H. made the confession to detectives from the East Windsor (New Jersey) Police Department, the New Jersey State Police and the Pennsylvania State Police. He said that he had beaten her to death on October 12th in Trenton, New Jersey, and gave the detectives a map showing where he had left her remains. The detectives, joined by NPS rangers, found the body almost immediately upon arrival at the scene. The investigation of the crime scene was conducted by troopers from the two states. The Pike County coroner removed the body. Police from East Windsor have jurisdiction over the crime. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 12/29]
Several reports have been received regarding the impacts of the major winter storm that struck the Northeast over the past three days: o Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA/NJ) - The park put ICS into effect on Sunday in anticipation of arrival of the storm. Operations focused primarily on keeping as many of the park's 200 miles of roads open as possible, maintaining facilities, and assuring employee and visitor safety. About 55 people were committed to the operation. The park was closed all day on Monday, but resumed normal operations Tuesday morning. Much less snow fell than was forecast. Ed Whitaker was IC. [Kevin FitzGerald, CR, CACO, 3/6; Bruce Edmonston, CR, ROVA, 3/6; Dave Griese, CR, FIIS, 3/6; Bill Halainen, IO, IMT, DEWA, 3/6]
Rangers Chris Kross and Mike Fernalld contacted six men sleeping in a GMC Suburban with Texas plates at the Kittatinny Point VC on February 27th. Only one of the six spoke any English. Two had Mexican identification cards, one had a Texas ID, and the others had no identification at all. Since none of the six had a driver's license and the vehicle was found to be uninsured, the Suburban was impounded. The six were arrested for immigration law violations and were turned over to INS agents from Newark, New Jersey. Illegal immigrants frequently travel through the park via I-80 to get to the New York city area. [Chris Kross, PR, DEWA, 3/6]
H.B., 13, of Leonardo, New Jersey, was accidentally shot by a turkey hunter near Silver Spray Farm in the park's New Jersey District just after 8 a.m. on April 23rd. H.B. had just set out three turkey decoys and was watching them when H.M., 59, fired upon one of the decoys, thinking that it was a real turkey. H.B. was beyond the decoys, but in the line of fire, and received minor wounds from shotgun pellets in his right leg and right wrist. He was taken to Newton General Hospital, where he was treated and released. H.B. was wearing full camouflage at the time. Hunters are not required to wear orange while hunting turkeys in New Jersey. The accident is being investigated by a state conservation officer and ranger Chris Kross. Charges against H.M. are pending. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 4/23]
A fire of suspicious origin destroyed a vacant house on Mosier's Knob Road early on the afternoon of Saturday, April 28th. A park maintenance worker saw a column of smoke rising from the location and reported the fire around 1:30 p.m. Rangers and volunteer firefighters from Shawnee, Bushkill and Marshalls Creek fire departments responded immediately, but the house was fully engulfed in flames by the time they arrived. A helicopter from the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry made several water drops on the structure. The fire spread to nearby brush and woods, so a park wildland fire crew and engine were also called in. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the park. Arson is suspected. [Doyle Nelson, CR, DEWA, 4/28]
On November 8th, park maintenance workers discovered that three of the buildings in historic Millbrook Village - Millbrook store, Millbrook hotel, and the Trauger house - had been broken into, and soon learned that the nearby Van Campen Inn had also been forcibly entered. A preliminary inventory of the buildings revealed that the thief or thieves had taken a complete set of "willow ware" dishes (also known as "flow blue" dishes), several silver serving pieces, two mantel clocks, two dolls, several unnamed framed pieces, and two metal toys. The value of the dolls has been placed oat over $1,000; no valuation has been placed on the willow ware, but it is rare and valuable. A full inventory is underway to determine if anything else was stolen. The Millbrook Village investigation is being led by ranger Mike Fernalld; ranger Brad Clawson is leading the Van Campen Inn investigation. [Karl Merchant, Acting DR, New Jersey District, DEWA, 11/9]
The historic Dorothy Hill House barn burned to the ground during the early hours of January 3rd. The barn was located behind the Hill House, just off Old Mine Road in the park's New Jersey District. Arson is suspected. Rangers and the local fire marshal's office are investigating. [Bill Halainen, DEWA, 1/3]
The park received a report of a fire in a building on the west side of Route 209 at the highway's south entrance around 2 a.m. on March 11th. Responding volunteer fire departments found the historic Daniel Clark house in flames. They were able to suppress the fire before the structure was fully consumed, but the unoccupied building suffered major damage. An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. Ranger Randy Seese is the lead ranger. [Editor, 3/11]
O.V., 13, drowned while swimming the Delaware River near Karamac Access in the New Jersey District on the afternoon of July 4th. O.V. arrived at Karamac with his aunt, uncle and two friends around 3 p.m. and entered the river shortly thereafter. He began struggling almost immediately and went under before others could reach him. His body was recovered by park divers from ten feet of water around 5:30 p.m. According to the boy's parents, he was unable to swim, though he told his aunt otherwise. He was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident. [Chris Nelson, DEWA, 7/5]
Ranger Randy Seese was northbound on Route 209 on the afternoon of June 17th when a black Plymouth Neon hit his radar at 70 mph in a 45 mph zone. When Seese turned to follow the Neon, the driver immediately accelerated away, gaining speed and maneuvering dangerously through traffic. Seese pursued, but the Neon continued to accelerate away - at least until it got to a bend just above the intersection with Route 739, at which point the driver found that his speed of 110 mph was also in excess of the prevailing laws of physics. The Neon left the road, traveled for several hundred feet, and came to an abrupt halt in thick, viney vegetation along the edge of the forest, completely disappearing into a wall of multiflora rose, blackberry and honeysuckle. As Seese pulled onto the road shoulder and got out of his patrol car, he heard the driver get out of the Neon and challenged him to stop. The driver instead fled into the forest. The passenger meanwhile shouted that he was trapped and said that he had no weapon. Other rangers arrived and extricated the 17-year-old from the car. He identified the driver as D.D., adding that D.D. didn't like police, that he'd just been released from jail in New Jersey, and that the last time an incident like this had happened it had taken New York State Police officers several hours and helicopters and a dog to capture D.D.. The passenger said that D.D. had fled because he had no driver's license and didn't want to go to jail again. Rangers cordoned off the area, which abuts the Delaware River. Meanwhile, a ranger on the New Jersey side of the Delaware saw a man come out of the forest and jump into the river, then turn around and head back to shore. He was met there and arrested, then taken to the Pike County jail. Investigation revealed that he had a criminal history that included property crimes, misdemeanor drug possession, and aggravated robbery. He was arraigned before a federal magistrate, then released under unsecured bond for a variety of traffic violations and for eluding and interfering with federal officers. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA, 7/2]
On the afternoon of July 21st, eight visitors - later identified as F.C.-P., M.C.-P., A.C., R.C., G.P., A.P. and two toddlers - went swimming at Bushkill launch on the Delaware River. A.P., 12, entered the river just south of the canoe launch, swam far out from shore, and got caught in the current. His father, G.P., and uncle, R.C., entered the river in an attempt to rescue him. Almost immediately, all three began to have difficulty. A.P.'s grandfather, F.C.-P., then ran down the riverbank and jumped into the river; he attempted to swim to them, but also began experiencing difficulty. Kevin Scheirer, an employee of a canoe livery, heard the commotion and saw R.C. and A.P. attempting but failing to rescue the boy. Scheirer immediately swam out to their location, grabbed the young boy, and swam him to shore. Scheirer then swam back out and rescued G.P. Upon reaching shore, Scheier heard screaming and turned to see R.C.'s arms submerge. Scheirer again swam out into the river and dove down and recovered him from the river bottom. Upon breaking the surface, R.C. began coughing and breathing again. Scheirer then brought him to shore. F.C.-P. made it back to shore unassisted. Scheirer remained with all three until EMS personnel arrived on scene. G.P. was treated on scene for shock and R.C. was flown to Lehigh Valley Medical Center. He was held overnight for observation and discharged on the following day. Scheirer's quick and selfless actions averted what would have undoubtedly been a triple, if not quadruple, drowning. [Mike Croll, PR, DEWA, 7/22]
Eighteen-year-old C.S. of Randolph, New Jersey, fell about 80 feet onto a rock ledge while rappelling from Mount Tamanny in the water gap just above I-80 on the afternoon of July 24th. C.S.'s friend used his cell phone to contact Monroe County Control. A multi-agency rescue was launched. One lane of I-80 west was closed while the rescue was underway. The rescue team rappelled to C.S., stabilized his injuries, and lowered him to the ground. Because of the steep, difficult terrain and concerns for the safety of both the victim and rescuers, the carryout took about six-and-a-half hours. C.S. was flown to Morristown Hospital. It's not yet known what caused the fall. The investigation continues. The top of Mount Tamanny is about 1,527 feet above sea level and is a popular site for climbing and rappelling in the park. [Brad Clawson, DR, New Jersey District, DEWA]
On July 26th, R.P. took his new inflatable kayak for a test run on the Delaware River. R.P., who had no experience paddling on the river, left Dingmans Access at 7 p.m. and headed for Bushkill Access. When he failed to arrive by 10 p.m., his wife contacted park dispatch and reported him missing. A preliminary search was made of the Pennsylvania shoreline, but it soon shifted to the river when campers reported seeing the kayak and noted that the paddler seemed to be having some problems and wasn't moving very fast. A multi- agency search was begun. Around 1:30 a.m., searchers from the Portland fire department located the kayak on the New Jersey shore. Nearby residents were interviewed and said that R.P. had paddled up to their house and asked for help. They'd given him a ride to Eshback landing on the Pennsylvania side, where rangers subsequently found him. He was returned safely to his wife and baby daughter around 2 a.m. R.P. did not have either a life jacket or other safety equipment with him and was dressed only in shorts, a T-shirt and flip flops. The route he'd taken between the two access points covers ten miles and normally requires at least five hours to paddle. Seven agencies participated in the search. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania District, DEWA]
On August 1st, J.Q., 24, and his brother C.Q., 32, both from Jersey City, New Jersey, attempted to wade across the Delaware River when Joael stepped into a deep hole, then panicked. His brother attempted to save him, but got into trouble himself. Bystander Dorothy Matter ran for help. C.Q., Senior, the men's father, pulled Joael to safety; meanwhile, bystander B.T., an ex-lifeguard and former Junior Olympic swimmer, pulled Cesar (junior) from the river. B.T. then called 911 from her cell phone. Q.'s family performed rescue breathing on C.Q., who recovered and regained consciousness. All three men were conscious when rangers arrived, but C.Q. (senior) was experiencing chest pains and was taken to Newton Memorial Hospital by ambulance. [Mark Hnat, PR, DEWA]
On October 3, the park hosted most of the first day of the Governor's Keystone 2002 Bicycle Ride, an annual event begun by the administration of governor Tom Ridge and continued this year by governor Mark Schweiker. The ride showcases Pennsylvania's interest in protecting the environment, enhancing tourism, and fostering healthy outdoor activities. This year's ride started at Grey Towers, the home of Forest Service founder and past governor Gifford Pinchot. The site, now a national landmark administered by the Forest Service, is on the north end of the park in the town of Milford. From there, the ride went through about 20 miles of the park's Pennsylvania District, then on to Philadelphia. Over 600 cyclists (including the superintendent, deputy superintendent, rangers and other park staff) participated. The first stop was at the park's Bushkill Access on the Delaware River, where the governor spoke briefly. Later that afternoon, the bicyclists exited the park through the borough of Delaware Water Gap. The event was supported by members of the park's maintenance, protection and administrative staff, working under ICS. Security was coordinated by the park and Pennsylvania State Police. There were no major incidents or injuries. [Submitted by Ed Whitaker, District Ranger/Incident Commander]
R.P. and J.P. were heading southbound on Route 209 on the afternoon of Friday, December 6 when their Ford F-350 and 36-foot trailer drifted off the highway. The mass and momentum of the trailer caused the truck to veer off the right side of the road. It went down into a large ditch, hit a dirt mound, and became airborne. It inverted in the air and crashed on its roof, collapsing it on the P.s. Ranger Randy Fisher was on patrol about three miles north of the accident when he was flagged down by a passing motorist and advised of the accident. Fisher called it in, then headed to the scene, where he found the P.s trapped in the wreckage. The collapsed top of the inverted truck was buried four inches into the frozen ground, preventing Fisher and other emergency responders from reaching the couple. It took park rangers and personnel from four local volunteer fire department rescue crews with hydraulic tools about a half-hour to free them. R.P. was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital, but his wife, J.P., was pronounced dead at the scene. Route 209 was closed for five hours due to the size of the damaged vehicles and difficulties incurred in removing them. Traffic was rerouted on a 12-mile detour using rural side roads. The response to the accident was managed under ICS. It involved two ambulance companies, a medevac helicopter, four volunteer fire departments, and park protection and maintenance employees. The IC was district ranger Ed Whitaker. [Submitted by Phil Selleck, Chief Ranger]
C.R., 18, of East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, died from injuries sustained in a two-car accident on Route 209 just north of Bushkill around 10:40 p.m. on the night of Saturday, December 21. M.M., a passenger in C.R.'s Accura, is in critical but stable condition in a hospital in Bethlehem. Four teenagers in the other vehicle were treated at a local hospital and released. Both cars were heading north on 209. C.R.'s car left the road at a very high rate of speed, flipped over as it literally flew through some trees, traveled several hundred feet through the air, and landed upside down on the highway. C.R. and M.M. were both ejected. The second vehicle then hit their vehicle. Rangers are conducting an investigation. [Submitted by Karl Merchant, Acting Chief Ranger]
On January 8, M.K. was sentenced to two months in jail,
$2,000 in fines and a year's probation following his conviction on two
counts of possession of marijuana (21 USC 844). On July 27, 2001,
M.K. was stopped for speeding on Route 611 by ranger Gregg Tinkham.
During the ensuing investigation, Tinkham found over four pounds of
marijuana in M.K.'s Ford Mustang and 41 grams on his person. Four
months later, Tinkham again pulled M.K. over for a traffic violation.
A consent search of his commercial truck led to the recovery of a small
amount of marijuana in the cab. M.K. later pleaded guilty to all
charges, but was able to have his sentence reduced in part because of
information he supplied that led rangers Don Philpot and Brian McDonnell
to stop a cocaine dealer traveling on the same route and seize seven
baggies of cocaine from him. The dealer pleaded guilty to two 36 CFR
charges and paid $600 in fines.
On the evening of March 21st, park dispatch received a call from the
dispatch center in Newton, New Jersey, advising that a 911 call had been
received from a mountain biker who'd been injured while riding in the
park near Blue Mountain Lakes. Ranger Mike Fernalld drove to Hemlock
Pond and began looking for him. He found G.S. lying on the
ground in water just after 8 p.m. Rain was pouring down, and the
temperature was in the low 40s. G.S. said that he'd been biking on
the designated mountain biking trail, which was still covered in snow
and ice in many places. While trying to beat the darkness back to his
truck, he hit a limb, lost control, and put his foot down to catch
himself. He landed wrong, though, and heard a distinct crack in his left
ankle. He'd called out on his cell phone several times before getting
through on the 911 line. G.S. was shivering violently and
uncontrollably and determined to be in the first phases of hypothermia.
Fernalld splinted G.S.'s leg and helped him to his jeep. G.S.
was transferred to an ambulance at the Blue Mountain Lake parking area
and taken to Newton Memorial Hospital, where he underwent surgery to
repair a fracture in his left ankle.
On Thursday, June 5th, F.M., 19, and three friends climbed
over a rail fence near Raymondskill Falls and entered a stretch of the
creek between two waterfalls that's posted closed to swimming. Due to
rains that have fallen throughout the month, the ground has become fully
saturated and most of the runoff has gone into area creeks and rivers,
increasing their volume and currents and making them hazardous to enter.
All four swam in the creek; three of them made it back to shore, but
F.M. tried to climb out on a partly-submerged tree, slipped and went
over the 40-foot lower falls. Over the course of Thursday evening and
the next three days, repeated efforts were made to reach F.M.'s
body, which rangers believe is caught in a hydraulic at the bottom of
the falls. Search dogs repeatedly alerted at that spot, confirming that
premise. Members of the park's dive team and Northeast Search and Rescue
have been unable to get close to the falls, and efforts to locate the
body with a remote camera have also been fruitless. Water levels in the
creek rose over the course of the weekend due to hard rains on Saturday.
Rangers are currently evaluating options as to how to proceed from here.
Ed Whitaker, Pennsylvania district ranger, is IC.
On Thursday, June 12th, rangers recovered the body of a 19-year-old
man who drowned in Raymondskill Creek on the afternoon of June 5th.
F.M. of New City, New York, was swimming in the creek above a
40-foot waterfall with three friends, despite signs stating that the
area is closed to swimming and a split-rail fence barrier between the
trail to a viewpoint of the falls and the creek itself. He was caught in
the current and swept over the falls. Rangers had been trying to recover
his body for a week, but the volume of water coming over the falls,
which remained high due to intermittent rain, stymied repeated efforts
to reach him by kayakers and divers. On June 11th, rangers completed the
complicated setup required for the next phase of the recovery effort,
which would have entailed running a boat along a line at the base of the
falls between two fixed anchor points and probing for F.M.'s body.
That operation was about to get underway, when arriving rangers found
that F.M.'s body had surfaced in the pool at the bottom of the falls
sometime during the previous night. The family, which had been on scene
for much of the week, was present when he was brought to shore. An
autopsy will be conducted. The family released a statement to the media,
part of which read as follows: "The family [remained] in constant
contact [through the week] with Ranger Ed Whitaker [IC] and Ranger Sue
Zoccola [family liaison], who provided updated information and an
amazing sense of compassion and determination to returning the body of a
young man to his family, whom they never had the privilege of meeting.
The family would like to thank all the friends and family who have shown
love and support during this tragedy. Furthermore, they would like to
extend their extreme gratitude and thanks to Ranger Whitaker, Ranger
Zoccola, the National Park Service, Northeast Search and Rescue, local
fire and emergency services, and everyone else who has offered help,
risking their lives to find Frank." Marigliano graduated from high
school last year, where he was a varsity athlete in football and track
and field, and had just finished his freshman year at the State
University of New York in Albany. He was an avid outdoorsman and hunter
and a eucharistic minister at St. Augustine Church in his hometown of
New City, New York.
On the evening of June 23rd, an inexperienced kayaker overturned on
Big Bushkill Creek west of the bridge on Route 209. The incident was
reported by his daughter, who was awaiting his arrival at the bridge
when she saw his empty kayak coming down the creek. Rangers organized a
hasty search of the creek between 209 and Winona Falls Road. After
nearly two hours of searching, the found the 59-year-old man stranded on
an island in the creek. A rope system was used to bring him to shore. He
was chilled but otherwise uninjured. He was wearing a lifejacket at the
time of the incident.
J.R.G.-M., 22, of Newark, New Jersey, drowned in the
Delaware River near the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center in Delaware
Water Gap National Recreation Area around 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 3rd.
J.R.G.-M. attempted to swim across the river from the New Jersey
shoreline to the Pennsylvania shoreline. He made it about three-quarters
of the way across the river when he began to struggle, then disappeared
under the river's surface. Rangers were immediately notified by
bystanders and responded. J.R.G.-M.'s body was found and recovered
by park divers near the point where he'd last been seen around 5:30 p.m.
Knowlton Township Fire and Rescue assisted the National Park Service and
the J.R.G.-M. family during the incident.
Early on the afternoon of Monday, August 11th, a Pontiac Sunfire was
heading south on Route 615 in the park's New Jersey District when a tree
fell on the vehicle. The tree crushed the passenger side roof of the
Sunfire, entrapping both the front and rear seat passengers. Both
passengers suffered severe head and chest trauma and were pronounced
dead at the scene. The driver was flown by medevac helicopter to
Morristown Hospital, where she was treated for non-life-threatening
injuries. The passengers were identified as K.M., 41, and
her nine-year-old daughter, Ka.M.. The accident is being jointly
investigated with the New Jersey State Police.
On the evening of August 16th, rangers Mike Croll and Joe Hinkes
stopped a vehicle for speeding in the park's New Jersey District. The
driver, R.T. Jr. was uncooperative. He was found to be under
the influence of alcohol or drugs and placed under arrest. While Croll
and Hinkes were dealing with R.T., passenger J.N. took the car
keys and placed them in his pocket. The rangers repeatedly asked J.N.
to surrender the keys, but J.N. would not comply. They accordingly
arrested him for interference. During the arrest, J.N. fought with the
rangers, who employed a combination of strikes to the common peroneal
with their knees and OC spray to effect the arrest (J.N. later admitted
to being under the influence of alcohol and crack cocaine). During the
initial contact, Croll and Hinkes had seen a Sentry combination safe in
plain view in the vehicle. Neither R.T. nor J.N. could explain the
presence of the safe. Ranger Jeremy Murphy impounded the vehicle while
Croll and Hinkes transported the two men to jail. During the trip,
R.T. and J.N. kicked out the lexan partition in the prisoner cage.
With the assistance of additional rangers, their feet were secured and
they continued on to jail. On August 17th, Croll and Hinkes were
notified that several buildings in historic Millbrook Village had been
broken into - for the third time this year. One of the items
immediately identified as stolen was a Sentry combination safe. The two
rangers were also able to match footprints left on the doors that were
kicked in to gain entry to the buildings with the footprints left on the
lexan partition of the prisoner cage. The Millbrook Village crime scene
was secured, then processed the following day with the assistance of the
Warren County prosecutor's office. Representatives from that office
agreed to prosecute R.T. and J.N. for the burglary and theft in
addition to their prosecution on federal charges. NPS rangers in the
state of New Jersey are classified as peace officers and thus have the
ability to charge suspects with first, second or third degree crimes
throughout the state. Croll and Hinkes secured state arrest warrants for
R.T. and J.N. and transferred custody of the two men from the jail in
Pike County (PA) to the jail in Warren County (NJ), where they are each
being held on $50,000 cash bail. Among other items seized from the
vehicle were several antique quilts, articles of clothing, and pictures
with NPS inventory numbers on them, as well as a large baseball card
collection. There was also a letter from an antique dealer to R.T.
thanking him for the recent sale of a historic letter and information
from the Internet regarding historic documents. The investigation is
continuing with the assistance of park SA Bob VanNortwick and Warren
County detectives.
Preparations continue along the East Coast for the imminent arrival of Hurricane Isabel. Reports received as of this morning follow, from south to north:
Parks to the south of the Carolinas are all keeping a wary eye on the storm, just in case the course changes, but generally remain in a "stand by" mode. Prepared from reports submitted by Bob Vogel, Superintendent, CALO; Dann Trexler, IC, CAHA; Tom Nash, CR, COLO; Vince Santucci, CR, GWMP; Laura Illige, CI, ROCR; Einar Olsen, RCR, NCRO; Mike Hill, Superintendent, ASIS; Bill Halainen, IO, DEWA; Frank Mills, IC, STLI; and Wayne Valentine, IC, FIIS.
Despite its weakening, Hurricane Isabel remains a serious threat to portions of the northeast coastline and to nearby inland areas. Parks in those regions continue to prepare for its arrival. As a precautionary measure, one of the Service's two national Type 1 teams (JD Swed's team) will be staging in Charlotte, North Carolina, in order to be prepared to respond as needed to any park or area. A number of Type 2 teams are also on standby. Here's a rundown on the status of many of the parks in or near the storm's path (south to north):
This summary was compiled from reports submitted by Randy Coffman, DL&ES, WASO; Wouter Ketel, IC, CALO; Ann Childress, Superintendent, MOCR; Mark Hardgrover, Deputy Superintendent, CAHA; Mike Hill, Superintendent, ASIS; Duane Erwin, Chief Ranger, and Russ Whitlock, Deputy Director, WOTR; Stephen Syphax, NACE; Laura Illige, CI, ROCR; Doug Wallner, Acting Regional Chief Ranger, NERO; Wayne Valentine, IC, FIIS; Tom Nash, Chief Ranger, COLO; Charles Strickfaden, Chief Ranger, FOMC; Frank Mills, Assistant Superintendent, STLI; and Wayne Sanders, Chief of Maintenance, GEWA/THST.
Eastern parks in the path or potential path of Isabel have completed preparations. As a precautionary measure, one of the Service's two national Type 1 teams (JD Swed's team) has staging in Charlotte, North Carolina, in order to be prepared to respond as needed to any park or area. A number of Type 2 teams are also on standby. All federal agencies in the Washington area are closed today, including the NPS Washington Office. OPM will monitor the weather and make a determination later today on whether or not offices will reopen on Friday. Here's a rundown on the status of many of the parks in or near the storm's path (south to north):
This summary was compiled from reports submitted by Ken Garvin, SERO; Brenda Ritchie, EICC, SHEN; Russ Wilson, Superintendent, SAHO/GATE; Ann Childress, Superintendent, MOCR; Mark Hardgrove, Assistant Superintendent, CAHA; Mike Litterst, PIO, COLO; Bob Kirby, Superintendent, PETE; Wayne Valentine, IC, FIIS; José Rosario, Acting Chief, Park Operations Support, GATE; Cindy MacLeod, Superintendent, RICH; William Kenyon, NCR Dispatch; Scot McElveen, Chief Ranger, HAFE; Wayne Sanders, Chief of Maintenance, GEWA/THST; Tom Nash, Chief Ranger, COLO; Russ Smith, Superintendent, FRSP; Clay Jordan, IC, SHEN; Steven Ambrose, Park Ranger, HOFU; Frank Mills, IC, STLI; Ed Whitaker, IC, DEWA.
Due to the ongoing passage of Hurricane Isabel through the eastern states, not all parks have been able to report on their status. Here's a rundown of those that had been heard from as of late yesterday evening (south to north):
Meanwhile, the NPS Type 1 IMT (JD Swed, IC) is currently staged in Charlotte, North Carolina, working with the regional emergency response coordinators for the three regions (SER, NCR, NER) on providing assistance to parks currently being affected by Hurricane Isabel. The Type 1 team has compiled contact lists and has provided a team liaison to assist at the North Carolina Emergency Operations Center. Parks should report their current situations to their respective emergency response coordinators and make requests for resources and assistance to them. The Type 1 team will coordinate these requests with the regional emergency coordinator to determine the appropriate response. More information will be available later today, once parks have had an opportunity to complete preliminary assessments on their needs. This summary was compiled from reports submitted by Ken Garvin, SERO; Brenda Ritchie, EICC, SHEN; Cindy MacLeod, Superintendent, RICH; Bob Vogel, Superintendent, CALO; Mark Hardgrove, Assistant Superintendent, CAHA; Barry Munyan, ADR, CAHA; Vince Santucci, Chief Ranger, GWMP; Doug Wallner, Acting Regional Chief Ranger, NERO; Laura Joss, General Superintendent, FOMC/HAMP; Bob Martin, Regional Chief Ranger, NERO; Carla Hauser Hahn, Executive Assistant, UPDE; Phillip Correl, Director, NEJE; Reed Johnson, Superintendent, APCO; Wayne Valentine, IC, FIIS; Ed Whitaker, IC, DEWA; Kris Fister, IO, Type 1 IMT.
A Vermont state trooper was killed while attempting to apprehend a
fleeing driver on June 15th. Sgt. M.J., 39, was struck and
killed by E.D., 23, of Lebanon, New Hampshire. E.D. abandoned his
car after hitting M.J., leaving him lying in the median with fatal
injuries. He caught a ride down the Connecticut River with an
unsuspecting canoeists, then headed south with the assistance of
friends. Investigators developed information that E.D. had been dropped
off in Delaware Water Gap NRA, where he was going to pick up the
Appalachian Trail in an effort to elude police. Delaware Water Gap
rangers joined the search for E.D. on June 17th. E.D. was found and
captured by Pennsylvania state troopers on the Appalachian Trail near
Wind Gap that day. He had backpacking equipment and fishing gear with
him and had shaved off his goatee in an apparent attempt to change his
appearance. E.D. did not resist arrest. He's being extradited back to
Vermont to face state charges. M.J. is the fourth Vermont trooper to
die in the line of duty and the first to be killed by the actions of
another person.
At 1:15 p.m. on the afternoon of Saturday, October 25th, a rail
excursion that originated at Steamtown NHS derailed near Point of Gap
within Delaware Water Gap NRA. This was a low-speed derailment that
occurred while the train was negotiating a curve; a coal tender and six
passenger cars were involved. More than 300 passengers were on the
excursion, but many had already disembarked during a previous stop in
the nearby town of East Stroudsburg to join in activities scheduled by
the community to coincide with the event. Of the 228 passengers who
remained on board for the trip to Slateford (an area where switching
operations were to be conducted to ready the train for the return trip
to Steamtown), none sustained any injuries. Although the train was
scheduled to return to Steamtown by 5:45 p.m., a delay of approximately
four hours occurred while awaiting the arrival of alternate motive
power. Through coordination with the Delaware Lackawanna Railroad
Company, a diesel locomotive was dispatched with three additional
coaches in tow. After stopping in East Stroudsburg to board the
remaining passengers, the train continued to Point of Gap, arriving
there at approximately 7 p.m. The three coaches that had not derailed
were coupled to it and it returned to Steamtown, arriving just before 10
p.m. This excursion was one of three special trips conducted between
Steamtown and Delaware Water Gap during the 2003 season. Introduced over
the Labor Day Weekend to celebrate the physical and thematic linkages
between Pennsylvania's national parks, the first Pocono region excursion
carried 650 passengers to Point of Gap for a special commemorative
ceremony. On Saturday, October 11th, a second excursion traveled along
the same route, by way of East Stroudsburg to Slateford, with nearly 300
passengers on board.
Skeletal remains were found on NPS lands near the Appalachian Trail
two miles south of Delaware Water Gap NRA on Monday, November 24th. A
man was searching for his lost dog when he found the remains about 500
feet from the trail and near the Kirkridge shelter. Investigators
suspected that they were the remains of C.D., who had been missing
since he killed his wife with a hammer on May 31, 1988. His wrecked car
had been found about a half mile from the point where the remains were
discovered, but he had not been seen since that date. It took some time
for DNA tests to be completed to determine the identity of the victim.
The county coroner worked with a forensic anthropologist to match DNA
from the remains with one of C.D.'s surviving brothers. The two samples
had the same DNA sequence. C.D., who was 65 at the time of his death,
was a decorated World War II veteran who was among just a handful of
survivors from the infamous "Malmedy Massacre" that occurred during the
Battle of the Bulge in 1944. He had reportedly been treated for medical
and emotional problems at VA hospitals shortly before his wife was
killed. His case has been profiled on the television program "America's
Most Wanted."
On January 22nd, rangers received a call from the Monroe County
emergency center reporting the receipt of a 911 call from a hiker who
said that he'd come upon a possible dead person along the Appalachian
Trail. The victim, a 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, was found
approximately a mile south of the Lake Lenape trailhead on the AT near
Eureka Creek. Investigation revealed that the victim had slit a wrist
with the sharp edge of a broken large glass soda bottle, then consumed
four different types of prescription medications — a total of over
200 pills. Rangers also discovered that he'd checked out of a
15-day-long rehab program one day prior to parking his car at the
trailhead parking lot. His body was raised 20 vertical feet, then
carried out about a half mile on a wheeled litter. There was a foot of
snow on the ground and temperatures were hovering around zero. The
Pennsylvania State Police and the Monroe County Coroner's Office
assisted with the investigation.
Ranger Don Philpot was conducting a traffic stop on Route 611 within
the park on January 23rd when he saw a Jeep Grand Cherokee pass that was
running on two rims, with sparks flying. Philpot pulled the Jeep over
and identified the operator as B.A. B.A., who appeared
to be intoxicated, immediately became belligerent toward Philpot, who
placed him under arrest. A check on the Cherokee revealed that it had
been stolen and had been involved in at least four hit-and-run
accidents. It had also been driven into a home. B.A. fled from the
scene of all five accidents. State and federal charges are pending.
Rangers Ed Appel, Mike Croll and Randy Fisher responded to a report of a possible stolen vehicle at the Dingman's Ferry post office on February 7th. Before arriving, the rangers formulated a plan to conduct a felony stop if the vehicle was indeed there. When they got to the post office, they found that the truck was still there and that two people were inside. During the felony car stop, the passenger got out of the pickup and fled on foot through the snow and across a road into a wooded area. Fisher pursued and was able to take him own at gunpoint. Croll assisted Fisher with handcuffing and walking the suspect back to a safe location near the patrol vehicles. Appel had been covering the driver at gunpoint during this time. Croll and Fisher were then able to place the driver into custody without further incident. [Submitted by Chris Kross, Supervisory Park Ranger]
The body of a 44-year-old woman was found in her car at the Resort
Point Overlook on February 19th. Four different types of prescription
medications and a hand written note that included names and numbers were
found in the vehicle. This was the second suicide within a month in the
same general area of the park.
The park received a report of a body lying in a pulloff near mile
marker 18 on Route 209 just after 6 a.m.on
June 20th. The victim had been shot at close range with a 12-gauge
shotgun — once in the body, once in the head. Pennsylvania State
Police troopers led the investigation, with assistance from NPS special
agent Bob VanNortwick. The victim was identified as Antonio Magalhaes of
Newark, New Jersey. The investigation led to the interview of E.F.
of Elizabeth, New Jersey, who was staying in a second home in a
nearby community. During the interview, investigators found "biological
material" on E.F.'s clothing that matched similar material found at
the crime scene. E.F.'s vehicle was found at his girlfriend's house
in Rosell Park, New Jersey. In it was a shotgun and other items that
provided sufficient evidence for a murder charge to be filed against
him. He is being held without bail at the Pike County Correctional
Facility.
Y.C., 22, of North Bergen, New Jersey, was killed on the
morning of Saturday, July 17th, when he jumped from an abandoned
railroad abutment into the Delaware River. Y.C. and four companions
had been swimming in the river near the old Karamac railroad bridge on
the New Jersey side of the river. According to his companions, who
witnessed the accident, Y.C. climbed to the top of the abutment and
jumped into the river. He surfaced once and appeared to be having
difficulty swimming. One of his friends jumped into the water and
attempted to swim to him, but Y.C. disappeared before he could get
there. The park's dive team responded immediately and recovered the body
from about 12 feet of water. State park rangers from Worthington State
Forest assisted in the search and recovery effort. The cause of death is
presumed to be drowning. According to his companions, Y.C. had been to
the area many times previously and made the jump from top of the
abutment, which is about 50 feet above the river. Alcohol may have been
involved. This was the park's first water-related fatality this
summer.
T.C., 44, of Effort, Pennsylvania, was killed on Saturday
afternoon when she slipped off a log and fell into Raymondskill Creek.
According to friends who witnessed the accident, she was one of a group
of six visitors who crossed the creek on a log that was about 30 feet
above the water. Everyone else in the group crossed by straddling the
log and sidling over, but T.C. attempted to walk across. She lost her
balance, held onto the log for a moment with her hands, then lost her
grip and fell into the creek below. The water was only about ten inches
deep at that point and T.C. struck the rocks below the stream's
surface. Her friends immediately pulled her out of the creek and
reported later that she remained conscious for a short time. One member
of the party hiked out to the trailhead and called 911. Park rangers,
paramedics, and the Milford Fire Department rescue team responded
immediately, arriving with a few minutes of the initial call. By the
time the rescuers arrived, T.C. was unconscious and had stopped
breathing. CPR was begun and a defibrillator unit was used at the scene,
but T.C. never regained consciousness. The cause of death is presumed
to be traumatic injury associated with the fall. The accident occurred
in an area where there are no established trails. T.C. is survived by
her husband and five children.
The following reports, some preliminary, had been received through late Sunday regarding the impacts that Hurricane Ivan had from landfall on the Gulf Coast through departure in the Northeast: Delaware Water Gap NRA — Rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Ivan was forecast to be in the range of two to three inches, but at least triple that amount fell in a short time between Friday evening and early Saturday morning. The consequent flooding throughout much of Pennsylvania was so significant that Governor Ed Rendell issued a disaster declaration for 34 counties. Parts of New Jersey, New York and nearby states were similarly affected. The park, which lies along the Delaware River and has districts in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, sustained considerable damage from fast moving waters. The Delaware River normally runs about five feet deep and at about 8,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the principal gauge in the park at this time of year, but rose over the course of about twelve hours on Saturday to nearly 30 feet and 140,000 cfs — a volume commensurate with previous floods but at a rate of increase not seen in anyone's memory. Tributaries to the river were quickly out of their banks and caused considerable damage to roads, culverts and bridges. Small streams and sheet flow filled basements and caused serious erosion problems throughout the area. The park immediately went into ICS. Maintenance crews and rangers spent the first hours closing roads, cutting up downed trees to free drivers who'd gotten trapped on roads, and scrambling to shore up bridge abutments and wing walls. Closures included 20 miles of Route 209, a primary north-south highway through the Pennsylvania District, and significant sections of other primary roads — Old Mine Road and Route 615 in New Jersey and River Road in Pennsylvania. A dozen lesser roads were also closed, as was the entire river corridor. Saturday ended with two boat rescues of stranded motorists on Route 209. One of these rescues, which required a coordinated effort among several agencies in darkness and with waters rising rapidly, was of a couple who'd driven around a barrier on the highway. Their vehicle has not yet resurfaced. The Delaware River crested in the early hours on Sunday morning and began to slowly recede. The IMT spent Sunday conducting damage assessments. Preliminary findings included the following:
Damage assessment will continue today and through the week, including
an evaluation of the park's many dams (more than any other park in the
system).
Here's today's roundup of post-hurricane reports: Delaware Water Gap NRA — Road and river closures stemming from Friday night's rains continued yesterday. As of 10:30 a.m. Monday morning, the Delaware River, as measured at the Montague river gauge, had fallen to 16.2 feet, down from its Saturday night crest of 28.4 feet. The river normally runs at 5 to 6 feet at this gauge and flood stage is 25 feet. The river flow at Montague was about 52,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) on Monday, considerably above its normal mean of just over 8,000 cfs but well below the peak flow on Saturday of nearly 170,000 cfs. Only two previous floods on the Delaware River — one in 1903 and the other in 1955 — have exceeded these peaks. National Weather Service forecasters are predicting a continuing steady decline in river height over the next several days. Because the river is still running high and fast and is filled with debris, the park is continuing its closure of the river corridor to all use from Milford to Delaware Water Gap. The river will remain closed until further notice. Road closures continue in the park as crews remove trees and debris and assess damage to road surfaces, shoulders and bridges. The section of Route 209 from its junction at Route 206 near Milford to its junction with Route 739 has been reopened, but the section from Route 739 south to the intersection with Bushkill Falls Road in Bushkill remains closed and will not be reopened until Federal Highway Administration engineers examine the bridges at Dingmans Creek and Toms Creek to determine their structural integrity. Fast moving stream waters eroded the earth behind the abutments and wing walls under these bridges. All feeder roads between SR 2001 and Route 209 from Route 739 to Bushkill are also closed. River Road remains closed from just north of the town of Shawnee to park headquarters. Old Mine Road in New Jersey is closed from Millbrook Village south to Interstate 80 and will remain closed indefinitely due to undercutting at its south end. The Kittatinny Point Visitor Center remains flooded and inaccessible. Most public use areas and many other smaller roads in the park also remain closed. Reports from Peter Givens, IO, Incident Management Team, GUIS; Nancy Poe, CHAT; John Stiner, CANA; Phil Noblitt, PIO, BLRI; Bill Halainen, IO, Incident Management Team, DEWA; Al Henry, Chief Ranger, UPDE.
Today's update on Hurricane Ivan recovery operations follows. SERO has conducted a survey of all its parks — only those areas listed had reported problems not previously noted: Delaware Water Gap NRA — Road and river closures stemming from Friday night's rains continue. As of 9:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, the Delaware River, as measured at the Montague river gauge, had fallen to 13.1 feet, down from its Saturday night crest of 28.4 feet. The river normally runs at 5 to 6 feet at this gauge and flood stage is 25 feet. The river flow at Montague was about 32,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) this morning, still well above its normal mean of just over 8,000 cfs but far below the peak flow on Saturday of nearly 170,000 cfs. Although the river has dropped more than 15 feet, it continues to run high and fast and still carries considerable amounts of debris. The park is accordingly continuing its closure of the river corridor from Milford to Delaware Water Gap. The river will remain closed until further notice. Road closures continue in the park as crews remove trees and debris and assess damage to road surfaces, shoulders and bridges. The main reopening and closures are:
A major cleanup operation is underway throughout the park and will continue for some time. Most public use areas — including picnic areas and boat ramps — will accordingly remain closed. Public health and safety and protection of resources will guide decisions on closures and reopenings. The park has established a 24-hour phone number for information on the status of the river and park roads and facilities. Interested persons can call 570-588-2454. Reports from Peter Givens, IO, Incident Management Team, GUIS; Bill Halainen, IO, Incident Management Team, DEWA; Ken Garvin, Kenny Slay and Michelle Fidler, SERO; Chris Stubbs, Acting Superintendent, BISO; Connie Backlund, Superintendent, CARL; Jimmy Dunn, LIRI.
Today's updates on Hurricane Ivan recovery operations follows: Delaware Water Gap NRA — The southern section of Route 209 was reopened yesterday. Federal Highway Administration engineers evaluated the bridges at Tom's Creek and Dingmans Creek and determined that both were still intact and sound. Although the rains that fell last Friday and Saturday caused significant scouring and erosion around and under the bridges, neither sustained damage sufficient to make them unsafe. The entire length of the highway within the park is now open. Substantial sections of River Road in Pennsylvania and Old Mine Road in New Jersey remain closed and will not be reopened until trees and debris are cleared and an engineering analysis is made of the south end of the latter. A closer evaluation of historic Millbrook Village has revealed sufficient damage to warrant cancellation of the popular Millbrook Days festival, held each October. The river corridor also remains closed, as the Delaware River continues to run high and fast and still carries considerable amounts of debris. The river will remain closed until further notice. A major cleanup operation is underway throughout the park and will continue for some time to come. Most public use areas — including picnic areas and boat ramps — accordingly remain closed. Reports from Peter Givens, IO, Incident Management Team, GUIS; Bill Halainen, IO, Incident Management Team, DEWA; Phil Noblitt, PIO, BLRI.
Today's updates on Hurricane Ivan recovery operations follows: Delaware Water Gap NRA — Road and river closures stemming from last weekend's rain and flooding continued yesterday. Here's a summary of the status of park facilities:
The river corridor — the river and all access points and beaches — also remains closed due to safety concerns and access problems. Reports from Peter Givens, IO, Incident Management Team, GUIS; Connie Backlund, Superintendent, CARL; Bill Halainen, IO, Incident Management Team, DEWA; Phil Noblitt, PIO, BLRI.
Today's updates on Hurricane Ivan recovery operations follows: Delaware Water Gap NRA — The Delaware River corridor from Milford to Bushkill was reopened at 7 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, September 25th. The boat ramps at Milford Beach, Dingmans Access and Bushkill Access also reopened. Portable toilets are in place at those three locations, as regular facilities still need to be rehabilitated due to damage inflicted by high waters. Boating is being permitted on the river from dawn to dusk. Additional access points will be opened as soon as maintenance crews can clear them and the roads that lead to them. Reports from Peter Givens, IO, Incident Management Team, GUIS; Bill Halainen, IO, Incident Management Team, DEWA.
The following reports were received through yesterday evening: Delaware Water Gap NRA — Due to the rainfall from the remnants of Jeanne, the park had to again close River Road in Pennsylvania from Shawnee to headquarters and Old Mine Road in New Jersey from Millbrook Village to Worthington State Forest. The two roads had just reopened earlier on Tuesday. Bushkill Access was again closed due to flooding. It's expected that both roads and the river access will reopen tomorrow afternoon once river waters have receded and park crews have had a chance to clean debris from the roads. From reports by Ken Garvin, FMO, SERO; Rick Clark, Plans Chief, IMT, BISC; Gordie Wilson, Superintendent, CASA/FOMA; John Breen, Superintendent, FOPU; Mike Tennent, Superintendent, FOFR; Norman Williams, IC, TIMU/FOCA; Connie Backlund, Superintendent, CARL; Bruce Ross, IC, CANA; Phil Noblitt, PAO, BLRI; Chris Nelson, PAO, DEWA.
A.A., 17, of Delaware Township, Pennsylvania, was killed last December 11th, when his southbound Mitsubishi sedan crossed the centerline of Route 209 near milepost three and ran head-on into a northbound pickup truck. Although the driver of the pickup escaped serious injury, passenger Chad Wagner was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem and placed in intensive care. On December 23rd, Wagner succumbed to an intra-abdominal hemorrhage from the blunt force trauma received in the accident. [Submitted by Randy Seese, Park Ranger]
While conducting a hunter checkpoint on Route 739 on December 4th, ranger Chris Kross smelled the odor of alcohol on the driver of a Saturn and told him to pull over into Dingman's Access. The driver, D.W., began to pull into the access area, but then drove straight through the checkpoint, almost hitting ranger Don Philpot, and fled up Route 739. Kross and ranger Mike Croll pursued. During the chase, D.W. passed numerous vehicles in a no passing zone, forcing one to drive off the road, and hit speeds of nearly 80 mph on the winding road. Although D.W. was able to escape, Kross had his registration from his initial stop at the checkpoint. Kross, Croll and ranger Gregg Tinkham drove to D.W.'s house about 20 minutes later. As Croll was walking around to the back of the house, D.W. went out the back door and fled on foot. D.W. ignored instructions to stop and was taken down and arrested forcibly in his back yard. D.W. was charged with operating under the influence (.158 % BAC), fleeing to elude, driving on a suspended license and illegal passing. [Submitted by Chris Kross, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Although the Delaware River yesterday fell about ten feet from its
crest of nearly 32 feet on Sunday evening, river water was still so high
that all major road closures remained in place through the day. A small
section at the south end of Route 209 was opened to traffic late in the
day. This morning, maintenance crews will work on the segment of Route
209 from its intersection with Route 739 to the southern edge of
Milford, with the objective of reopening it to traffic late today or
Wednesday. They will then move on to the remaining section of Route 209
from Route 739 to Bushkill. This section is being done last because it
was most affected by floodwaters and will require the most work. Park
staff are also busy repairing buildings and utilities and undertaking
the time-consuming process of completing an accurate damage assessment
of all roads, facilities and other resources in the 70,000-acre park.
Rangers and other personnel are stationed at barricades at key junctions
throughout the park, 24 hours per day. The managers of the
privately-owned Dingmans Ferry toll bridge, located within park
boundaries, hope to reopen that bridge by some time on Tuesday, but it's
not yet certain that they will meet that objective. The incident is
being managed under ICS, with more than 50 people committed to the
operation.
The northern section of Route 209, which runs from the intersection with Route 739 at Dingmans Ferry to the southern edge of Milford, reopened to vehicles at 2:30 p.m. yesterday. The southern section of Route 209 remains closed, but one of the park's objectives for today will be to get it cleared and reopened by this afternoon or tomorrow. The privately-owned Dingmans Ferry toll bridge, located within the park's boundaries, also reopened yesterday. Meanwhile, park staff are continuing to pump out buildings, repair utilities, cleanup other roads, and make damage assessments. The Delaware River and all river access points will remain closed throughout the coming weekend. River accesses will be reopened as soon as the park can free up staff to clean debris and mud from the roads and parking lots, restore utilities and reopen facilities. [Submitted by Bill Halainen, Information Officer]
The remaining closed section of Route 209 within Delaware Water Gap
National Recreation Area, extending from Bushkill Falls Road in Bushkill
to Route 739 at Dingmans Ferry, reopened on Wednesday evening. The park
also opened three roads in New Jersey - Route 615 from Pompey Road
to Flatbrookville, Old Mine Road from Millbrook Village through
Worthington State Forest to I-80, and Blue Mountain Lake Road and
Skyline Road from Old Mine Road to Crater Lake. River Road in
Pennsylvania will remain closed until further notice. Meanwhile, the
National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for one to two inches
of rain from late Thursday night through Friday. The Delaware River is
expected to rise, but "water levels which were reached earlier this week
are not expected." The park is making the necessary preparations for
coping with any related problems. Yesterday, the park received a note of
commendation for a rescue that took place last Sunday. At the height of
the flood, rangers Mark Hnat, Mike Croll and Mike Fernalld checked in on
an 89-year-old woman who resides in the park under a reservation-of-use
permit. They found that she was becoming stranded in her house by the
rapidly rising Delaware River, so donned immersion suits, paddled to the
house in a canoe, and rescued her and her dog. Once the river receded,
she was returned home and electricians Paul Kimsey and Steve Simister
worked to get her power back on. Her son subsequently sent the following
message to the park, a testament both to their efforts and to the work
done by so many others during this emergency: "I want to thank all the
(park) employees who helped my mother...during the flood of April 3,
2005. I understand the crews probably had dozens of other jobs to handle
and were operating in a crisis mode...The recreation area is blessed
with a team of truly empathetic, professional, generous rangers,
dispatchers and maintenance crew members....Please pass along my thanks
not only to the Walpack area staffers who helped us, but also to their
superiors. They all get my vote for Congressional Medals of Honor!"
On March 28th, the Pennsylvania State Police asked for assistance
from the park in responding to a shooting that had taken place in a
planned community adjacent to park lands. They advised that one person
had been shot in the chest, and that the shooter was still on scene.
Rangers Don Philpot and Michael Croll were the first law enforcement
units on scene. They took the admitted shooter into custody at gunpoint
without incident. They also took into custody the victim's wife, who was
discovered kneeling over him in the driveway of the residence. The
rangers then cleared the residence and secured several key pieces of
evidence. Once all was secure, a local paramedic squad was allowed to
enter the scene. Paramedics confirmed that the victim had succumbed to
his wounds. State troopers arrived on scene shortly thereafter and were
briefed by Philpot and Croll. Custody of the shooter and the victim's
wife was transferred to the them. The investigation is currently
ongoing, with further details to be released at a later date.
R.P., a contractor from E.F. R.P. and Sons of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, was killed in an accident in the park around 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24th. R.P. was operating a crane at the time and was attempting to lift a tree that had fallen through the roof of a spring house on Freeman Tract Road. Although the tree had fallen over, the trunk was still attached to the tree's base. R.P. told NPS employees to go ahead and cut through the tree at the base while he held it with the crane. When the cut was completed, the tree suddenly swung like a pendulum, striking the crane's cab and severely injuring him. One of the park employees who was on scene immediately radioed for assistance, and rangers and advanced life support personnel arrived within minutes. Responding were Shawnee FD, Bushkill Ambulance and Bushkill ALS. CPR was begun and a medevac helicopter was called in. R.P. was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An investigation into the accident by rangers, OSHA investigators and Pennsylvania State Police troopers is underway. [Submitted by Bill Halainen, Public Affairs Specialist]
The search for a fisherman who was reported missing late Tuesday
night culminated at midday yesterday with the recovery of his body from
the Delaware River near the point where Bushkill Creek enters it from
the west. When Dr. W.R., 78, of Wyomissing, Pennsylvania,
failed to meet his nephew as scheduled on Monday evening following a
fishing trip to the Delaware River, the nephew made a 911 call, which
was routed to park dispatch. He reported that he'd searched for his
uncle and found his car parked behind the former Gulf Station on Route
209 just south of Bushkill Creek. He then checked the spot where his
uncle often fished, but found no sign of him. Rangers met with W.R.'s
nephew and began a search in the early hours of the morning. They looked
for him around the shoreline and employed boats and lights to search for
him in the water. No sign of him was found, so the operation was
suspended until first light. Early on Tuesday morning, the park's dive
team, comprised of rangers from Delaware Water Gap NRA and one ranger
from Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, began a search of the
river while a pair of search dogs from Northeast Search and Rescue
sought W.R.'s scent on the shoreline and water. Overall, about a
dozen rangers and volunteer search team members were involved in the
operation. Around 11:20 a.m., divers found his body in the Delaware
River in about 18 feet of water not far from where he had evidently been
fishing. The cause of death will not be determined until an autopsy is
conducted.
On the afternoon of Monday, July 18th, S.B., 24, was heading
southbound on River Road in the park's Pennsylvania District when she
struck a tree near Zion Church and was ejected from her vehicle onto the
roadway. A passing maintenance worker reported the accident, and rangers
and other staff responded from throughout the area. S.B. had sustained
severe head trauma in the accident and was medevaced to the trauma
center at Lehigh Valley Hospital. She succumbed to her injuries the
following day. The investigation into the cause of the accident
continues.
On November 28th, rangers were running a deer decoy operation near a cemetery along Zion Church Road in the southern end of the park when a man drove up the road in a pickup truck, stopped his truck in the middle of the road, and immediately shot at a decoy white-tail deer from inside the vehicle. The rangers' investigation showed that in addition to the illegal hunting, the man was driving on a suspended license, had open containers of beer in the truck, and had a .075% BAC based on a preliminary breath test. He was charged with numerous hunting and other violations. [Chris Kross]
On the afternoon of Saturday, January 7th, rangers and local firefighters and emergency medical personnel rescued a New Jersey man who fell about 30 feet from an icy park trail, landing in a stream below. The 57-year-old man and his wife were hiking on the Indian Ladder trail in the park's Pennsylvania District when he lost his footing and tumbled into Hornbeck Creek. Shortly thereafter, two other hikers came upon the scene. While the man's wife headed back down the trail to a point where she could get cell phone reception and dial 911, one of the hikers made his way down to the man, who was suffering from a head injury and from hypothermia due to his immersion in the stream. The hiker had additional clothes with him and was able to help the man change into them, thereby minimizing the impacts of hypothermia. Responding along with the park's high-angle rescue and evacuation teams were firefighters and emergency medical personnel from Delaware Township, Dingman Township, Bushill, Milford and Hemlock Farms. Together, they were able to safely extricate the man from the creek and bring him to a location where a medevac helicopter could pick him up and fly him to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown. Doctors treated him for his head injury, which proved minor, and for hypothermia, and kept him overnight at the hospital. Rangers believe that the hiker's quick thinking and prompt action in getting the man out of his wet clothes greatly reduced the impact that the hypothermia might have had on him. [Joe Hinkes, Park Ranger]
A 59-year-old woman who lived in the park was killed in a single-vehicle accident on Old Mine Road about two miles south of Millbrook Village in the park's New Jersey District on the afternoon of Monday, February 13th. She was driving southbound on Old Mine Road when her 2003 Subaru Outback went off the left side of the road, back onto the roadway, back to the left again into an embankment, then rolled onto its left side on the road. She was killed instantly. The first notification of the accident came through a 911 phone call to Warren County. Responding to the accident were local fire and EMS units, New Jersey State Police officers, and National Park Service rangers. The woman's house had been acquired by the Corps of Engineers as part of the overall acquisition of land for the now-defunct Tock's Island Dam project. She continued to reside there under the terms of a special use permit that was continued by the National Park Service, maintaining the historic property. The cause of the accident is unknown. New Jersey State Police troopers and NPS rangers are conducting a joint investigation into the accident. [Bill Halainen]
Rangers received an urgent radio call for assistance and backup from a New Jersey State Park Police officer in Worthington State Forest just after 3 p.m. on Friday, April 21st. The officer had been involved in a brief motor vehicle pursuit and was now chasing both occupants of the vehicle on foot. The driver was apprehended after a brief scuffle with the officer, but the passenger fled into nearby woods despite the officer's commands to stop. A unified incident command was established among the National Park Service, New Jersey State Park Police, Pennsylvania State Police, and New Jersey State Police for the fleeing suspect. Through the use of canine units and helicopter, foot, and vehicle patrols, the passenger was found and arrested by New Jersey State Police troopers about four hours later. Evidence obtained at the scene included burglary tools and stolen property from a car clout which had occurred just prior to the incident. The driver was charged with multiple felonies and motor vehicle code violations. The passenger, also charged with multiple felonies, had outstanding warrants from New York and New Jersey against him. The driver is being held on $50,000 bail and the passenger is being held without bail pending extradition to New York. [Mike Fernalld, Park Ranger]
On Monday, April 10th, park staff discovered that a John Deere tractor and front loader, valued at over $58,000, had been stolen from the park. The tractor was found a short time later, abandoned and partly submerged in a nearby pond. Investigation revealed that the tractor had been stolen on Friday, April 7th, and used by the thief to perform work at a family member's house. Rangers and a special agent canvassed the area, interviewed witnesses, and obtained statements on what had occurred. The suspect in the theft turned himself in on April 29th and provided investigators with both verbal and written confessions. The case has been brought to the US Attorney's Office in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Charges will be filed against the man and restitution will be sought to cover the costs incurred in repairing the damage inflicted on the equipment. [Mike Fernalld, Park Ranger]
A field training ranger and his trainee were on patrol in the Point of Gap area on the evening of March 17th when they made contact with the driver of a vehicle regarding a closure violation. The rangers detected a white powdery substance in the car that they believed to be cocaine. The subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery and seizure of 39 zip lock bags containing cocaine. The driver was arrested and later agreed to plead guilty to state charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia. [Chris Kross, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Rangers were conducting a speed enforcement operation on River Road on April 7th when a Ford Explorer hit the radar at 57 mph in a 30 mph zone. A computer check revealed that the driver had a collateral warrant out against him for $275 and that the registration on the vehicle had been suspended. The ranger who made the stop was back at his cruiser then the operator of the Explorer took off at a high rate of speed. The ranger radioed for assistance and pursued the vehicle northbound on River Road at speeds up to 80 mph. Three other rangers meanwhile set themselves up to make a felony stop. One of the rangers deployed spike strips on the road just seconds before the Explorer arrived. The spike strips deflated three of the Ford's four tires, forcing the driver to stop. The driver, still refusing to comply with rangers' orders, was taken down at gunpoint and arrested. He was charged with fleeing/eluding, speeding, driving an unregistered vehicle, failing to have insurance, passing in a marked no passing zone, reckless driving, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of open containers of alcohol. [Chris Kross, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Park dispatch received a cell phone call from a Boy Scout group on the Red Dot trail on Mount Tammany in the New Jersey District just before noon on Saturday, June 10th. The caller reported that a 12-year-old scout fell while hiking, that he'd injured his ankle and hip, and that he was unable to walk. The Red Dot is an arduous, rocky trail which climbs in elevation very quickly. A unified command was set up between the park's SAR team and the New Jersey State Park Service. Efforts to find the injured boy were delayed because of inaccurate information on the incident location. Based on initial assessments of the boy's injuries, the team decided to request a medical helicopter. The victim's location was just 20 minutes from a helispot, so a total of only 25 minutes elapsed from the team's arrival at the scene of the accident to the boy being loaded into a medevac helicopter. He was flown to Lehigh Valley Medical Center in Allentown, where he was treated for his injuries and released. A carryout would probably have taken several hours. [Submitted by Phil Selleck, Chief Ranger]
Heavy rains that fell on northeast Pennsylvania earlier this week caused the Delaware River to rise rapidly from its normal level of about five feet to nearly 17 feet at the main river gauge within the park. Due to the high and fast-moving water and the amount of debris being carried downstream, the section of the river within park boundaries was closed to all use on Tuesday morning. Since heavy rain continues to fall throughout the region, the National Weather Service is currently predicting that the river will rise above flood stage by Wednesday evening. The park, which experienced severe, so-called "hundred year floods" in September 2004 and again in April 2005, has put ICS into effect and is making all necessary preparations for the third flood on the Delaware in as many years. These include moving park employees from two houses near the river in the Pennsylvania District and relocating the trailer that is serving as an interim visitor center at Kittatinny Point in the New Jersey District to higher ground. The trailer was recently brought in as a temporary replacement for the previous visitor center, which was so damaged in the 2005 flood that it can no longer be used. [Bill Halainen, Incident Information Officer]
The third major flood to occur on the Delaware River in the past 22 months has led to significant closures within the park and an as-yet unknown amount of damage. The park only recently recovered from the Hurricane Ivan flood of September, 2004, and a spring runoff flood in April, 2005. Between them, those two floods inflicted about $5 million in damage on the park. Although the heavy rains that fell on the area over the past four days (eight inches at the park's rain gauge) ended on Wednesday morning, the river continues to rise. The crest at the park's principal river gauge is forecast to reach 33.8 feet today, which is about 28 feet above normal June river levels, higher than either the 2004 or 2005 floods, and just a little short of the all time record of 35.5 feet at that location. The park put ICS into effect on Tuesday morning (Brad Clawson, IC). Park staff have since been involved with moving equipment, closing up facilities, evacuating employees, redirecting traffic and myriad other activities. Significant actions to date include: Closure of Route 209, a main north-south highway, for just about all of its length in the park from Bushkill to Milford. Closure of River Road, which runs from park headquarters to the town of Shawnee. Closure of Old Mine Road from Route 602 in Millbrook Village to I-80. Closure of the unpaved section of Old Mine Road near Peters Valley. Closure of Route 615 from Pompey Road to Flatbrookville. Relocation of the temporary trailer visitor center at Kittatinny Point away from the river and up to higher ground. Relocation of seasonal employees from housing at Milford Beach and a permanent employee and his family from a residence near Bushkill. Damage assessments will not begin until the river falls back to its prior level, which should take several days. [Bill Halainen, Incident Information Officer]
Three parks in eastern Pennsylvania were affected to varying degrees by the major floods spawned by last week's rains and are in the process of recovering from their impacts: Delaware Water Gap NRA - The Delaware River crested at 32.16 feet at the park's primary river gauge early on the morning of Thursday, June 29th, making this the third worst flood recorded at that location (the high was 35.5 feet in 1903) and more severe than the floods of September, 2004 (28.4 feet) and April, 2005 (31.7 feet). The river caused an as yet unknown amount of damage within the park and also claimed the life of a local resident (see the related report in this edition). Maintenance crews have begun to pump out flooded buildings, repair utilities and clear silt and debris from roads. Park staff have also begun collecting information to prepare an accurate damage assessment of all roads, facilities and archeological, natural and cultural resources. Through the concerted efforts of park personnel, several roads and a number of facilities were opened in time for all or part of the holiday weekend: Route 209, the primary highway through the park. reopened to traffic at 6 p.m. last Friday. River Road, the section of Old Mine Road from Millbrook Village to Depue, and Route 615 have all been reopened. Dingmans Falls Visitor Center resumed operations on Saturday morning. Dingmans Campground and the group campground at Rivers Bend in New Jersey reopened before the weekend began. Closures, however, remain in place throughout the 70,000-acre park. The more consequential of these are as follows: The Delaware River, river campsites, and all access points and beaches remain closed - the river because of dangerous conditions and the campsites, access points and beaches because of mud and debris covering them. The McDade trail remains closed because of mud and debris on its surface. Old Mine Road is closed from I-80 to Depue. Kittatinny Point Visitor Center and the surrounding grounds and picnic areas are closed. The site will reopen when the temporary visitor center trailer is moved back into place and the parking area, grounds and picnic areas have been cleaned. [Deb Nordeen, Incident Information Officer, DEWA; Jill Hawk, Regional Chief Ranger, NER]
Ranger Mike Croll found the body of a man on Route 209 about a half-mile north of Bushkill Access late on the afternoon of June 29th. The victim, who appeared to be in his 60s, was wearing work boots, work pants and a faded T-shirt. He had a digital camera and a set of car and house keys in his pocket, but carried no identification. He was subsequently identified as G.A., 66, of Pocono Lake Estates in Bushkill, Pennsylvania. State troopers at the nearby Blooming Grove barracks had received a missing person report on him earlier that morning. He had reportedly gone down to the river to take pictures but had failed to return. G.A. evidently drowned in the river, but no determination has yet been made by the coroner. The park and Pennsylvania State Police are investigating. [Phil Selleck, Chief Ranger]
Flood recovery operations continue at the two national parks on the Delaware River - Delaware Water Gap NRA in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and Upper Delaware S&RR in Pennsylvania and New York. Recent developments follow: Delaware Water Gap NRA - The flood was the third worst in the century-plus history of readings taken at the park's primary river gauge, cresting at about 27 feet above normal levels for this time of year. Maintenance crews have been working hard to restore facilities and have made considerable progress. The river has also dropped back to seasonal levels, making it possible to reopen sites along the Delaware. Delaware River - The section of the river from Milford to Smithfield Beach will reopen on Saturday morning, but the section from Smithfield Beach to Kittatinny Point will remain closed due to strainers and dangerous hydraulics. Beaches - Milford Beach and Smithfield Beach and their associated grounds will remain closed due to mud, soggy fields, and lack of water and restrooms. Launching Points - Although the two beaches will be closed, the boat ramps at both locations will be open. Also reopening on Saturday will be the boat and canoe launching points at Dingmans, Bushkill and Eshback in Pennsylvania and at Namanock and Cadoo in New Jersey. The launching areas at Kittatinny Point and Poxono in New Jersey will remain closed. Visitor Centers - The visitor center at Dingmans Falls is open, but the visitor center at Kittatinny Point remains closed. The trailer housing the temporary visitor center at that location was moved prior to the flood and will not be returned to the site until next week. Roads - All park roads are open, except for the section of Old Mine Road from Peters Valley to Flatbrookville. The lower section of Old Mine Road through Worthington State Forest may or may not be opened by the weekend, so it is at present uncertain whether there will be access to the New Jersey District coming north from I-80. All other public use areas within the park are open now and will be open through the coming weekend. No fees are being collected at boat ramps and beaches until further notice. [Bill Halainen, Incident Information Officer, DEWA; Carla Hauser Hahn, UPDE]
Seasonal maintenance worker George Ratliff, 51, suffered a major heart attack while at work on Monday, August 7th. He'd just finished assisting ranger Mike Fernalld in removing a rope swing from a ravine at Childs Park when he was stricken. Fernalld, who is a qualified EMT, rendered immediate assistance and called for an ambulance. Local EMS and ALS units responded, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at Bon Secours Hospital in Port Jervis, New York. George had worked seasonally for the roads and trails branch of the maintenance division since 1997. He was well-liked for his sense of humor and easy rapport with visitors. A viewing is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Friday, August 11th, at the Bushkill Reformed Church, followed by a service at 2 p.m. [Malcolm Wilbur, Acting Superintendent]
On August 24th, ranger Troy Mueller stopped a vehicle for an inspection and registration violation on Route 209 in the park's Pennsylvania District. A check of the registration showed it was from another vehicle. The state required inspection sticker was not valid, and the male driver and sole occupant had no proof that the vehicle was insured. He said that he didn't have a license with him, and showed Mueller an addressed envelope, claiming that the name on it was his. When pressed, the driver gave another name, but no identification other than a credit card with that name. At that point, Mueller placed him under arrest. A search incident to arrest revealed a small quantity of heroin and cocaine. An inventory of the vehicle led to the discovery of seven small packages of marijuana and a Davis P-380 semi-automatic pistol concealed under the floor mat on the front passenger side. The floor was recessed so that there were no noticeable bulges. Further investigation showed the driver had given his correct name the second time he was asked. A check of his name and date of birth showed him to be a convicted felon and a member and possibly the leader of the Latin Kings street gang. He was taken to federal court, where he was charged as a felon in possession of a firearm. On August 22nd, the federal grand jury in Scranton returned two felony indictments against him. [Phil Selleck, Chief Ranger]
The following summarizes actions that have been or are being taken in Eastern parks in response to Tropical Storm Ernesto (as of 11 a.m. on Thursday): Delaware Water Gap NRA - The park held a preliminary planning meeting on Thursday to assess the prospects for flooding and begin necessary preparations. Employees who have been evacuated have been asked to contact the Emergency Incident Coordination Center (EICC) at Shenandoah NP to report their status and location. The call in number is 888-246-4335. [Jeff Brice, NPS Assistant Coordinator, Southern Area Coordination Center; Cyndy Holda, Outer Banks Group; Bill Halainen, Delaware Water Gap NRA]
Lifeguards at the park's Milford Beach saved the lives of two swimmers early this past summer. On the afternoon of Monday, June 19th, lifeguard Dana Zielazny saw a man with a known physical handicap struggling in the Delaware River after being swept beyond the bounds of the designated swimming area by the river's current. She also saw a second man attempting to help him, but struggling himself. Zielazny and lifeguard Redmond Ott immediately set out to help the two men - Zielazny with a rescue tube, Ott with a surfboard. By the time Ott reached the handicapped swimmer, he'd gone under, requiring Ott to dive to a depth of about eight feet to get a purchase on him and return him to the surface. Ott then got him to shore on the surfboard. Meanwhile, Zielazny went to the aid of the second man. She extended the tube to him, but he was too fatigued to grasp and hold onto it. She then moved around behind him and employed a carry rescue to bring him to shore. Both men fully recovered without medical treatment. [Note: This story was delayed until awards could be conferred on the two lifeguards). [Art North, River District Ranger]
A tanker truck heading north on Route 209 through the park went off the edge of the highway and rolled onto its side just after 5 p.m. on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 14th, leaking hazardous materials and forcing closure of the highway. The driver was not hurt in the accident, but the truck hit a pole, causing an area power outage and starting a small fire on the pole that went out when the power failed. The truck, owned by Enterprise Transportation Corporation of Houston, Texas, was carrying 4,000 gallons of chlorinated alkaline cleaners manufactured by Johnson Diversey, Inc., including one compartment containing a potassium hydroxide based soap called Enduro Kleen. The material is alkaline and corrosive to the skin; eye contact can cause severe eye irritation. Responding rangers and firefighters from Bushkill FD and Delaware Township FD, recognizing the hazard, immediately closed Route 209 and cordoned off the area at the recommended distance of 80 to 160 feet. Traffic was diverted from the highway via Route 739, Route 2001 and Bushkill Falls Road. An estimated 40 gallons of Enduro Kleen leaked from the truck before a cleanup crew arrived on scene around 8 p.m. that evening. The cleanup was handled by Minuteman Spill Response, Inc. The closure was maintained through the night, but was lifted at 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning after the cleanup was completed and the truck was removed. The driver was cited for failing to maintain control of his vehicle. [Bill Halainen, Incident Information Officer]
A man arrested last July after inappropriately touching several children at a park beach faces up to two years in prison after pleading guilty on Thursday, December 7th. Rangers arrested Jose Vazquez after they received reports that he had touched the genitals and breasts of four girls, including an 11-year-old and two 12-year-olds, who were swimming at Smithfield Beach on July 30th. Vazquez pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact at a hearing in front of a federal judge. [Scranton Times-Tribune]
Rangers and other emergency personnel responded to a call of a submerged car and entrapped driver in Bushkill Creek around 1:20 p.m. on Friday, January 5th. When they arrived on scene, they found that the driver, F.M., had extricated himself from the car and was sitting on its side, awaiting rescue. Rangers employed swift water rescue procedures to extricate F.M. from his precarious position and bring him to shore. Once F.M. left the vehicle, it became buoyant and floated about 200 feet downstream, where it got caught up on the creek's rocky bottom. Although shaken up and slightly hypothermic due to the creek's cold waters, F.M. was injured and declined medical treatment at the scene. He was warmed up, then driven to his nearby home. F.M. said that he swerved to avoid a deer, lost control of the vehicle, and ended up in the creek. Efforts to remove the vehicle were hampered by swift currents and the vehicle's distance from the shore. River rangers, aided by a towing service, finally extricated it later that afternoon. No environmental impacts were noted. The operation concluded prior to darkness. [Mike Fernalld, Park Ranger]
An investigation into a hit-and-run accident in the park on Wednesday, June 14, 2006, led to the apprehension of two men wanted in connection with a bank robbery in Iowa (click on "More Information" below for the original incident report). Rangers found an unoccupied vehicle in the Canyon Lodge cabin complex around 10:30 p.m. that evening which matched the description of one involved in a hit-and-run accident in the Canyon area earlier in the evening. The driver, J.S., 23, and his companion, A.R., 32, both fled into the woods after being contacted by rangers. Both were soon caught, the latter after a significant manhunt. Last week, J.S. pled guilty to charges of bank robbery and possession of a firearm during the crime. J.S. said that he and A.R. had robbed a bank together on Oskaloosa, Iowa, last May and agreed to cooperate in the investigation. His plea agreement calls for a prison sentence of nearly 12 years. A.R. is to go on trail this week. [KCCI TV, Des Moines, Iowa]
On the evening of February 3rd, ranger Chuck Kanopsic was on patrol on Old Mine Road in the park's New Jersey District when he came upon a GMC pickup backed into the Callestini area. Kanopsic saw a man lying near the vehicle, partially covered with snow. The temperature was in the low teens at the time. The man appeared to be heavily intoxicated and was unstable on his feet. An open bottle of tequila was observed on the center console of the pickup and the engine was running. Ranger Don Philpot and supervisory ranger Chris Kross responded for backup. Kanopsic secured the alcohol and vehicle keys and after a quick search of the cab placed the man in the truck and obtained identification from him. After Philpot and Kross arrived, the rangers noted that the man was making furtive movements in the truck. Philpot approached and determined that he was trying to retrieve something from the right rear floor area. He was removed from the truck, handcuffed, searched and secured in Philpot's patrol vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a large kitchen knife and numerous prescription containers. Kross answered a cell call from the man's wife and was told that he was attempting to kill himself and that other agencies had been looking for him. The man had text messaged his wife earlier, saying that he was going to overdose on tranquillizers and blood thinners, drink the tequila, then cut his wrists with the large kitchen knife. Numerous empty prescription bottles in the truck revealed that he'd already ingested the pills. Philpot rushed the man to the Newton Memorial Hospital ER, where he was given activated charcoal and was hospitalized. [Chris Kross, Supervisory Park Ranger]
On the evening of Saturday, February 24th, a 37-year-old woman was hiking with five friends on the connector trail between the Kaiser and Copper Mine trails. One of her friends fell and needed assistance in getting up. The woman, who was wearing crampons, reached down the slope to help him, but fell head first as she was doing so. She slid down the steep slope for 60 to 100 feet, hitting several trees on the way down and coming to rest against a large tree. Two EMT's who were hiking with her responded immediately. They determined that she'd sustained serious injuries, including a possible broken femur, broken arm and head and internal injuries. Rangers responded and a lengthy rescue operation ensued. Due to the steep slope and icy conditions, all had to wear crampons and employ safety lines. The woman was extricated and transported to a landing zone where a medevac helicopter picked her up and took her to a hospital in Morristown, New Jersey. [Larry Commisso, Supervisory Park Ranger]
An accident on Route 209 just north of Bushkill injured the driver of a Ford Explorer and took the life of her passenger just before noon on Friday, March 2nd. The 1999 Explorer was headed south on the highway when it crossed the northbound lane, struck an embankment, catapulted into the trees and landed on its roof. The driver, C.D., was able to extricate herself, but her male passenger - L.H., 58, of New York City - remained entrapped. The first responding ranger, who was on scene within minutes, could not detect any pulse in L.H., who had suffered a traumatic injury despite wearing a seatbelt due to the collapse of the Explorer's roof. Bushkill Fire Department and Bushkill Ambulance personnel were on scene shortly thereafter. Power tools were employed to extricate the passenger, and medics confirmed that he had expired. C.D. suffered serious injuries and was taken to Pocono Medical Center. She was subsequently flown to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, where she remains in intensive care. The force of impact was sufficient to lop off the tops of several trees about four feet up from the ground. Some of the trees were at least six inches in diameter. About 30 rangers, firefighters and EMS personnel from the park and Bushkill responded to the accident. An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. [Bill Halainen, Public Affairs Officer]
Park dispatch received a call from the Newton PD 911 center just before 8 a.m. on April 18th, advising that the fire chief from Sandyston VFD had received a report of smoke issuing from the unoccupied Gordon House near Walpack Center. The building has been out of use for years and is scheduled for removal. Ranger Brad Clawson responded, arriving just before the VFD engines. A moderate amount of smoke was coming out of the house's windows. Clawson quickly checked the building and determined that there was nobody inside. He employed an extinguisher to retard the spread of the fire, which was burning in the floorboards and floor joists, until firefighters arrived and suppressed the blaze. Two burned areas were found in the house, one near a fireplace and the other near a first floor window. Arson is deemed probable; the investigation continues. [Brad Clawson, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Early on the morning of Thursday, July 5th, two fishermen came upon the body of a woman in the creek just upstream from the top of Dingmans Falls. The park's high angle rescue (HAR) team was called in to recovery the body, which was in a difficult location to reach. The team, comprised of park employees, volunteers and employees from New Jersey state parks and forests, specializes in technical rescue and recovery operations. About 20 people were involved in the recovery and the associated investigation. From evidence found at the scene, it appears that the woman - subsequently identified as R.S., 40, of M.S. - died following a fall of about 40 feet from a cliff overlooking the creek. An investigation continues into the circumstances surrounding the incident. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
W.O.-J., 21, of Passaic, New Jersey, drowned in the Delaware River near Kittatinny Point on the afternoon of Sunday, August 5th. O.-J. was picnicking with a group of acquaintances at the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center picnic area when he went into the river to go swimming and soon went under. Park dispatch was notified just before 5 p.m. and rangers immediately responded. The park's dive team began a search for his body, which was recovered from the river about 40 feet from the New Jersey shoreline at 6:30 p.m. Although his death is presumed to have been an accidental drowning, the county medical examiner will conduct a forensic examination and rangers will continue their investigation into his death. [Kathleen Sandt, Park Ranger]
D.Y., 19, of Hackettstown, New Jersey, drowned in the Delaware River late on the afternoon of Friday, October 5th. D.Y. was part of a four-person group, which included another adult male and two 17-year-old boys, on an afternoon trip from Hackettstown to the Delaware River. They went wading in the water near Tocks Island on the New Jersey side of the river. D.Y. and one of the other teens then decided to swim across the river. D.Y. began to have difficulty swimming when he reached deeper water, about half way across the river. At that point, the river is an estimated 200 yards wide. D.Y.'s swimming companion, the second adult and a nearby fisherman (unconnected with the group) tried to assist him, but without success, as he floated beyond their reach. Monroe County received a 911 call about two people drowning in the river around 4:30 p.m. Rangers, New Jersey State Park Police and New Jersey State Police immediately responded. At 5:20 p.m., park divers located and recovered D.Y.'s body. He was found in approximately 12 feet of water about 100 yards downstream from where he had entered the river. He was pronounced dead by the Warren County medical examiner. The 17-year old was rescued and taken to Pocono Medical Center , where he was treated and released. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers dealt with a number of significant incidents during the fall hunting seasons in the park (hunting is permitted by law within Delaware Water Gap): November 29th - A small game hunter in New Jersey shot a pheasant. When he rested his still-loaded shotgun against a tree and went over to pick up the bird, the shotgun fell to the ground and discharged, hitting him in the lower leg. Other hunters and rangers Mike Fernalld, Joe Hinkes, and Chris Kross arrived on scene within minutes, with the rangers providing medical treatment. The hunter was flown to an area hospital and is recovering. December 1st - Ranger Don Philpot and Sandy Hook rangers Mike Klubek (FTR) and Chad Horne (trainee) were running a decoy operation in Pennsylvania around 8 a.m. when they saw a beer can being thrown from the window of a pickup truck traveling down the road. The rangers contacted the driver/hunter and found him to also be in possession of marijuana. On that same morning, the rangers saw another hunter exit his vehicle and run down the roadway with a loaded rifle, then stop and shoot at the decoy from the road. Each hunter was cited for numerous state and federal violations. December 3rd - Ranger Chris Kross contacted a hunter sitting in his vehicle in the New Jersey District. The hunter had a rolled up $20 bill in one hand and was in the process of dumping a bag of a white powdery substance on his center console. He admitted to having already ingested one bag of heroin that morning and was found to be in possession of eight more bags of heroin. He was arrested and cited on multiple state and federal charges, including gunning under the influence, OUI, and possession of a controlled substance. December 8th - Delaware Water Gap and Sandy Hook rangers ran decoy operations during the day in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Ranger Nate Bungard saw a Dodge pickup approach a decoy near Old Mine Road in New Jersey late that morning. The front seat passenger fired a round of buckshot at it from inside the truck out the driver's side window. Bungard found that both the driver and the passenger were drinking at the time and had open containers of beer in the truck. They were charged with numerous violations, including use of a vehicle to aid in hunting, shooting from a vehicle, shooting across a roadway, possessing a loaded firearm in a vehicle, and possessing open containers of alcohol. Meanwhile, a hunter on the Pennsylvania side of the park shot at another decoy from within his vehicle. He was charged with multiple violations. [Chris Kross, Kittatinny Supervisory Ranger]
Ranger trainee Shane Musgrave and field training ranger Ed Appel were on patrol on Route 209 on January 2nd when they saw a car go off the highway, strike a tree, then roll onto the driver's side and come to rest in about two feet of standing water. Musgrave saw that the 80-year-old driver and sole occupant was still in the car and possibly injured and that the engine compartment was smoking. Appel extinguished the potential fire with an extinguisher from his patrol car. The temperature at the time was about 15 degrees, and Musgrave saw that icy water was creeping into the car on the side where the woman was his trapped. He broke the rear window of the car with his baton, entered it, and freed the woman, preventing her from becoming hypothermic and possibly saving her life. [Phil Selleck, Chief Ranger]
Ranger Rich Aldridge stopped an Audi sedan for speeding on River Road on December 21st. During the stop, Aldridge detected the scent of marijuana inside the car. While he was waiting for backup, the driver sped off, attaining speeds over 90 mph on this narrow, twisting road. The driver crashed about three miles down the road, and all three of the Audi's occupants fled through the snow into the woods. Ranger Nate Bungard and two security officers from nearby Fernwood Resort provided backup. One of the trio was arrested shortly thereafter. Aldridge and Bungard then tracked the other two through the woods. Bungard found one of them walking along River Road and a Fernwood officer later found the other hiding in an abandoned truck. All three spent the Christmas holiday in the Pike County Correctional Center and were charged with numerous violations, including fleeing, possession of a controlled substance, giving false information, and traffic infractions. The driver had been arrested in the park six months earlier by Pennsylvania State Police troopers on drug and weapons violations and had received a year's probation. He's now serving the rest of that probation in jail. A second man was wanted by NYPD on drug charges and was extradited to the prison on Riker's Island. [Chris Kross, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Maintenance worker Phil Hontz, who worked for the park's buildings and utilities branch, died suddenly from natural causes while at work on Monday morning. He collapsed while at a gas station just outside of the park. Rangers, state police officers, paramedics and local firefighters responded and an investigation was conducted to ensure that there was no foul play or danger to the public. He was taken to Pocono Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. Phil was a Vietnam veteran who was wounded in action. He leaves his wife, JoAnn, three children, two stepdaughters, a brother, a sister, and seven grandchildren. Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. today, followed by a 4 p.m. memorial service - both to be held at the Clark Funeral Home in Stroudsburg. Memorial remembrances may be made to the Fraternal Order of Eagles 1106, 1210 N. Fifth St., Stroudsburg, PA 18360. Condolence cards can be sent to Mrs. J.H.
On Thursday, April 3rd, three men - R.P., 58, T.P., 57, and R.S., 62, all from New Jersey - were fishing in a boat on the Delaware River near the Dingman's Bridge when their anchor became snagged. The men tried to free it, but ended up capsizing the boat instead. Although they had life jackets with them in the boat, as required by law, they were not wearing them. Panella was caught underneath, so R.P. and R.S. tried to maneuver the boat to the New Jersey shore. R.P. finally made it to land and was able to flag down a passing motorist. They saw R.S. still with the boat and tried to reach him, but were unsuccessful. A 911 call was made, prompting an immediate response by the park and local fire and rescue organizations. The water was about 40 degrees at the time and running high and fast. Search and rescue crews found the boat about four miles south of the bridge, but neither T.P. nor R.S. was with it. A full-scale search was begun, involving the National Park Service, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, New Jersey State Police and other organizations. Searchers scoured 24 miles of the river from the bridge south to Arrow Island, employing boats, dog teams and a helicopter, but found no sign of the men. Efforts are continuing. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer, and news sources]
The National Park Service and the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Unit continued the search yesterday for T.P., 57, and R.S., 62. The two men have been missing since Thursday, April 3rd, when their boat capsized on the Delaware River within the park. A third man, R.P., 58, made it to land and reported the mishap. Monday's search of the river corridor involved 12 people and five boats, as well as a search dog and his handler. In addition, the New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau conducted an aerial search by helicopter. The search area encompasses a section of river and shoreline approximately 24 miles in length from a point about four miles south of Dingmans Ferry Access to Arrow Island , south of the Delaware Water Gap. River conditions - high water levels, fast current, and lack of visibility - have prevented National Park Service divers from searching underwater. Conditions are being assessed daily for indications they are favorable for dive operations. The search resumes today with eight people in four boats. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
Improving conditions in the Delaware River made it possible to begin dive operations Tuesday in the ongoing search for T.P. and R.S., who've been missing since their boat capsized within the park last Thursday. Those efforts continued on Wednesday, concentrating on areas identified by a search dog as points of interest. Six divers from the National Park Service dive team participated in Tuesday's operation, with support from the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Unit. Divers completed 18 dives in the target areas, with each dive lasting about 25 minutes. Visibility in the water was about six feet, but the cold water, swift current and underwater obstructions, including trees and boulders, added to the complexity of the search. Rangers also continued to search the river banks and islands in an effort to find the missing men. New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau provided aerial support. Divers will continue the underwater operation as long as search conditions are favorable. The river level continues to drop, although the current remains swift and the water temperature is in the low 40s. About 20 people were committed to the search effort yesterday. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
The search for fishermen T.P. and R.S., who have been missing since their boat overturned on the Delaware River two weeks ago, is continuing but has been scaled back. Although diving operations have been suspended, rangers are still conducting daily boat patrols of the search area, looking for signs of the missing men. Extremely cold water temperatures suggest that the bodies of the two men are submerged somewhere within the overall search area. The New Jersey State Police and Pennsylvania State Police plan to continue daily helicopter flights over the river corridor, as their schedules permit. On Monday, April 14th, a Coast Guard helicopter from Air Station Atlantic City conducted an overflight of the river corridor with a ranger on board. The Coast Guard flight provided a clear sense of the large scope and complexity of the search environment. Water clarity has improved to about six feet, but there are still many areas of the river where the depth exceeds that level of visibility. Numerous agencies and volunteer organizations have been involved in the intensive search effort since it began on April 3rd, including personnel from Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, Valley Forge National Historical Park, New Jersey State Police Marine Services Unit and its dive team, New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania State Police Aviation Division, Bushkill Fire Company, Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Company, Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire Company, Northampton Fire Department, Port Jervis Fire Department, Portland Hook and Ladder Company, Pike County K-9, Ramapo Rescue Dog Association, and the Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit. The NPS dive team completed more than 90 operational dives from Tuesday, April 8th, through Sunday, April 13th. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
The body of T.P. was recovered from the waters of the Delaware River near Walpack Bend on Saturday, April 19th. A park visitor made the discovery at approximately 1 p.m. and called the Monroe County Control Center, which then contacted the park. T.P. and his friends R.P. and R.S. of Morris County, New Jersey, were on an afternoon fishing trip on April 3rd when their boat overturned in the Delaware River just south of the Dingmans Ferry Bridge. R.P. made it to shore, but R.S. and T.P. disappeared. Low water temperatures and high river levels presented significant challenges during the 16-day search. The river level has dropped significantly since the search began earlier this month and the water temperature increased by approximately ten degrees during the same period, making conditions more favorable for the recovery effort. The search for R.S. continues. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
The body of R.S., 62, the second of two fishermen who disappeared following a boating accident on the Delaware River on April 3rd, was found by two NPS employees last Wednesday. They were on boat patrol on the river when they came across remains about a mile south of Sambo Island, which is about 14 miles downriver from the accident site. The Warren County medical examiner conducted an autopsy and determined that the remains were those of R.S. R.S., T.P., 57, and R.P., 58, were fishing on the Delaware River on April 3rd when their boat capsized just south of the Dingmans Ferry Bridge. R.P. made it to shore near the Van Campen Inn on Old Mine Road in New Jersey and flagged down passing motorists, who called for assistance. He was later treated and released from a local hospital. R.S. and T.P. were reported missing and an intensive search effort was begun. The body of Timothy T.P. was found on April 19th in the Walpack Bend area of the river. The search for R.S. and T.P. involved personnel, search dogs, and equipment from numerous agencies and volunteer organizations, including Delaware Water Gap NRA, Upper Delaware S&RR, Valley Forge NHP, the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Unit and dive team, the New Jersey State Police Aviation Bureau, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, the Pennsylvania State Police Aviation Division, Bushkill Fire Company, Dingman Township Volunteer Fire Company, Hemlock Farms Volunteer Fire Company, Northampton Fire Department, Port Jervis Fire Department, Portland Hook and Ladder Company, Whitehall Fire Rescue, the Civil Air Patrol, Pike County K-9, Ramapo Rescue Dog Association, and the Garden State Underwater Recovery Unit. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
A 34-year-old man drowned in the Delaware River late on the afternoon of Sunday, June 9th. The park received the report just before 6 p.m. Rangers, the park's dive team and New Jersey State Police officers all responded. Witnesses reported that the man swam from the Hialeah picnic area on the Pennsylvania shore out to Labar Island, then attempted to continue to the New Jersey shoreline about 50 yards further on. He began having problems between the island and shore, though, and disappeared in about twelve feet of water. Another visitor attempted to assist him, but without success. Divers found his body between the island and the New Jersey shoreline around 7:30 p.m. [Submitted by Phil Selleck, Chief Ranger]
A 34-year-old man drowned in the Delaware River late on the afternoon of Sunday, June 9th. The park received the report just before 6 p.m. Rangers, the park's dive team and New Jersey State Police officers all responded. Witnesses reported that the man swam from the Hialeah picnic area on the Pennsylvania shore out to Labar Island, then attempted to continue to the New Jersey shoreline about 50 yards further on. He began having problems between the island and shore, though, and disappeared in about twelve feet of water. Another visitor attempted to assist him, but without success. Divers found his body between the island and the New Jersey shoreline around 7:30 p.m. [Phil Selleck, Chief Ranger]
On June 15th, rangers conducted an undercover operation at the Hackers Falls parking, a popular recreational site within the park, where thieves had broken into three vehicles on the previous weekend. Rangers saw an 18-year-old woman standing as lookout, while a 22-year-old man looked into numerous vehicles, entered one unlocked van, then stole clothing out of an SUV. As he was searching the pockets of a pair of shorts, rangers moved in to make the arrests. The man fled into a nearby swamp, but rangers chased him down and arrested him. They then filed criminal complaints with the local US magistrate judge against the pair for theft (18 USC § 661) and being a principal in a crime against the United States (18 USC §2). At the time of his arrest, the man was on probation for burglary and larceny in New York. The woman, who claimed no participation in the incident, was to graduate from high school the next week. Prosecution is pending. [Phil Selleck, Chief Ranger]
Quick action by a Pocono Environmental Education Center counselor and park lifeguards saved a five-year old girl from drowning at Milford Beach on the morning of Wednesday, July 9th. The girl was at Milford Beach as part of a day camp group from PEEC, a park partner with facilities in the Pennsylvania District. The group included 34 children and 10 counselors and instructors, two of whom were certified lifeguards. The girl was swimming in about five feet of water approximately 10 to 15 feet from the beach with several counselors and other children when she began to struggle. Within seconds, a counselor, who was within arm's reach, noticed the child's difficulties and was able to grab her and take her to the beach. Alerted to the incident, the two on-duty lifeguards met the counselor and the girl at the water's edge. The girl was unconscious and was not breathing. Lifeguards administered back blows and opened the girl's airway. Her breathing was restored and she regained consciousness, making CPR unnecessary. The child was taken to Bon Secours Community Hospital by the Milford Ambulance Corps and later transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit at a Morristown hospital. She was treated there and has since been released. Rangers also responded and are investigating the incident. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
The body of 37-year-old M.S. of Hillside, New Jersey, was recovered from the waters of the Delaware River just before 8 p.m. on Saturday July 26th. Park dispatch was notified of a swimmer in distress near the canoe launch at the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center just after 5 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Rangers were on the scene within minutes. Personnel from the New Jersey State Police, the Portland Hook and Ladder dive team, Bushkill Fire Company's underwater search and recovery unit and Worthington State Forest also responded. The body was recovered in eight feet of water about 50 yards off the New Jersey shoreline by the park's dive team. M.S. was not wearing a lifejacket. The Delaware River is currently flowing at approximately three feet above normal summer levels due to recent rains. The river is muddy and visibility is nearly zero. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Specialist]
Ti.L., 47, a former motorcycle officer for Easton PD, and his daughter, Ta.L., 16, were killed in a motorcycle accident on River Road on the evening of Sunday, October 5th. The father was operating the BMW motorcycle, with his daughter riding on the back. Both died on impact when Ti.L. lost control of the bike and hit a tree. Both were wearing helmets at the time. The cause of the accident is not known; the section of road they were on was straight and dry at the time. [The Lehigh Valley Express-Times] HYPERLINK "http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1223352339173520.xml&coll=3"
Four members of a hiking group who were on the Appalachian Trail within the park were injured by a nearby lightning strike on the evening of Sunday, May 24th. The incident happened during a severe thunderstorm on a popular part of the trail about a mile south of Sunfish Pond. The lightning evidently hit the ground near the group, inflicting injuries on two men and two women. Rangers responded as part of an interagency rescue team based out of the park and evacuated all four - three of them with a Gator (an ATV with a utility bed), and the fourth, who suffered a head wound, on a Stokes litter. All four were taken to Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg. [News reports]
A 25-year-old man from Jersey City, New Jersey, drowned last Friday afternoon while swimming in Adams Creek. The man and nine companions, all male, were swimming in a pool in the creek. The victim apparently drowned while trying to assist another member of his group who was having difficulty swimming. Notification of the incident came just before 2 p.m. Rangers and emergency personnel from local volunteer fire companies, including Delaware Township, Dingmans Township, Hemlock Farms, Westfall Township, Milford, and the Bushkill Fire Company, immediately responded. A park diver located and recovered the man's body at 2:50 p.m. He was found in approximately 17 feet of water. He was pronounced dead by the Pike County coroner. Adams Creek is a small tributary of the Delaware River. A hiking trail follows the creek from a trailhead off US Route 209 through a hemlock gorge to a series of waterfalls. The area where the drowning occurred was approximately two miles from the trailhead. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers from Delaware Water Gap and from nearby Worthington State Forest responded last Friday afternoon to a report of a seven-year-old girl who was not breathing at the Delaware View House, a general store located on the New Jersey side of the park. She was flown to Morristown Memorial Hospital, where she was listed in satisfactory condition at the time of the report (Friday evening). Investigation revealed that the girl had been electrocuted by a makeshift contraption designed to ward off black bears. Park leaseholder G.K. of Sparta, New Jersey, who operates the historic Delaware View House, was arrested for maintaining a hazardous device on federal land and disorderly conduct. G.K. cooperated fully with the investigation and was released by a federal judge later that evening. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
Severe thunderstorms that hit the park last Friday resulted in downed trees, power outages, and the closure of roads, trails and facilities in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. River Road was closed from park headquarters almost all the way to the town of Shawnee, and a section of Old Mine Road was closed from I-80 north to the Worthington State forest campground. Another segment of Old Mine Road near Van Campen Inn was also closed. Downed trees forced the closure of segments of the McDade Trail along River Road. Visitor use areas closed due to power outages or downed trees included the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center, Watergate, Van Campens Glen and Hialeah. Because of heavy rains that accompanied the storms, the Delaware River rose several feet, increased in speed and became more hazardous due to floating debris and strainers. The park therefore instituted a requirement that all individuals in boats on the river must wear lifejackets until conditions moderate. A full assessment of damage is underway. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
Park staff continue to assess and clean up damage resulting from the severe thunderstorm that passed through the region on Friday, August 21st. The storm struck the park in mid-afternoon, moving from New Jersey across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. Two weather stations in the park recorded wind gusts of 33 to 43 miles per hour during the height of the storm. The storm affected a large area of the park on both sides of the river, as well as Worthington State Forest, causing power outages and numerous downed trees and resulting in the closure of park roads, trails, and visitor use facilities. Damage assessment and clean up operations began on Friday evening and are continuing. The priorities are restoration of power to affected sites and clearing highly used park areas. Additional personnel are being requested from other agencies to assist with the clean-up efforts. The current status of roads, trails, and visitor use areas follows: Roads - All of the main roads are open within the park, but additional clean-up work is necessary along the sides of the roads. Old Mine Road in Worthington State Forest from the NPS boundary to Interstate 80 remains closed. Trails - The Coventry Pond and Hamilton Ridge Trails (New Jersey) are closed. The McDade Trail (Pennsylvania) is closed from Turn Farm to Hialeah Picnic Area. Visitor use areas - Millbrook Village and Watergate (New Jersey) are closed due to downed trees and debris. Both the upper and lower sections of Van Campen's Glen (New Jersey) are closed due to downed trees. Kittatinny Point Visitor Center (New Jersey) is without power. Hialeah Picnic Area (Pennsylvania) is closed due to downed trees and debris throughout the area. Hidden Lake Picnic Area, parking, and lodge access road are all closed due to downed trees. For updated information on the status of park facilities, roads, and trails, call park headquarters on weekdays (570-426-2452). Information can also be found on the park's website, HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/dewa". [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
A multi-day search for a 36-year-old New York man came to a conclusion last Saturday morning when his body was found by searchers near the Conashaugh equestrian trail in the northern section of the park. Rangers came upon the man's vehicle in a small parking area off Route 209 between Dingmans Ferry and Milford around 10 p.m. on Thursday evening. They attempted to contact the registered owner, but were unsuccessful. A call was made to a family member who expressed concern that the man had not returned home. Rangers searched the area on foot throughout the evening with assistance from a New Jersey State Police helicopter. The search continued on Friday and resumed again on Saturday morning, with over 40 searchers on the ground and in the air, including rangers from Delaware Water Gap, Upper Delaware and Morristown and teams of searchers from East Penn Search and Rescue, North Pocono Search Rescue and Recovery, Valley Search and Rescue, New Jersey Search and Rescue and Northeast Search and Rescue, including six search dog teams. New Jersey State Police helicopters provided air support. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
Two unoccupied buildings in the park's New Jersey District were destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. Just after 10 a.m., a visitor called the park's 24-hour emergency communications center and reported seeing flames and smoke along the river on the New Jersey side of the park. Firefighters from the National Park Service and from Blairstown Fire Department arrived on the scene a half hour later and found the smoldering remains of two structures, a barn and a house. The structures were located just south of Turtle Beach, near the historic Coppermine Inn on Old Mine Road. Rangers and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are conducting an investigation into the cause. Neither the Turtle Beach facility nor the Coppermine Inn was damaged and Turtle Beach remains open to the public. [Kathleen Sandt, Park Ranger]
The entire Delaware River corridor within the park's boundaries - from Milford to Delaware Water Gap - has been closed in anticipation of rising waters stemming from the heavy rains that have moved up the East Coast over the last two days. All access points have also been closed until further notice. Due to the heavy precipitation, the river is expected to rise from its present height of 5 feet at the Montague gauge to 19.8 feet by 2 a.m. Saturday morning. Flood stage at the Montague gauge is 25 feet. At these heights, typical river conditions include large quantities of floating debris, very swift currents, decreased water temperatures and increased hydraulic hazards in rapids and near bridge pilings, as well as increased hazards along the shore. The flood watch issued for the region yesterday morning continues through this morning. Rangers are closely monitoring the weekend weather and river forecasts and are making preparations to close additional facilities and roads, if necessary. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
J.O., 26, of Wappingers Falls, New York, died after scuba diving in the Delaware River at Dingmans Ferry Access on the afternoon of Saturday, December 11th. J.O. was one of four people diving near the Dingmans Ferry Bridge, where the water depth is about 14 feet. Two of the divers were instructors and two, including the victim and his wife, were students. One of the instructors signaled the students to surface; the J.O.s acknowledged and began a normal ascent. Due to the current, they became separated as they were ascending. J.O. began swimming to shore; however, as the instructor swam towards him, he noticed that J.O. was face down in the water and unresponsive. He began surface breathing while towing him to shore, then immediately began CPR with the second dive instructor. A ranger responded and applied an AED, with no response. The ranger continued CPR until Delaware Township EMS arrived and took over. J.O. was transported by ambulance to Bon Secours Hospital in Port Jervis, New York, where he was pronounced dead. Rangers are investigating the incident. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
During June and July of 2010, the maintenance facility and superintendent's residence at the Cliff Park Inn and its associated golf course were burglarized. The inn and golf course are owned by the NPS and leased to the operators. The course staff reported that jewelry and tools were stolen and estimated the value of the thefts at nearly $60,000. The thefts were investigated by a ranger and a special agent from the Investigative Services Branch. Their five-month-long investigation resulted in the arrest of M.P.T. of nearby Milford, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday January 19th. M.P.T. was charged with two counts of theft under 18 USC 641 in federal court. He was remanded until disposition of the case. [Jeffrey Pascale, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, East Region, ISB]
Last August, a protection ranger discovered an illegal campfire tended by two juveniles who were intoxicated. Two other suspects who had been in the woods ran from the scene. The next morning, Cliff Park Inn maintenance workers discovered that the golf green closest to the campfire had been vandalized. The golf course is owned by the NPS and leased to the operators. Rangers found numerous beer cans with the same identification numbers near an adjacent pond, on the golf green, and stuffed into the golf cup. Subsequent investigation and interviews by the ranger and a special agent from the Investigative Services Branch revealed that the four suspects had been drinking beer and throwing the golf flag at each other. The case was given to the local prosecutor's office since all four were juveniles. They were charged with a summary offense and paid $650 restitution to the lessee. [Larry Commisso, Supervisory Law Enforcement Ranger]
Heavy rains falling throughout the Northeast have caused significant flooding on small streams and are filling larger rivers to their brims. Some flooding will likely occur in these parks: Delaware Water Gap NRA - The entire Delaware River corridor within the park, including all access points, the McDade Recreational Trail and several roads, is currently closed. These roads include Old Mine Road from Worthington State Forest to Millbrook Village, the unpaved section of Old Mine Road near the Van Campen Inn, and Route 615 near Flatbrookville in New Jersey. River Road in Pennsylvania is closed from Shawnee-on-Delaware to park headquarters. These closures will remain in effect until further notice. If conditions continue to worsen, U.S. Route 209 may also be closed. Due to the heavy rain and additional runoff from snowmelt, the Delaware River is forecast to rise to 21.6' at the Montague gauge by Friday evening; flood stage is 25'. At the Tocks Island gauge at the south end of the park, the river is expected to reach just over 23' by Friday evening; flood stage there is 21', so moderate flooding is expected in that area. [Brad Clawson, Chief Ranger, CHOH; Kathleen Sandt, PIO, DEWA; Seam McGuinness, Superintendent, UPDE]
On the afternoon of April 26th, park dispatch received a request for assistance at a rescue that was in progress in a residential development next to the park. The park's high-angle rescue team, lead by assistant team leader Michelle Schonzeit, responded and found that a family of three - a mother, father and son - had been hiking in a creek when the family dog was swept away by the fast current. The father attempted to rescue the dog and was swept downstream, sustaining significant injuries. The Bushkill Fire Department was able to reach the father and extract him from the creek; he was later flown to St. Luke's Hospital. The mother, son and a neighbor entered the water in an attempt to help the father and were also swept downstream. The neighbor was rescued by the Bushkill Fire Department and later treated and released on scene. When the mother and son were located, they were clinging to a rock in a precarious area with steep cliffs and downstream hazards, including rapids and waterfalls. It was determined by the Bushkill Fire Department that they did not have the capability to rescue the mother and son, at which time the technical rescue was turned over to the National Park Service. After setting up a raising and lowering system, ranger Troy Mueller was lowered into the creek, where he was able to extract both the mother and son. They were both hypothermic, having spent over an hour in the frigid waters, and were transported to a local hospital, where they were treated and later released. [Eric Lisnik, Chief Ranger]
During June and July of 2010, Cliff Park Inn, the maintenance facility for its golf course, and the golf course superintendent's residence were all broken into and tools and jewelry were stolen. The total estimated value of the stolen items was placed at nearly $60,000. The thefts were investigated by a ranger and a Northeast ISB special agent. On January 19th, they arrested M.T. for the thefts. M.T. was remanded until disposition of the case. On May 25th, he pled guilty to two felony theft counts under 18 USC § 661 and was sentenced to four months incarceration, restitution in the amount of $30,000, and two years supervised release. The restitution amount was agreed upon because of an inability to obtain current appraisal values for the jewelry. Cliff Park Inn is operated under a historic lease with the park. [Jeffrey Pascale, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Northeast, ISB]
Since many parks that reported closures over the weekend will reopen today and since most have reported minor damage and power outages, only those with significant issues are reported here (south to north): Delaware Water Gap NRA - Route 209 within the park is closed from Bushkill to Milford. The road will remain closed until further notice. The strong winds and heavy rains from Hurricane Irene brought down numerous trees along the road and caused flooding at Bushkill Creek. Additional flooding is expected along Route 209 as the Delaware River rises toward flood stage. Many local roads that connect to Route 209, River Road, and other park roads are also closed. Additional reports on Hurricane Irene's impacts will be posted as they are received. Meanwhile, Washington, regional and park staffs will be keeping an eye on the Atlantic, where a new potential hurricane is brewing. According to Denver Ingram, meteorologist at the Southern Area Coordination Center, who provides tropical storm updates to the NPS, there is "a large significant tropical wave" now off the coast of Africa, which forecast models project will be "a significant event for the East Coast in about 10 days..." [Bill Halainen, Editor]
Although many East Coast parks have reopened and resumed normal operations, a number are still completing assessments and a few are dealing with serious problems. Most parks affected by Irene have reported some downed trees, minor structural damage and/or water infiltration, and some flooding. Those with more significant issues appear below, from south to north. Delaware Water Gap - Although the Delaware River, which crested yesterday, caused only minor flooding, the park sustained significant damage, particularly in downed trees - thousands are thought to have fallen throughout the park, closing many roads and trails. There are also a number of serious washouts, and assessments have yet to be made of park structures. U.S. Route 209, a main north-south route that runs through the park, is closed due to flooding and downed trees and will likely remain closed through at least tomorrow. Complicating problems are power outages throughout the area that will take days to resolve. The park IMT is managing the recovery effort. Staff from Upper Delaware NSR&R are providing support. A trail crew consisting of eight individuals has been ordered; also miscellaneous equipment. A team of FMSS assessment specialists from NER has been assigned to evaluate damage, Additional reports on Hurricane Irene's impacts will be posted as they are received. [Bill Halainen, Editor] HYPERLINK "http://latimesphoto.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/la-na-0829-irene03.jpg?w=165"
Most parks affected by Hurricane Irene have reopened and returned to normal operations, but several continue to deal with serious issues. Today's status reports follow. As of yesterday morning, a total of 173 NPS employees were committed to hurricane recovery operations. Here are updates from parks reporting significant issues, as of yesterday morning (south to north): Delaware Water Gap - The park is still in ICS. An assessment team and two trail crews - one from Acadia and the other from Shenandoah - arrived in the park yesterday to provide assistance, joining staff from Upper Delaware already on site. Roads and trails remain impassable in both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey portions of the park. Fast moving streams overtopped roads, undermined road surfaces and shoulders, inundated trail bridges, and flooded park buildings. The Delaware River crested yesterday, causing minor flooding and washing over low-lying sections of U.S. Route 209. The majority of park buildings and residences are without electrical power. Park staff are performing initial damage assessments and cleanup operations throughout the 70,000 acre park. Extensive closures to park roads and facilities are expected to continue through the Labor Day weekend. Damage: The Delaware River and all river access points from Milford to Delaware Water Gap remain closed until the river recedes to a safe level. Reopening Route 209 between Bushkill and Milford is a high priority. Although floodwaters have receded, downed power lines have to be cleared and damaged road shoulders repaired before the road can be completely opened to through traffic. A small section at the south end has reopened. Also closed are sections of River Road (PA), Old Mine Road and Route 615 (NJ). The Dingmans Falls and Kittattinny Point Visitor Centers are closed Other public facilities closed include Millbrook Village, Dingmans Campground, the park's two group campsites, all swim beaches, and picnic areas Additional reports on Hurricane Irene's impacts will be posted as they are received. [Bill Halainen, Editor]
Recovery operations continue in parks in Northeast and Southeast Regions. Today's status reports follow. As of yesterday morning, a total of 242 NPS employees were committed to hurricane recovery operations. Here are updates from parks reporting significant issues, as of yesterday morning (south to north): Delaware Water Gap - The park is still in ICS. An assessment team and two trail crews - one from Acadia and the other from Shenandoah - arrived in the park on Tuesday and have joined staff from Upper Delaware already providing support. Yesterday's developments included the following: The Delaware River and all river access points from Milford to Delaware Water Gap will remain closed through Monday, September 5th. An assessment of river campsites has just begun. Road closures continue in the park as crews remove trees and debris and assess damage to road surfaces, shoulders and bridges. The entire length of Route 209 through the park will reopen today at noon. Local, township-maintained feeder roads to Route 209 will also reopen. Route 739 between Route 209 and the Dingmans Ferry toll-bridge will remain closed until hazard trees and downed power lines can be cleared. In New Jersey, Route 560 is still closed. Consequently, the privately-owned toll bridge at Dingmans Ferry, located within the park boundaries, remains closed by the owner. Also closed are sections of River Road, Old Mine Road and Route 615. Dingmans Falls Visitor Center will remain closed through the weekend. The waterfall trail has sustained damage that must be repaired before it is safe for the public. In addition, downed power lines and trees must be removed from the access road. Kittatinny Point Visitor Center and the surrounding grounds and picnic area will also be closed for the weekend. Millbrook Village remains closed. Flooding from Van Campens Brook caused extensive damage throughout the village. All camping areas, swimming beaches, recreation areas and trails remain closed. Additional reports on Hurricane Irene's impacts will be posted as they are received. [Bill Halainen, Editor]
Hurricane Irene recovery operations continue in parks in Northeast and Southeast Regions. Today's status reports follow. As of yesterday morning, a total of 242 NPS employees were committed to these efforts. Here are updates from parks reporting significant issues, as of yesterday: Delaware Water Gap - The entire length of U.S. Route 209 through the park reopened yesterday. Local, township-maintained feeder roads between SR 2001 and Route 209 reopened with Route 209. Since Monday, National Park Service crews have concentrated on clearing trees, repairing damaged shoulders, and removing silt and debris to make the road safe for travel. MetEd utility workers arrived on Wednesday to replace a broken power pole and dangling power line that blocked one lane of Route 209 north of PA 739. On the New Jersey side of the park, Old Mine Road has reopened between Route 560 and U.S. Route 206. The Sixty-four NPS personnel are presently dedicated to managing and carrying out the damage assessment and cleanup operations in the park. The efforts of park employees are aided by two four-person trail crews from Acadia National Park (Maine) and Shenandoah National Park (Virginia) and a seven-person facility assessment team. All are making a concerted effort to open park roads, trails, visitor centers, and recreation sites as quickly as possible. Most closures noted in yesterday's edition still stand. For updated information on the status of park facilities, roads, and trails, go to the park's website ( HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/dewa" www.nps.gov/dewa), Facebook ( HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/DelWaterGapNPS"), and/or Twitter ( HYPERLINK "http://www.twitter.com/DelWaterGapNPS"). Additional reports on Hurricane Irene's impacts will be posted as they are received. [Bill Halainen, Editor]
Park staffs and supporting incident management and other teams worked throughout the holiday weekend to repair facilities and restore services at parks hit hard by Hurricane Irene, particularly at Delaware Water Gap, Cape Lookout and the Outer Banks Group. Significant progress has been made, with many reopening announced. Although personnel were busy throughout the Labor Day weekend, today's summary focuses largely on yesterday's operations: Delaware Water Gap - Due to rapid progress made in completing damage assessments and cleanup operations, the park began opening some park roads and facilities yesterday, including River Road, the lower section of Old Mine Road, Route 602, the Raymondskill Falls and Cliff Park Trails, the McDade Recreational Trail (except for the section between the Pittman and Conashaugh trailheads, the Kittatinny Point Visitor Center and picnic area, Milford and Smithfield Beaches (picnicking only), the Hialeah picnic area, and the Milford, Bushkill, Dingmans, Eshback, and Smithfield Beach canoe and boat accesses. The entire Delaware River corridor was also reopened. Some facilities will remain closed indefinitely until repairs can be made. Popular destinations such as Millbrook Village, Dingmans Falls, and the Kittatinny Point canoe access are among those that will remain closed until conditions are safe for visitor access. Park employees are being assisted by personnel from Acadia, Chattahoochee, Shenandoah, NCRO, NERO and the Olmstead Center for Landscape Preservation Updated information will also be posted the park's website ( HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/dewa"), Facebook ( HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/DelWaterGapNPS"), and/or Twitter ( HYPERLINK "http://www.twitter.com/DelWaterGapNPS"). [Bill Halainen, Editor]
The very heavy rains from the remains of Tropical Storm Lee that have fallen on many Eastern states this week have brought rivers up to or above flood levels in many areas. Two parks have reported specific issues: Delaware Water Gap NRA - Several weather-related road closures were put into effect yesterday, as heavy rain, runoff, and flooding had caused hazardous driving conditions on a number of park roads. Pennsylvania - Route 209 was closed from Bushkill Falls Road to Route 739 yesterday evening due to standing water in low-lying sections of the road. Local feeder roads between SR 2001 and Route 209 were also closed. Route 209 will remain closed until the water recedes to a safe level. River Road has been closed from Shawnee-on-Delaware to park headquarters near Fernwood Resort. New Jersey - Old Mine Road is closed from Worthington State Forest to Millbrook Village and from Route 560, north of the Dingmans Ferry Bridge, to U.S. Route 206. NPS Route 615 is closed from Walpack Center to Flatbrookville. Delaware River - The Delaware River and all river access points from Milford to Delaware Water Gap remain closed to all recreational activities until the river recedes to a safe level. Many park roads and areas still remain closed following Hurricane Irene. For updated information on the status of park facilities, roads, and trails, call park headquarters at 570-426-2452 (weekdays). Updated information is also available on the park's website, HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/dewa", on HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/DelWaterGapNPS", and HYPERLINK "http://www.twitter.com/DelWaterGapNPS". [Deb Nordeen, DEWA; Peggie Gal, CHOH]
Rangers are conducting a search for a 25-year-old New Jersey man who was last seen hiking with friends at Van Campens Glen on the New Jersey side of the park on Sunday afternoon. The park was notified of the missing hiker by a local county control center around 4 p.m., and the search was begun a half hour later. It was suspended at nightfall, resumed on Monday, and continued yesterday. Assisting are the New Jersey State Park Police and volunteer searchers and canine handlers from New Jersey Search and Rescue. Bushkill Fire Department has provided an underwater camera system that will allow rangers to safely search the creek. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Specialist]
The body of 25-year-old A.M. of Long Valley, New Jersey, was recovered on Tuesday at Van Campens Glen on the New Jersey side of the park. A.M. had been missing since Sunday afternoon. He was hiking and swimming at Van Campens Glen with friends and was last seen climbing on the rocks near the stream. The area is a popular recreation site and has a picnic area and a hiking trail along Van Campens Brook. Swimming is prohibited at the site. Rangers began a search for him on Sunday afternoon and continued throughout the day on Monday. Tuesday's efforts included assistance from the New Jersey State Park Police, New Jersey Search and Rescue, and Bushkill Fire Department. The cause of death has not yet been determined. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Specialist]
The northern section of U.S. Route 209 was closed on Friday afternoon due to the failure of a section of the road. The highway is a major north-south artery that runs through the park's Pennsylvania District and is under NPS jurisdiction. The failure involved a 150-yard segment of the road about two miles north of Route 739. The embankment on the east side of the road has slumped, the pavement has begun to separate, large cracks have appeared in the surface, large voids have developed under the pavement, and the road has dropped by approximately six inches in some places. Federal Highways Administration engineers were on site Friday and determined that the road was unsafe for motor vehicles. It is likely that the damage was caused by this year's record rainfall, coupled with the impacts of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. A timeframe for completion of emergency repairs is unknown at this time. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Specialist]
Early on the afternoon of Sunday, November 13th, K.S. 67, and a friend met in the park at Spackman's Creek to go hiking. The two friends often come to the park to hike, and typically meet at one location, then separate and take different trails. On this occasion, K.S.'s companion hiked up the main branch of the stream to seek some waterfalls. K.S. reportedly had some health issues which kept her from keeping pace with her partner, so she left him to hike along the creek's north rim. When she failed to return, the park was notified and rangers began a hasty search for her late in the evening. Around 10 p.m., they found her blaze orange hat on the rim of the gorge and shortly thereafter discovered her body in the stream below. It appears that she fell over a 100-foot-high embankment and landed face down in the creek. The scene was secured until additional rangers, an NPS special agent, a Pennsylvania State Police forensic unit, and the Pike County coroner arrived to complete the investigation. The park's high-angle rescue team assisted by descending into the gorge and recovering the body. The investigation continues. [Eric Provencher, Deputy Chief Ranger]
Flooding and saturated ground conditions from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee caused significant damage to roads throughout the park earlier this fall. A number of primary and secondary roads, including a 7.5-mile-long segment of U.S. Route 209 in Pennsylvania and parts of Old Mine Road and NPS 615 in New Jersey, remain closed pending repairs. The park is working closely with Federal Highways to complete repairs. Since October 21st, both lanes of Route 209 have been closed to traffic between Route 739 (near Dingmans Ferry) and Route 206 (near Milford). A landslide occurred at Milepost 15.3 which caused a section of the road surface to separate and settle approximately six inches; a section of the McDade Trail was also washed out. All traffic has been detoured onto local roads until permanent repairs can be designed and constructed. The permanent repairs to Route 209 will require extensive engineering and reconstruction. Federal Highways personnel have completed site surveys and are conducting soil investigations; the data collected will be employed to design the road reconstruction project. Construction work is expected to begin in the spring or early summer of 2012. Current projections indicate that the road won't reopen to through traffic until late summer or fall of 2012. In the meantime, planning actions are underway to reduce the closure from 7.5 miles to less than a mile, which will allow recreational users more access to park lands. In New Jersey, portions of NPS Route 615 and Old Mine Road were washed away by the flooding, making the roads impassable. They have been closed to through traffic since Hurricane Irene struck on August 27th. Because of the immediate need to restore traffic on these roads, emergency repairs are now underway and, weather permitting, are expected to be finished soon. For updated information about the status of the roadways, call 570-426-2492 for a recorded message, visit the park's website ( HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/dewa"), or follow the park on Facebook ( HYPERLINK "http://www.facebook.com/DelWaterGapNPS") or Twitter ( HYPERLINK "http://www.twitter.com/DelWaterGapNPS"). [Rich Degnan and Bill Leonard]
Rangers on patrol in the Buttermilk Falls area of the park just before midnight on Sunday came upon a white Ford Ranger pickup parked in the falls parking lot, which closes to public use at 10 p.m. When they approached the vehicle, they saw a rope hanging from a large tree limb toward one side of the truck's rear. Behind the truck, they discovered a man's body with the rope tied to a belt around his neck. The New Jersey State Police and the state medical examiner's office were notified and joined the investigation. A records search revealed that the 32-year-old man had an outstanding felony warrant for child molestation and child pornography out against him, extraditable in all 50 states. [Eric P. Provencher, Deputy Chief Ranger]
On Monday, March 12th, a fire destroyed the James Van Campen House (more recently known as the Miller Farmhouse) on Old Mine Road on the New Jersey side of the park. The fire was reported to the park's 24-hour emergency communications center at 4:38 a.m. on Monday morning by an individual driving on River Road in Pennsylvania who could see something burning across the river on the New Jersey side. Within five minutes, a second phone call was made to confirm that a building was on fire. Firefighters from the Knowlton, Blairstown and Portland fire departments and from the National Park Service responded. By the time they arrived, though, the house had burned completely. The building was vacant at the time of the fire. James Van Campen built the original portion of the two-story, frame house in 1812 on property he inherited from his father, Abraham Van Campen. The house was typical of the early, rural farmhouses in the area and had local, historic significance as part of the Old Mine Road Historic District. The cause of the fire is undetermined at this time, but is under investigation by the National Park Service. Anyone with information that may aid with the investigation is asked to call the park's emergency communications center at 1-800-543-4295. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer]
On the evening of April 25th, park dispatch received a report from local police of a vehicle fire on Route 615 within the park's boundaries. Rangers, New Jersey State Police troopers and members of Sandyston Volunteer Fire Department responded. The vehicle had struck a large tree, apparently at a high rate of speed. Witnesses in the area heard the driver accelerate prior to striking the tree. The vehicle was fully engulfed in flames when units arrived on scene. Due to the fire and extensive damage to the vehicle, the body had not yet been identified at the time of the report. An autopsy has been conducted and dental records are being examined. The investigation as to the cause and nature of the accident is ongoing. [Eric Provencher, Deputy Chief Ranger]
A park visitor was bitten by a beaver while swimming in the Delaware River just south of Eshback Access on the afternoon of Thursday, August 2nd. The beaver subsequently tested positive for rabies. At this time, it is unknown if other animals in the park are affected. The park is working with the Office of Public Health and the Service's Wildlife Health Branch to protect the health and safety of visitors and wildlife in the park by testing any sick or dead wildlife and notifying the public when rabies is detected in the park. More information will be released as it becomes available. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
On the afternoon of Sunday, September 2nd, rangers received a call from park dispatch regarding a group of people threatening to drown NPS lifeguards at a park beach in Milford. Rangers Keith Winslow, Andrew Winslow and Elizabeth Winslow soon arrived at the beach and ordered the members of the group out of the water. While dealing with them, other family members came down from the beach pavilion and became disorderly. Acting on information from the lifeguards, who'd identified the woman who'd instigated the problem, Keith Winslow removed her from the crowd and placed her under arrest. He was attempting to walk her to his patrol vehicle when a man from the group started interfering. He squared off at both Keith Winslow and Andrew Winslow, and, despite repeated commands to back off and leave, moved in and chest bumped Keith Winslow. The ranger responded with a stiff arm in an attempt to push the man away, but he again came back at Winslow and was taken to the ground, where he continued to fight to regain control of his hands. Elizabeth Winslow heard the commotion and came over from the lifeguard stand, where she had been getting witness statements. Family members had pressed in tight on the two rangers struggling with the man on the ground, so she took her taser out of its holster and commanded them to back away. She then fired it at the man, striking him in the chest. The probes were too close to one another to be effective, though, so she fired a second time, this time causing the man to stop fighting. The man and woman were arrested. The woman was taken to the ranger station, but the man, as per protocol, was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, as one of the probes struck him in the upper chest close to his neck/throat. One of the rangers suffered injury to his knee, requiring a medical evaluation. Other rangers from both Delaware Water Gap and Upper Delaware responded along with officers from Milford PD and Eastern Pike Regional PD to assist in controlling the crowd. [Eric Provencher, Deputy Chief Ranger]
On February 15th, park dispatch received a call from a police department in New Jersey regarding a missing person. They reported that the man's wife had contacted them and reported that she'd last spoken to her husband on February 12th and that his vehicle had been found off Old Mine Road in the park by a New Jersey State Park officer. Rangers were dispatched to the scene, as was a state park police dog team. The dog was given a scent article from the missing man's vehicle and immediately began to track him, quickly leading the search team to a nearby pond. Fishing gear and a hole in the ice were seen about 20 yards from shore. Three members of the Delaware Water Gap dive team entered the water and found the man's body. NPS rangers, an ISB agent, New Jersey State Park Police officers, and representatives from the Warren County prosecutor's and coroner's offices were involved in the incident. Several rangers recognized the victim as a long-time park user and avid outdoorsman. [Eric Lisnik, Chief Ranger]
On June 29th, park dispatch received a request from Bushkill Fire Department to undertake a technical rescue outside the park boundary in the Lehman Township Park/Saw Creek waterfall area. A 36-year-old man who had been cliff jumping at the top of a series of three waterfalls had been swept over the top two waterfalls. He was able to reach a small shelf below a cliff that pinned him between the swift water of the flooded Saw Creek and under a 60-foot overhung cliff. The park's high angle rescue team (HAR Team) established a technical raise and lower system to lower ranger Tim Rand to the man's location. He was placed in a harness, raised back to the relative safety of an abandoned trail, and carried to a waiting ambulance. During this operation, the park's HAR Team included rangers from Upper Delaware and personnel from local partner agencies, including the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and Pocono Environmental Education Center. The HAR Team also partners with the New Jersey State Park Police and the New Jersey State Park Service. IC for the incident was supervisory ranger Chris Kross; ops chief and case ranger was ranger Michelle Schonzeit. [Michelle Schonzeit, Park Ranger]
A nine-year-old boy from Bushkill drowned in the Delaware River late on Monday afternoon. He was fishing along the shoreline just downstream from Bushkill Access with family members when he lost his footing and slipped into the current. Attempts to rescue the boy by family members and a boater who was passing by were unsuccessful. The National Park Service's 24-hour communications center received the emergency call at 4:32 p.m. and rangers were on scene within one minute. The National Park Service dive team was called in and divers located and recovered the boy's body in nine feet of water just before 6:00 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Pike County Coroner. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
A 51-year-old Brooklyn man drowned in the Delaware River near Kittatinny Point on Saturday afternoon - the second drowning in the river within the park in a dozen days. A call came into park dispatch reporting that the man had disappeared and had last been seen by family members 90 minutes earlier. Rangers and New Jersey State Police troopers responded and a search of the grounds ensued. Rangers also searched the nearby river and found the man's body about 20 yards from shore in nine to twelve feet of water. Park divers recovered the body and a county medical examiner pronounced him dead. The man was not wearing a lifejacket at the time of his death. The recent heat wave brought increased numbers of visitors to the park seeking to cool off on or near the water. The area where he was swimming does not have lifeguards. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers are assisting New Jersey State Park Police with a search for a 21-year-old New Jersey man who was last seen swimming in the Delaware River near the Douglas Trail parking area in Worthington State Forest just before 5 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon. The state forest is within the park's boundaries. The search for him continued until darkness fell on Monday evening and resumed Tuesday morning. The search team includes park rangers and the park's dive team and personnel from the New Jersey State Police, the New Jersey State Park Police, Knowlton Fire Department, Portland Hook and Ladder, and Hackettstown Regional Medical Center Emergency Medical Services. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
The body of a 20-year-old New Jersey man was recovered from the Delaware River by rangers on the afternoon of August 16th. His body had been spotted by two fishermen near the old railroad bridge abutments just north of the Interstate 80 toll bridge. Rangers arrived on scene by boat and made the recovery a few hundred yards downstream, concluding a multi-day, multi-agency search. The man was reported missing on the afternoon of August 13th and was last seen swimming in the Delaware River. He had been picnicking and swimming with friends and family at Worthington State Forest on Old Mine Road, which is within the park's boundaries. NPS rangers, including boat operators and divers, and New Jersey State Police personnel, including marine and air support units, assisted New Jersey State Park Police in the search and recovery effort. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
The body of a Pennsylvania man was found near Lake Lenape around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 3rd. T.S., 51, had been missing for over a week. He was last seen exiting his vehicle at Resort Point Overlook on Route 611 on Tuesday, March 25th. The park's search and rescue team began a search of the area around Resort Point and Mount Minsi on Friday, March 28th, and continued through the weekend with assistance from the New Jersey State Park Police, New Jersey Search and Rescue, and canine teams from Ramapo Rescue Dog Association. A New Jersey State Police helicopter also assisted. Search efforts yielded no leads and were hampered by weather conditions. The search was called off on Monday, March 31st, but NPS rangers continued to investigate T.S.'s disappearance. T.S.'s body was discovered by a visitor who was hiking in the Lake Lenape area. He'd evidently fallen face down into a creek. The coroner has ruled that his death was accidental, a result of drowning and hypothermia. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
On Friday, April 25th, the United States Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Park Service conducted a joint warrant sweep for individuals with outstanding arrest warrants for offenses committed within the park. Three teams of federal and state officers executed arrest warrants in Pike and Monroe Counties (the two counties in which the park is located in Pennsylvania) for a wide variety of offenses, including driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of controlled substances, disorderly conduct, and weapons violations. The teams netted six offenders with outstanding NPS warrants and found that three other fugitives on the list were currently incarcerated in state prison for other crimes committed outside of the park's boundaries. Detainers were placed on those three, who will appear in court on the NPS warrants at the conclusion of their current prison terms. With the assistance of the United States Attorney's Office, all of the offenders were successfully prosecuted and sentenced on the same day as the operation. The U.S. Marshals Service was the lead agency for this operation. [Eric Lisnik, Chief Ranger]
A major multi-agency manhunt is currently underway for the person or persons who ambushed and killed a Pennsylvania state trooper and seriously wounded another outside the Blooming Grove barracks in Pike County in northeast Pennsylvania. Troopers from Blooming Grove work closely with rangers from both Upper Delaware S&RR and Delaware Water Gap NRA, both of which are partly in Pike County. The NPS has been in touch with incident managers at the Pennsylvania State Police command post and notified them of the availability of rangers and an NPS special agent. At present, however, they are not actively engaged in the search. Rangers in both parks have been advised to exercise extra caution both on and off duty. [Joe Hinkes, Chief Ranger, Upper Delaware S&RR]
On Wednesday, April 8th, the park's High Angle Rescue Team conducted a monthly scheduled joint-agency high angle rescue training session at High Point State Park in northwestern New Jersey near the park. The joint-agency team is comprised of park personnel, New Jersey state agencies personnel, and park volunteers. Due to inclement weather on April 8th, it was decided to relocate the training inside the monument tower at High Point's summit. There have been several previous training sessions conducted at the park which have taken place inside the monument, which is a stone masonry obelisk standing approximately 226 feet high. The interior of the monument has a metal staircase wrapping around the inside walls with horizontal landings at each level, which provides an unobstructed area in the center for rappelling or other rope rescue training. This training session was dedicated to raising and lowering an empty basket stretcher with a litter attendant. There were eight participants, including a team leader (a Delaware Water Gap employee) and one assistant team leader (a New Jersey State Park employee). The hauling system was rigged by the assistant team leader and a regular team member (Delaware Water Gap employee). The haul system was configured for use by rescuers situated on a horizontal landing that was approximately 26 feet above a concrete surface. The configuration permitted raising and lowering each training participant through separate evolutions as the litter attendant. The rescuers on the second floor landing operated the hauling system on the main line, which was routed at an angle up through a high directional comprised of two locking carabiners anchored to the metal stairway structure with nylon webbing at the next level above. The webbing was rigged in a "wrap three-pull two" configuration and the area where the two wraps contacted the metal handrail stanchion was wrapped with a canvas edge guard. The leg of webbing with the two directional carabiners was positioned near additional unprotected metal stairway components. A managed separate belay line was not employed. During the final training evolution, the assistant team leader served as the litter attendant. Just before noon, he was in the upper litter attendant position, being lowered, when the upper directional anchor failed, causing him to fall approximately 20 feet, initially colliding with a stair railing and then the concrete surface. The injured rescuer was immediately attended to by team members on scene and an aeromedical helicopter was requested due to the fall, obvious arm fracture, and suspected back injury. The assistant team leader did not suffer a loss of consciousness following the accident. Although the aeromedical helicopter reached the scene, it was cancelled prior to landing by responding local agency paramedics. The injured man was packaged and transported to a local hospital by ground ambulance. He has been subsequently released from the hospital and is recuperating at home. Findings at the accident scene indicate that the webbing anchor attachment to the high directional became severed from contact with the metal stairway components during the repeated training evolutions, which lead to a loss of control of the load. The accident investigation will include a facilitated learning analysis, which will be prepared and published by the WASO Emergency Services Office in order to provide an accurate and detailed understanding of this event for all NPS technical rescue personnel. [Ken Phillips, NPS Branch Chief of Search and Rescue]
On the evening of May 11th, park dispatch received a 911 call routed from the Monroe County 911 Center advising them that an unconscious woman had been found in the Watergate Picnic Area. Park dispatch was also advised that an ambulance had been dispatched and that the woman might be the subject of a missing/endangered person report taken earlier by the Pennsylvania State Police. Rangers arrived on scene as the semi-conscious woman was being loaded into the ambulance and accompanied the ambulance to Pocono Medical Center, where they were met by Pennsylvania State Police troopers. Preliminary investigation indicates that she'd attempted to commit suicide by consuming a combination of over-the-counter medication and alcohol. She was held at Pocono Medical Center for treatment and mental health evaluation. [Joe Hinkes, Law Enforcement Operations Supervisor]
On the afternoon of Friday, May 15th, park dispatch received a call from the Pike County 911 Center advising that the vehicle of 22-year-old woman, thought to be suicidal, had been found in the Milford Beach Parking Lot. Pike County 911 also advised that the woman's parents were in route to Milford Beach. As rangers were responding, further information was obtained indicating that the woman had been found by friends, but the exact location was unknown. Rangers arrived on scene at Milford Beach shortly thereafter, approximately the same time as the parents. After a brief search of the area, rangers were able to find the woman, who had cut her upper forearm with an Exacto knife, causing a three inch laceration. A friend of the woman had succeeded in taking the knife away from her prior to the rangers arrival and had thrown it into the river. The woman cooperated with rangers and was transported to the hospital via ambulance for treatment and mental health evaluation. [Joe Hinkes, Law Enforcement Operations Supervisor]
On the morning of Thursday, May 7th, park dispatch received a report from several fisherman of a man yelling for help on an overturned kayak across from Eshback. Rangers patrolling the New Jersey section of the park were on scene within minutes of the initial report. They found that a 78-year-old New Jersey man had overturned his anchored kayak while fishing, that he'd been in the water for approximately 30 minutes prior to the initial report, and that he was wearing a lifejacket that was not properly fitted. The water temperature at the time was 59 degrees. Within five to ten minutes of locating the man, he began to complain of shaking uncontrollably, had difficulty answering basic questions, and said that he couldn't hold on much longer. Due his distance from shore, the rangers could not reach him with a throw bag. With the rescue vessel still 15 to 20 minutes out, it was decided that the rangers would enter the water to attempt a rescue. Two rangers wearing properly fitting PFDs entered the river and were secured by several throw bags. They swam half way across the river, reached the man, and cut the anchor line to his kayak. Two rangers on the shoreline then pulled all three to safety. A waiting ambulance took the man to a local hospital, where he was treated for hypothermia. He was released from the hospital later that day. [Joe Hinkes, Law Enforcement Operations Supervisor]
Rangers and volunteer firefighters responded to incidents on consecutive days last week in which visitors were injured in cliff jumps from the Adams Creek waterfall. Both victims were 20-year-old women from New Jersey and both received back injuries after jumping from a cliff about 40 feet above the pool at the base of the waterfall. On June 10th, the park's interagency high angle rescue team conducted a belayed carryout of the first injured woman; the June 11th incident did not require a technical rescue, as the woman was able to walk part of the way out to the trailhead. These incidents marked the second and third injury incidents requiring rescues at Adams Creek this year. The creek has exploded in popularity among teenagers and young adults from as far away as Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the greater New York-New Jersey urban areas due to numerous YouTube posting of cliff jumping, swimming and partying there. See the first few videos at the link below. An alcohol closure was put in place this year for the area, but that has not diminished its popularity. Park management is now considering an area closure. HYPERLINK "https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Adams+Creek" [Joe Hinkes, Law Enforcement Operations Supervisor]
M.L.L., 31, of Bushkill, Pennsylvania, was fatally injured in a one car motor vehicle accident on Route 209 just south of the Bushkill Meeting Center around 6 a.m. yesterday. M.L.L. was traveling southbound on Route 209 when his vehicle was struck by a falling tree. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Monroe County coroner. Bushkill Fire Department responded to the scene within minutes, with Bushkill Ambulance, Pennsylvania State Police, and National Park Service rangers also responding. Route 209 was closed for several hours, but has since reopened. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers and local emergency personnel responded to a report of a seriously injured person at the main waterfall on Adams Creek around 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. This was the fifth time since April that rangers have responded to rescue calls at Adams Creek. A 27-year-old man from Milford, Pennsylvania, sustained serious injuries after jumping from a 45-foot cliff into the pool at the base of the falls. Rangers were on patrol on the trail to the falls when the call came in through the NPS communications center and were able to get to the man quickly and begin treatment. The rugged, mile-and-a-half long trail includes four creek crossings and one area where the injured man had to be raised and lowered over steep cliffs. It took park rangers and rescue personnel from Delaware Township Ambulance Corp three hours to carry him from the falls to the road, where an ambulance awaited. He was then transported by Delaware Township Ambulance Corp to a landing zone in Dingmans Ferry and flown to Morristown Hospital. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
J.D.M., 41, of Myerstown, Pennsylvania, drowned while attempting to swim across the Delaware River on the afternoon of July 18th. Members of the park's dive team recovered J.D.M.'s body in ten feet of water later in the day near an area known as Shad Rocks, located between Bushkill Access and Smithfield Beach. He was not wearing a life jacket. [Kathleen Sandt, Public Affairs Officer]
L.D., a 40-year-old Pennsylvania man, will spend four years behind bars after admitting to stealing from cars in the park over a period of five months. L.D. was sentenced in federal court last Thursday after pleading guilty to conspiracy and identity theft charges. Between April and September of 2015, L.D. and others broke into parked vehicles at least three times in the park and stole electronics, cellular phones, credit cards and other items. In a request for a two-and-a-half-year sentence, L.D.'s defense said he had a substance abuse problem, but also that "drug addiction does not excuse L.D.'s crimes, and he knows it." However, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a news release that L.D. has an extensive criminal history, including 19 convictions for theft and credit card fraud related activities. In addition to four years in prison, L.D. was also sentenced to pay $1,174.89 in restitution and serve two years of supervised probation upon release from custody. Source: News report, LehighValleyLive.
At the conclusion of a two-day trial last week, a jury found D.R., 26, guilty of assaulting and fleeing from a ranger. The charges arose from a hit-and-run incident that took place in the park on July 1, 2016. Evidence presented during the trial showed that rangers patrolling the park that evening encountered D.R. and ordered him to stop his vehicle. D.R. refused to obey and instead accelerated his vehicle towards one of the rangers, causing him to jump out of the way. D.R. then resisted the officers' attempts to detain him and accelerated again, striking one of the rangers with his vehicle while fleeing the scene of the incident. Though D.R. initially evaded apprehension, rangers located and took him into custody days later at the Pike County Courthouse, where he was being sentenced for an unrelated DUI conviction. The case was investigated park rangers and was prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania. Sentencing will take place at a later date. Source: NPS Investigative Services Branch.
Although only a few reports have so far been filed either by parks or by their nearby news media regarding damage from the March 2nd storm, enough have appeared to provide a sense of its magnitude. For the record, the nor'easter produced sustained winds of near hurricane force, with gusts as high as 97 mph; snowfalls of 15 to 20 inches, with a high of 40 inches in one day in central New York; severe coastal flooding; and power outages to 1.9 million people. Here's what's been reported: Delaware Water Gap NRA — The March 2nd nor'easter brought heavy, wet snow and wind gusts in excess of 40 mph, toppling numerous trees and knocking down power lines. A second winter storm on March 7th dropped additional significant snowfall. As of March 9th, power had not been restored to all park areas and many secondary roads remained closed. Most park facilities, trails, and boat launches remain closed until further notice to allow crews to remove hazardous trees and repair power lines. Route 209 has reopened and crews are working to remove snow, trees, and power lines from other roads. For the latest updates, visit https://www.facebook.com/DelWaterGapNPS. As we "go to press," a third nor'easter is striking much of New England. Reports on that storm will appear next week. Sources: Delaware Water Gap NRA news release; Prince William FP news release; Cape Cod Times news story; WHSV news story.
An East Stroudsburg man has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for driving his vehicle into a park ranger two years ago. D.R., 26, was convicted by a federal jury last September for assaulting a ranger and fleeing from other rangers. Rangers patrolling the park on the evening of July 1, 2016, ordered D.R. to stop his vehicle, but he instead accelerated toward a ranger. The ranger first was forced to jump out of the way of D.R.'s vehicle; when the ranger ran back toward the vehicle, D.R. drove into the ranger, prosecutors said. The ranger was not seriously injured. D.R. was arrested days later at the Pike County Courthouse, where he was being sentenced in an unrelated 2014 drunken driving case. Source: The Morning Call.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Delaware Water Gap NRA — The popular boardwalk trail at Dingmans Falls reopened on October 31st, almost eight months after a series of nor'easters caused extensive damage to the park and region. The storms uprooted and snapped hundreds of trees along the access road, parking area and trail, crushing boardwalks, stairs, railings and bridges and damaging structures. Repairs included replacing about 130 feet of decking, replacing two staircases leading to the upper observation area, and removing more than 500 trees from the site, including 10 that fell onto structures in the area. Other parts of the park remain closed, awaiting removal of hundreds of trees. Source: LehighValleyLive.com.
A man who was walking his dog in an area near Hidden Lake on the Pennsylvania side of the park on January 28th was bitten by a raccoon that later tested positive for rabies. The man told officials he was walking his dog on a leash when a raccoon suddenly appeared, lunged at his legs, and bit him. The man, who slipped on the wet ground during the incident, was bitten several more times in the leg before his dog attacked the raccoon, breaking its neck and immobilizing it. The responding ranger put the raccoon down and sent the carcass off for testing. The man was taken to an area hospital, where he underwent standard treatment. Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system and is usually transmitted to humans from the saliva of an infected animal through a bite. Rabies is always fatal without medical intervention, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Humans are given an injection of human immune globulin and a series of rabies vaccines once it is believed they have been exposed. If given immediately after exposure, the doses are highly effective. Source: Lori Comstock, New Jersey Herald.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Delaware Water Gap NRA — J.S., 26, has been charged with fleeing from park rangers after he nearly hit a ranger last October, then led police from several agencies on an interstate chase. He faces up to two years in prison if found guilty. Source: Fran Maye, Exton Daily Local News.
The increasing frequency of climate-change-related severe weather closures and incidents in NPS areas has warranted the creation this intermittent Servicewide summary: Delaware Water Gap NRA — Heavy rains caused a mudslide near Eshback on Sunday, May 5th, that forced the temporary closure of Route 209 until it could be cleared. The slide left a football-field-length section of road covered with mud, water, brush and trees. A nearby weather station recorded 1.84 inches of rain between Friday and Monday, with 1.65 inches of that falling on Sunday and early Monday. Source: Bruce Scruton, New Jersey Herald.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter. Delaware Water Gap NRA — The park reopened the Lower Hornbecks Creek Trail on September 17th following a two-year closure due to damage sustained during severe snowstorms in March, 2018. Work on the trail was completed by the park's in-house trail crew, volunteer trail stewards, and by Tahawus Trails LLC. Additional assistance was provided by American Conservation Experience (ACE) youth crew volunteers. The remainder of the trail, also known as the Indian Ladders Trail, remains closed while crews build a new path that will connect it with the trails at Pocono Environmental Education Center. Source: Pocono Record.
Summer means a spike in visitors to NPS areas with rivers and lakes or bordering oceans, which unfortunately equates to a related spike in drownings: Delaware Water Gap NRA — A 20-year-old New York man drowned in the Delaware River off Milford Beach on June 21st. First responders were notified late that afternoon; local fire departments with boats, including Dingmans, Westfall, and Matamoras, were called to the scene and recovered the body. The beach normally has lifeguards, but has none this summer. "Due to hiring delays caused by COVID-19 and to concerns for the safety of lifeguards this year, the park made the choice not to hire lifeguards for the 2020 summer season," said the acting deputy superintendent. "Lifeguards would experience a high risk of exposure to those employees during a water rescue. One event that helped the park change its mind about having lifeguards this summer is that some lifeguards withdrew their names from consideration due to the risk of exposure." Sources: Anna Beahm, Huntsville Times; Mack Jones, Deseret News; Jordan Gartner, KTNV News; Frances Ruth Harris, Pike County Courier; Katelyn Newberg, Las Vegas Review-Journal; Bailey Aldridge, News & Observer.
A man drowned last Saturday in the Delaware River near the Coppermine parking area on Old Mine Road — the fifth drowning in the park this summer. Details are not available. The four previous drownings occurred at different sites along the river:
None of the victims wore a life jacket. "The river current is strong and swift, despite calm appearances in some areas, and the depth can change suddenly, often going from knee-deep to over-your-head in a single step," said the park's chief ranger. "Wearing a life jacket at all times is a simple thing that everyone can do to ensure a fun and safe day on, and in, the river." Source: Kurt Bresswein, Easton Express-Times.
It had been three years since the last drowning on the 73-mile stretch of the Upper Delaware River that the NPS oversees, until last week. The latest incident took place when a 17-year-old drowned on the Fourth of July after trying to swim across the river without a personal flotation device with two others. The river was higher and faster than average due to recent rains. The other two made it across, in part with help from someone on a paddleboard. The victim has not been found. 74 drownings have been recorded since 1980 -- none properly wearing a life jacket, and mostly young men between the ages of 18-30. Source: Times Herald-Record
On March 17, the NPS closed a 4.9-mile section of Route 209/Federal Road, between Raymondskill Road and Route 739, due to increased erosion between the road and the Delaware River. The road will remain closed until more assessments can be made and safety measures can be put in place. Source: Lehigh Valley Live
A New Jersey Department of Transportation work crew dumped a bunch of rip-rap along the Delaware River as part of a drainage improvement project alongside Route 80 near milepost 1.1. A local resident and activist inquired to the National Park Service and Army Corps of Engineers whether the highway agency had obtained proper permits to do so. The two federal agencies agreed that the proper permits were not acquired. After several months and meetings, the DOT agreed to voluntarily remove the rocks. Though the rip rap would likely be approved, the DOT did not properly consult with the Army Corps of Engineers or the state Department of Environmental Protection, and the project did not go through National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act guidelines. Source: New Jersey Herald
On June 21, a 23-year-old and two others attempted to swim across the Delaware River near Prices Landing. The individual struggled in the current and was last seen going under water just above the old bridge abutments about a half-mile upstream from the Interstate 80 toll bridge. The other two made it to the shore on the New Jersey side and were later rescued by volunteer rescue members. None of the swimmers wore personal floatation devices. A search and dive team from the NPS, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and volunteers from the Portland Hook and Ladder Company, Knowlton Township Fire and Rescue Company, and Pennsylvania Search and Rescue Recovery Team conducted a multi-day search. On June 25, the individual was found deceased by a park visitor near Kittatinny Point, about 1.5 miles downstream from the last point they were seen. Source: Delaware Gap National Recreation Area, The Morning Call
On July 24, a teenager was swimming near the Ames-Jennings picnic site at the park and family members saw the individual go under. The swimmer was not wearing a personal flotation device. They called 9-1-1. Rescuers from Blue Ridge Rescue Squad, Sandyston Township Volunteer Fire Department, Bushkill Volunteer Fire Department, Bushkill EMS, New Jersey State Police, and Sussex County responded. The individual's body was recovered by NPS divers that afternoon. Source: Delaware Gap National Recreation Area August 24, 2022 The park has had a series of vehicle break-ins at multiple trailheads, resulting in stolen credit cards that have been used for fraudulent purchases. The NPS' Investigative Services Branch has set up an anonymous tip line for the public to come forward with any information they might have. Source: Delaware Gap National Recreation Area September 18, 2022 On September 9, the park announced closures to swimming beaches along the Delaware River due to high bacteria levels in the water. Boating, picnicking, and hiking are still open in the park. Source: Pocono Record
Graffiti was discovered on the historic Brooks Woolen Mill ruins and the original 1892 date stone at George W. Childs Park. Names were included in the graffiti, as well as the date: March 21, 2023. Public tips allowed law enforcement to identify suspects, who have been located, and charges are pending. Childs Park has been closed for restoration and improvements since 2018, though the entrance stone is visible from the road. The park is working to delicately remove the graffiti while protecting the historic resources. Source: Pocono Record, Delaware Gap National Recreation Area
On July 13, a 19-year-old went missing while swimming in the Karamac section of the Delaware River on the New Jersey side. They were attempting to swim from the shoreline to the bridge abutments with three other people. The individual was observed struggling in the current before they disappeared underneath the water and did not resurface. One of the other swimmers was able to swim to shore, and two others required rescue. The individuals were not wearing personal flotation devices and were not in a designated swimming area. The NPS started a search on foot and by boat for the missing individual but was unable to put divers in the water due to dangerous high water and low visibility. The individual was found on July 16, in about 12 feet of water, a mile downstream from the location they were last seen. Source: News 12 New Jersey, WRNJ
In December 2022, heavy rainfall led to a rock slide on Route 611 in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, including a section within the park. A three-mile stretch of the road has been closed ever since. Repairs are said to have been delayed by NPS permitting. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation completed a walk-through of the site on October 17 and submitted a revised plan to start the work. There is currently no estimated date for when the work will be begin. One business, Asparagus Sunshine, has stated publicly that their business has become unviable due to the delays, and it will shutter on December 30. Source: WNEP
On December 12, the vehicle of a 22-year-old who had been reported missing from Rochester Institute of Technology since November 20 was found at a trailhead for the Appalachian Trail within the park. A search and rescue effort was initiated the following day. Later that day, the individual turned themself in at a police station in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, saying that they believed they were the subject of a missing persons report. A parent of the individual stated publicly that the individual's reason for disappearing for three weeks were "deeply personal." Source: People, mLive
On December 18, the park closed several roads and facilities due to a heavy storm that caused falling trees and limbs, high water, and roadway flooding. The Delaware River and all access points were also closed to all users. Source: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Some time between the last week of November and first week of December, a vehicle hit the Main Street bridge in Walpack Center. A bridge inspection by the Federal Highway Administration on December 7 found bent and broken steel, at least one crack in the bridge foundation, and a 15-degree "rotation" of a long beam that connects the bridge decking to the support structure. The bridge is now closed. The NPS is waiting on a detailed damage report, along with repair recommendations, and a cost estimate. Until those are in hand, there is no estimated reopening date. The incident is under investigation by the NPS. Source: Pocono Record
On January 9, the Pocono Chamber of Commerce (Monroe County, PA) announced that it has sought the assistance of U.S. Representatives Matt Cartwright and Susan Wild to expedite the NPS permitting to reopen a section of Route 611 between Cherry Valley Road/Oak Street and Slateford Road. It has been closed since December 6, 2022, due to a rockslide. An NPS special use permit is required before PennDOT can reopen the road. On January 10, State Senator Rosemary M. Brown sent a letter to NPS Director Chuck Sams calling for prioritizing the permit. The NPS is scheduled to have an internal meeting about the project in "mid-January," followed by a meeting between the NPS, PennDOT, and the Federal Highway Administration. Source: Pocono Record
On February 3, two U.S. Senators and two U.S. Representatives from Pennsylvania sent a letter to NPS Director Chuck Sams and Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation Mike Carroll asking for the two agencies to craft a compromise that allows Route 611 to reopen. It has been closed since December 2022 due to a rockslide (see several Coalition Reports; most recently 1/24/24). Source: The Valley Ledger
On March 14, a visitor was bitten by a raccoon while hiking on the McDade Recreational Trail between Bushkill Access and the Valley View Campground. The raccoon later tested positive for rabies. Source: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
On May 22, the Federal Highway Administration approved plans to change the original scope of work that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation originally proposed to clear a December 2022 rockslide on Route 611 in the park (many Coalition Reports, most recently 1/24/24, and 2/7/24). The revised application for a special use permit is awaiting NPS approval. Source: LehighValleyNews.com
On July 5, a structure fire was reported on the grounds of the Cliff Park Inn and Golf Course. The Westfall Fire Department, Milford Fire Department, and Delaware Township Fire were able to respond and extinguish the fire. NPS Wildland Fire crews also ensured that the structure fire did not spread into nearby vegetated areas. Delaware Township Ambulance also responded to the incident. One building, built in 1910 and vacant for the last several years, was destroyed. It "was once used as a caretaker's cottage." The cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation by the NPS and Pennsylvania State Police. Source: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
On June 29, a 24-year-old was swimming at Milford Beach about 75 yards from the Pennsylvania shoreline when they disappeared under the water surface. Personnel from Delaware Water Gap, Upper Delaware National Scenic and Recreation River, Milford Fire Department, Milford Ambulance, and dive teams from Port Jervis, Bushkill, Dingman Township, Sparrowbush, and Huguenot responded to search for the individual. On July 1, the individual was found deceased near Milford Beach. Milford Beach was closed to the public during the search and recovery. Source: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (6/30, 7/1)
On July 19, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright, Pennsylvania State Senator Rosemary Brown, and Pennsylvania State Representative Tarah Probst announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the NPS have reached a compromise to reopen Route 611 in the park. The route has been closed since a December 2022 rockslide along Mount Minsi (reported in many Coalition Reports, most recently 1/24/24, 2/7/24, and 6/12/24). The compromise includes the installation of a temporary, free-standing rockfall barrier, which will allow two-way traffic flow while a more permanent solution is reached. The NPS has confirmed an expedited permitting process for the temporary barrier. PennDOT estimated an eight-to-ten-week process to complete the project once permits are finalized. Source: U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright
On August 26, a 39-year-old was swimming with their family in the Delaware River near Bushkill Access when two children in the group began to struggle in the current. The adult pushed the two children to safety, then was swept up in the current themself. The adult drowned in the incident, about 20-30 feet from the shore. Personnel from the NPS (Delaware Water Gap and Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River), Bushkill Fire Department, Dingmans Fire Department, Westfall Fire Department, and Lehman Township EMS supported the incident. They rescue team was able to recover the individual's body. It is the second drowning in the park this summer. Source: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, WJOL
While attempting to install a temporary bridge over Sawkill Creek, workers discovered a 12-foot-by-12-foot "slab" believed to be part of the millrace for a sluice on a nearby mill that was later made into the Metz Icehouse. The temporary bridge site has already been moved once due to concerns about historic resources. Further documentation and mitigation will be needed for the project to move forward. There is no date yet for when work will resume. A permanent bridge fix has been in the planning stage for 10 years due to the complexity of the site. The existing bridge has a "poor" rating by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, but is still said to be "safe for drivers." Source: River Reporter
On August 41, a 50-year-old was found deceased along the trail at Sawkill Glen adjacent to the Mott Street Bridge. The Pike County (PA) Coroner determined that the individual died of "natural causes." Source: Tri-County Independent
On November 4, Route 611 south of Delaware Water Gap will reopen as a single-lane road. It has been closed since a rock slide in December 2022 (see 1/24/24, 2/7/24, 6/12/24, and Coalition Reports). The road will not be fully open with two lanes and no traffic signals until a more permanent solution is determined. There is no timeline for that goal yet. Source: Pocono Record
On November 6, the park announced on social media that it has experienced "a troubling rise in motor vehicle collisions with wildlife, particularly on Route 209." Between October and early November, over 20 animals were hit by vehicles, including deer, coyotes, and bears. The park cited "excessive speed" as the primary factor and stated that it plans to increase patrols targeting speeding. Source: Pocono Record
On January 30, an individual suffered a medical event while driving in the park, and crashed their vehicle. They were pronounced deceased at the scene. The individual was well-known to park staff as a long-time NPS employee and volunteer, and a Critical Incident Stress Management Team has been requested to support the staff. Source: Rick Smith
On April 2, a semi-truck carrying oranges overturned while traveling northbound on U.S. Route 209 between mile markers 5 and 6 just north of Toms Creek. The highway was closed between Bushkill Falls Road and Brisco Mountain Road while the accident was cleaned up and the investigation and damage assessments were conducted. No one was injured in the incident. Semi-trucks are prohibited on park roads, and "multiple charges are expected." Source: Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
On May 9, the park announced the closure of the Delaware River and all access points within the park due to high water levels. It will reopen after the river crests and falls below 15 feet at the Montague, New Jersey, gauge. Source: Tri-County Independent | |