Glen Canyon |  |
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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Monday, June 30, 1986 Mr. C.S.R. (1/17/46) was observed by his 5 yr. old daughter to jump into the Lake from a rented house boat in Davis Gulch, Lake Powell. Dive team is being formed to search. Water depth 20-120 ft. C.S.R. is from Orange Co., Calif. Wife is on scene. Apparent drowning
Boating fatality to P.M., white female, aged 26, DOB 4/2/60. She was a passenger in a boat which hit the wake of another boat at a sharp angle. She was flipped out of the boat, which then ran over her. Received severe lacerations, near amputations, of an arm and leg. Incident occurred 23 miles up lake. Victim recovered alive. Rangers administered IV and evacuated by air to hospital in Page. Died 7/5/86. Lost 9 units of blood. Victim was from Holland; boat operator was named T.A.
Three brothers and their families were on a private house boat. Some of the family members slept on the boat's roof, which had no guard rail. Four-year- old boy (D.S., Draper, Utah, 12/5/81 DOB) rolled off; father discovered him missing at 0400; body found floating at 0430. Pronounced dead by father at Bull Frog.
At about 8:30 pm, D.D., 24 yrs old, DOB unknown, from Brigham City, Utah, dove into the water at Gunsight Canyon and didn't resurface. NPS on scene at 10 p.m. Body not found. Next of kin notified. Search continues.
Location: Near Mexican Hat on San Juan River (out of park) Summary: D.F., previously reported as possible drowning victim, is still missing. River at the time was high, swift and muddy. Searches were conducted 8/2-8/4 by both boat and aircraft but without results. Air searches continue.
Location: Near Mexican Hat on San Juan River (out of park) Summary: Probable employee fatality. Former co-op student at Cabrillo, just hired by Grand Canyon as interpreter. He & several other GRCA employes & friends went to Utah to float down San Juan River last weekend (8/1-3). Evening of 8/1: group went swimming, except D.F., who stayed at campsite. When they returned, he was missing. Speculation: he was caught in river undertow & drowned. 1 GRCA & 1 GLCA ranger using Zodiac to assist local Sheriff in search.
Location: Lone Rock Beach Summary: Mr. D.V.S. was with a group snorkeling about 35' from shore and disappeared. Park divers were called in and recovered body at 3 p.m. No one knows what happened to him.
Location: Near Glen Canyon Dam Summary: No further information
Location: Near Dangling Rope Canyon Mr. B.H. was boating with friends, and the entire party had been drinking hard. They all decided to jump out of their boat to swim. Hall jumped in but did not resurface. The boat was above a very shallow part of the lake. All attempts to recover the body have failed, and no future recovery appears likely.
Location: Forgotten Canyon Ms. S.K.I. was water skiing in the canyon. She let go of her rope, and the boat, driven by her cousin, came around to pick her up. The boat overshot her, then backed up and inadvertently ran over her. One leg was largely severed. CPR was begun by people on the boat, and advanced life support was provided by rangers at Bull Frog and by the medical facility there. She was pronounced dead at 7:50 pm.
Location: Dungeon Canyon H.B. was swimming in the lake, taking a break from a nearby sheepherder camp. Two friends observed him to be in trouble, but were unable to help him in time to prevent him from drowning. His body was recovered about one hour after the incident, prior to the arrival of the NPS dive team. Communications were poor due to the remoteness of the area in which the drowning occurred. Next of kin notified.
Location: Chains area above clam Child was with a group of people and evidently strayed away without being noticed by the others. A park ranger was notified and a search was started. Three hours later her body was found. Death clue to drowning. Coconino sheriff's office is investigating.
Location: Dungeon Canyon P.C. was boating with his wife and children. They beached the boat to explore the low cliffs in the Dungeon Canyon area. P.C. had gone alone. When he did not return his wife began to search for him. He was found dead, an apparent victim of a fall from the cliff area.
Location: 3 miles above Lees Ferry Victims were fly fishing with 2 others. All were wearing waders and were standing in water. One member of the group suddenly stepped into deep water and started to sink. G.P. went to help him and became water-logged. D.D. stepped out to help them and the same happened to her. The remaining member of the group tossed a line to the three and began to pull them to shore when the line broke. G.P. and D.D. disappeared from sight, the other person was able to get to shore. The fourth fisherman ran downstream in an attempt to find his companions but was unsuccessful. A helicopter search was initiated by Maricopa and Coconino Counties. NPS divers searched until 6pm that evening. The search was resumed the next morning at 7:30am and G.P. body was recovered. The water level has been lowered to aid the divers who are still searching for the body of D.D.. Next of kin have been notified.
Location: Hall's Crossing Mr. J.L., a concessions employee who worked at Hall's Crossing, was attempting to teach a female friend how to operate a boat in the small harbor located at the crossing. J.L. was reported to have had 11 beers before lunch and a number of others thereafter. The occupants of the boat were also drinking. J.L. stood up in the boat and fell overboard. Although his companions threw life preservers to him, J.L. made no attempt to get to them and sank under the surface. Since the depth of the lake at this point is between 150' and 180', there will probably be no attempts made to recover the body.
Location: Outside of park Ranger Irv Francisco received a report of a vehicle fire in Copper Canyon, about 20 miles west of Piute Farms Marina in Glen Canyon, and investigated. He discovered the burned remains of two Navajo tribal police vehicles, and the bodies of two Navajo policemen locked in the back of one of the vehicles. Both officers' guns were missing. Investigators believe that the two were shot, then placed in the back of the vehicle. The assailants then drove down a road toward Glen Canyon with the intention of dumping the vehicles in Lake Powell. One became stuck, however, so both were instead burned. The FBI, BIA and local sheriff's office are investigating.
Location: Parkwide A windstorm with winds between 50 and 60 mph dropped air temperatures from between 80-90 degrees to near 50 degrees. The high winds swamped and/or beached some 60 boats and sank 8 others (5 were house boats). NPS staff, Coconino County Officers, Utah State Patrol Officers and Del Webb staff, combined efforts to transport, feed and care for the numerous stranded Memorial Weekend visitors. Approximately 80 persons, unprepared for the cold conditions, were treated for minor cases of hypothermia. Several persons were hospitalized with more sever cases of hypothermia, 1 with a broken back and a 3 year old after nearly drowning. The change in weather conditions had been predicted 24 hours in advance, and the subsequent warnings were largely ignored by the public.
Location: Lone Rock Beach M.S.M., 27, of Page, Arizona, was killed when the boat he was a passenger in was struck broadside by another boat. The two boats were racing and had reached approximately 75 mile per hour. M.S.M. was in a boat which was operated by J.S., 25, also of Page. Thinking that the race was over, J.S. turned to the left into the path of the second boat, which hit him amidships. J.S. had not seen the second boat due to the large "rooster tail" of spray sent up by his boat. A passenger in the second boat sustained minor abrasions and lacerations. J.S. had been drinking and a blood alcohol test was given; the results have not yet returned. No charges have been filed at this time.
Location: Lees Ferry R.L.W., 50, of Phoenix, Arizona, was fly fishing in the Colorado River at Lees Ferry, on Sunday the 24th, when he fell into the river. R.L.W. was wearing chest waders which filled with water and he was swept down stream by the strong current. The park dive team recovered his body 150-200 yards down stream later that same day.
On May 29th, T.N., 22, of Salt Lake City, was on a University of Utah Kappa Sigma fraternity houseboat outing on Lake Powell 12 miles north of Bullfrog when he, his girlfriend and another couple decided to go diving from a nearby 70-foot cliff. T.N. was an experienced diver and swimmer who had considerable experience diving from Lake Powell cliffs in the past. According to his girlfriend, however, T.N. over-rotated during his dive, struck the water improperly, and failed to surface. Although she could see him underwater, she was unable to reach him because she had previously injured herself in a dive. NPS divers responded to the scene and searched the lake, which is 240 feet deep at that point. They were unable to find his body. An underwater television camera with hooking capability was to be brought to the area by the K.C. Foundation, a non-profit organization, in an effort to find T.N.. T.N.'s girlfriend was treated and released from Bullfrog clinic. Alcohol was a factor in the incident. (CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CLCA, to RAD/WASO).
On the afternoon of June 1st, divers found the body of T.N. located on a shelf 119 feet under the lake's surface after only 30 minutes of searching. The body was directly below the point where T.N. entered the water after his dive from the 70-foot-high cliff above the lake on May 29th. The body was located by a Phantom 500 remote control submersible vehicle equipped with a video camera. The vehicle and divers were from the Maricopa County sheriff's office; the operation was funded by the K.C. Johnson Foundation of Phoenix, which was established by the parents of a boy who drowned in Lake Powell and who was recovered only after an extensive, week-long search. (John Benjamin, GLCA, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO and RAD/RMRO).
Just before noon on the 6th, B.A., 30, of Meridian, Idaho, left his boat camp at Warm Creek near the lower end of Lake Powell to go jogging. When he failed to return by 2:30, his girlfriend reported him missing to the park by marine band radio. An extensive land, water and air search was conducted until the evening, then was called off due to darkness. Although B.A. was not found, NPS rangers and a search dog from Utah Parks had followed his tracks several miles up-canyon to a point where he had started a climb up the rocks to the rim. Trackers were flown to the rim by helicopter at first light on the 7th. They followed B.A.'s tracks for about a mile along the rim. Ranger Bill Briggs, who served as search leader, spotted the victim's body from the helicopter, which was scouting ahead of the trackers. B.A. had fallen about 200 feet to a talus slope below the cliff rim and had died on impact of massive head injuries. (John Benjamin, GLCA, via CompuServe to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO).
At approximately 10 p.m. on the 2nd, ranger Jon Crichfield was working Lone Rock Beach when he heard loud voices and saw what appeared to be several persons holding a young man back from chasing another person. Crichfield separated the young man - later identified as 19-year-old L.H. of St. George, Utah - from the group. Although he appeared to be intoxicated, L.H. was initially calm and cooperative; within moments, though, he became violent, told Crichfield that he was going to kill him, and yanked Crichfield's service revolver from its holster. Crichfield regained control of his weapon by grasping the cylinder of the revolver, pivoting to the side and striking L.H.'s forearm with his fist. L.H. then fled down the beach. Crichfield pursued him, knocked him down, then was able to control and restrain L.H. when L.H. again lunged at him. L.H. was placed under arrest, and charges are now pending against him. It appears that L.H. was able to gain control of the weapon by unintentionally releasing the thumblatch on Crichfield's breakfront holster as he grabbed the revolver's stock. Tests of the Bianchi holster (model #2800, "The Judge") indicate that the weapon could not have been pulled free without prior release of the thumblatch. (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO and RAD/RMRO).
On the evening of July 10th, four-year-old N.P. of Woods Cross, Utah, fell into Lake Powell from his grandfather's houseboat while the boat was beached between Bullfrog Marina and Stanton Creek. N.P. was located on the bottom of the lake in about four feet of water. The family began CPR and transported him to Bullfrog Clinic, where life support was continued by rangers and personnel from Samaritan Health. Although N.P. was in full cardiac arrest, his heart began beating on its own while being transported to Page Hospital by helicopter. He was flown to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, where he remains comatose and in very critical condition. (Larry Clark, CR, BLCA, via CompuServe message to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO).
On the evening of July 10th, three-year-old N.P. fell into Lake Powell from his grandfather's houseboat. Although he was located at the bottom of the lake in about four feet of water, life support was begun by rangers and personnel from Samaritan Health and the boy's heart began beating again while being transported to Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City. On July 11th, N.P. died at the hospital. (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO and RAD/RMRO).
On the afternoon of the 14th, five-year-old N.R. of Alpine, Utah, drowned in Halls Creek Bay in Lake Powell. She and her family were guests on a private houseboat which was beached in a cove in the bay, which is about five miles west of the ranger station at Bullfrog. She was last seen in a bedroom of the houseboat playing with another child. Rangers searched for her on land and in the water. Park divers were flown in from Wahweap, and they discovered her body in 20 feet of water near the houseboat. N.R. was the second child to drown from falling into Lake Powell from a beached houseboat in five days. Neither child was wearing a life jacket, and neither had immediate adult supervision (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO and RAD/RMRO).
Shortly after noon on the 23rd, a Ford Bronco driven by M.S. of Cypress, California, failed to negotiate a curve on the Burr Trail seven miles west of the Bullfrog ranger station, crossed the on-coming traffic lane, left the gravel road and rammed a large sandstone outcropping. Although M.S. was uninjured and his wife G. and one passenger, D.D., received minor injuries, 26-year-old M.E. of Huntington Beach, California, sustained severe head and neck injuries and died in Page Hospital later that day. The S. family were wearing seatbelts, but D.D. and M.E. were not. Alcohol was involved. M.S. was arrested by Garfield County sheriff's officers and will be charged with vehicular homicide. (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via CompuServe messages to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO).
At approximately 2 p.m. on August 11th, T.R., 46, of Fremont, California, landed his 1988 Amphibian aircraft on the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell and was taxiing at a high rate of speed when the nose of the aircraft caught the water, flipping the plane over and breaking the fuselage open. T.R.'s daughter B., 20, of Loleta, California, was thrown clear and suffered only a fractured ankle. The remaining passenger, T.M., 21, of Lafayette, California, was trapped momentarily in the aircraft as it sank, but was able to escape through the broken fuselage. He was uninjured. T.R. sustained fractures to one leg and to both ankles, but was able to escape the plane on his own. The aircraft sank in approximately 200 feet of water. The NTSB and FAA are investigating. (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via CompuServe messages to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO).
Just before noon on August 12th, an as yet unidentified pilot attempted to land his Piper Cherokee on the airstrip at Bullfrog. The plane went off the runway, and subsequent investigation indicates that he then attempted to become airborne again. The plane flew approximately a quarter of a mile before the left wing struck the pavement of Utah State Route 276 and the craft landed on its belly. A fire broke out in the left wing and quickly spread to the cabin and right wing. The pilot and his female companion were unable to escape the fire and were killed. Identification of the occupants is being done by the Utah state medical examiner. The FAA and NTSB are investigating the accident, which was witnessed by passing motorists. (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via CompuServe messages to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO).
Shortly after noon on July 23rd, a Ford Bronco driven by M.S. of Cypress, California, failed to negotiate a curve on the Burr Trail seven miles west of the Bullfrog ranger station, crossed the on-coming traffic lane, left the gravel road and rammed a large sandstone outcropping. Two of his passengers received minor injuries, but the third, 26-year-old M.E., was killed. On October 27th, the 6th Circuit Court bound M.S. over to stand trial on charges of automobile homicide. District Court arraignment on accusations of auto homicide and misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia was set for December 7th. The complaint alleged that Sterger had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit of .08 percent and was "incapable of safely operating the vehicle and caused the death of (Eckroth)." (UPI report, 10/27).
On December 7th, park rangers received a report that an ARA concession employee had been found in his apartment at the Bullfrog Marina with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. The victim, D.A., 34, was stabilized by park EMS personnel and flown to a hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, where he is listed in serious condition. He is expected to recover from the shooting. Rangers and Kane County Sheriff's deputies are investigating the incident. (Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO).
The shooting of concession employee D.A. at Bullfrog Marina is now being treated as an attempted suicide. D.A. is in stable condition and expected to live, but is suffering some memory loss, vision problems and loss of some motor control. (Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO).
On July 2nd, 19-year-old Larry E.H. of St. George, Utah, was arrested after assaulting ranger John Crichfield at Lone Rock Beach. Heywood had attacked Crichfield without warning, told Crichfield that he was going to kill him, and attempted to remove Crichfield's service revolver from his holster. Although E.H. grabbed the weapon and partially removed it from its holster, Crichfield was able to retain control, then pursue, subdue and arrest him. E.H., who had. been released from a Utah state prison only a week earlier, was indicted, for assault on a federal officer with a deadly weapon and incarcerated pending trial. On November 1st, E.H. was convicted of the lesser felony charge of interfering with a federal officer. He was sentenced to only five months in prison, with credit for the five months already served. E.H. will probably spend another 18 months in state prison for parole violations, however. (Randy August, LES, GLCA, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO, 2 p.m. EST, 12/27).
J.F., 72, was on a dinner cruise on the "Canyon King" in Wahweap on April 12th when his airway became blocked while eating. No one with him knew the Heimlich maneuver, so no action was taken except to call for assistance. Rangers arrived within nine minutes. Since an EMS course was being conducted at Wahweap at the time, several EMT's and paramedics responded. They removed the food, intubated J.F. and got some initial response. He was taken to the Page Hospital and put on life support. On the 19th, the life support was disconnected, as J.F. displayed no brain activity. (Telephone report from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMRO, 11:30 a.m. EDT, 4/20/90).
On April 19th, 17-year-old N.T. of Nagasaki, Japan, was visiting Oak Canyon with the family she was living with in Show lew, Arizona. She mounted a jet ski on the beach, and started out onto the water. At this point, the canyon is about 30 yards wide, with the beach on one side and a rock cliff on the other side. N.T. accelerated to between 20 and 25 mph and ran straight into the canyon wall without slowing or turning. She suffered a massive skull fracture, a T2 expression fracture, and numerous broken ribs. The park's amphibious aircraft transported her to an ambulance, which took her to the hospital in Page; she was then medevaced to a hospital in Phoenix. N.T. is currently in the ICU there and is listed in very critical condition. (Telephone report from J.T. Reynolds, RAD/RMRO, 11:30 a.m. EDT, 4/20/90).
On July 19, 1989, rangers served a search warrant on the residence of R. and M.S. of St. George, Utah. The pair were suspected of conducting an unlicensed commercial operation for houseboats in the park, and information obtained during the subsequent investigation indicated that the two had been involved in burglaries in the Wahweap area. On December 9, 1989, rangers and sheriff's deputies recovered over $5,000 in stolen property at their place of business in Hurricane, Utah. Further investigation resulted in recent state grand jury indictments of five persons on 19 counts of felony burglary and theft. Additional indictments are pending. The group has been tied to thefts within the park dating back to 1987. Some of the stolen property was used to support the illegal houseboat rental operation. (CompuServe message from L.D. Clark, CR, GLCA, 3 p.m. EDT, 4/27/90).
On the 28th, a backcountry patrol ranger discovered that a significant archeological site on the Escalante river had been looted. The remote and virtually inaccessible alcove site was discovered and its visible contents documented in May of 1987. Because the site was pristine and difficult to reach, the artifacts were left in place pending proper excavation. The patrol ranger was the first NPS person to return to the site since that time. Looters removed a large, intact corrugated Anasazi storage jar. The value of the pot has not been determined, but it is presumed that it has high value on the black market. There are no suspects. The Escalante subdistrict, located in southern Utah, has a large number of archeological sites, many of which have been disturbed by pot hunters. (CompuServe message to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4:30 p.m. EDT, 5/3/90).
During the early morning hours of June 21st, a ten-year-old girl and her five-year-old brother were sleeping in a van at Lone Rock Beach with several female adults when 20-year-old N.B.W., an employee of ARA Leisure Services, a park concessioner, reached in through the van's open sliding door and fondled both children. The boy's screams awakened his mother. N.B.W. fled on foot after dropping his keys while attempting to unlock his pickup truck. A male member of the party chased N.B.W. and caught up with him; N.B.W. subsequently stabbed him in the left upper arm with a screwdriver. N.B.W. then walked five miles along the lake shore to Wahweap Marina, where he caught a ride back to Lone Rock and was arrested while trying to get his pickup. N.B.W. will be prosecuted through the Utah state court system. (Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via CompuServe message to RAD/RMRO and RAD/WASO, 6/21).
A climbing group comprised of people from Flagstaff and Phoenix was climbing in the Marble Gorge area of Grand Canyon on the 22nd when three men in the group became stranded on ledges - two on an outcropping 300 feet below the canyon rim, the third on another ledge 75 feet below the rim. A fourth member of the group on the rim began suffering from heat exhaustion in the 113 degree heat. Two other men drove ten miles by dirt road to lee's Ferry in Glen Canyon to seek assistance; during the trip, they flattened all four tires on their vehicle and arrived driving on the rims. A joint rescue team comprised of 13 personnel from Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon rescued the climbers and brought them out. Two days later, four members of the group were heading back home in a small pickup when they struck and killed a horse on State Route 89A near Bittersprings. The only injury was to one of the two persons asleep in the bed of the truck. He suffered minor neck and back compression injuries when he rammed his head into the bed of the truck. Glen Canyon park medics transported him to Page, Arizona, where he was treated and released. The pickup was totalled. (Telefaxed report from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA).
On July 4th, J.H., 27, of Shonto, Arizona, drowned while swimming near the Wahweap picnic area. J.H. raced a friend to a buoy about 75 yards off shore; on the return swim, he began having trouble about 15 yards from shore. J.H.'s friend swam to his assistance, but was unable to keep a grip on J.H. as he struggled to stay afloat. NPS divers recovered the body within the hour. CPR was attempted, and J.H. was flown by helicopter to Page, where he was pronounced dead. Alcohol was involved. (Telefaxed report from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/5).
At about 2 p.m. on June 28th, A.T. was piloting a park maintenance boat from Dangling Rope to Wahweap when the boat ran into large wakes caused by tour boats near mile marker 19. The vessel, a 28-foot Monarch boat which is shaped like a landing barge, was heavily laden with cargo and began taking water over the port bow. The unlashed cargo of air compressors and pipe shifted and the boat rolled over. A.T. was wearing a PFD and was able to escape from the craft without injury. A visitor picked her up from the water. NPS crews recovered the vessel, but the cargo, which was being brought down for a survey, was lost in about 300 feet of water. The estimated value of the lost equipment is $2,000. (Telefaxed report from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/5).
Just before midnight on July 31st, ranger Steve Luckesen responded to a domestic dispute at the concession trailer village at Hall's Crossing Marina. While attempting to arrest C.O., a 22-year-old from Mexican Hat, Utah, Luckesen was knocked off the trailer porch. Before he could regain his feet, C.O. kicked him in the face, breaking his nose, crushing a sinus, and lacerating his face. Luckesen was able to control and arrest C.O. without use of his defensive equipment, however. C.O. was transported to Salt Lake City, where he is awaiting trial after being indicted by a grand jury. Luckesen is recuperating and has suffered no apparent permanent injury. (CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA).
Late on the evening of July 29th, R.F., an ARA concession employee from Grand Junction who worked at Hall's Crossing, assaulted C.T., another concession employee. The assault was planned and carried out with the support of fellow employee A.L. of Las Vegas, Nevada, and came about because C.T. was providing information about a third employee which resulted in the filing of Federal vandalism charges and the subsequent firing of that employee. C.T. was severely beaten before a watching audience. He lost several days' work, but will recover completely. R.F. and A.L. were arrested and transported to Salt lake City for trial. (CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA).
At about 4 p.m. on the 26th, an ARA Leisure Services employee was filling small portable propane tanks on a 24-foot pontoon barge at the Bullfrog Marina Complex when a fire broke out. The fire was contained after an hour- long effort by six NPS and four ARA employees using a park fire truck and an ARA fire boat. The pontoon barge, motor, electric welder and approximately 40 propane tanks were lost in the fire; the total estimated loss is placed at about $20,000. A bulk propane truck which was near the barge during the filling operation was not damaged. There were no injuries. The fire was probably caused by venting propane settling around the electric welder, which was being used as a generator to power the bulk truck's propane pump. (CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 8/29).
At about 2 a.m. on September 3rd, ranger Keith Lober made a routine check on a man sitting in the driver's seat of a Ford Bronco at Lone Rock with an open container of beer on the dashboard. The man, later identified as S.W., 27, of Big Water, Utah, appeared intoxicated; he was uncooperative, but not aggressive. Lober immediately called for backup, then walked around the Bronco to the driver's door. As he did so, the driver appeared to stuff something into the waistline of his pants. Lober used a control hold to remove Watson from the vehicle. As he attempted to frisk him, S.W. spun around and attacked Lober. Lober was wearing body armor, which protected him from repeated blows from S.W.'s fists, but S.W. also kneed and attempted to choke Lober. Lober estimates that the struggle may have lasted as long as five minutes before Watson broke free and escaped. During the struggle, Lober yelled to two bystanders and asked them to use his vehicle radio to call for help; both fled the area without offering any assistance. Several other agencies responded to assist in the search for Lober's assailant, who was then identified as S.W.. It was learned that S.W. had a history of both drug use and assaults. A search of his vehicle yielded a knife and club under the driver's seat and a partial box of 9 mm ammunition on the passenger seat. No firearm was recovered. At 8 p.m., S.W. surrendered through his attorney to rangers. He is currently in custody and charged with 18 USC 111, assault on a federal officer. He is to appear before a grand jury today. (CompuServe message from R.L. August, LES, GLCA, 9/4).
Late on the night of September 25th, ranger Dan Madrid arrested ARA Leisure Services employee J.D. for disorderly conduct and violation of patrol at his trailer home in Wahweap. While escorting J.D. through the doorway of the trailer, J.D., who was handcuffed, struck Madrid in the chest with a martial arts kick. Madrid fell backwards several feet, but was uninjured because the kick struck him directly over the metal trauma plate in his bullet proof vest. J.D., who had a history of violence and had been drinking, is being held in jail by the Arizona State Probation Department. Federal assault charges are pending. This is the third assault on a ranger at Glen Canyon this year. Indictments have been returned in the first two incidents, and trials have been scheduled. (CompuServe report from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/1).
A privately-owned, 52-foot houseboat sheared off the end of the gas dock at Bullfrog on the evening of September 22nd. One gas pump was knocked off its pedestal, but the automatic shut-off valve functioned properly and only eight to ten gallons of gas were spilled into Lake Powell. A quick and efficient response by ARA Leisure Services concession employees confined the spill, and it was cleaned up in short order. While Chevron employees were repairing the damaged pump the following day, however, another houseboat hit the end of the same dock and stuck another pump. That pump broke loose, but the plumbing remained intact and no fuel escaped. Alcohol was not involved in either accident, and no citations were issued. A similar incident which occurred at Wahweap Marina on August 24th resulted in a fire and the arrest of M.W. of Los Angeles for reckless boat operation. (CompuServe report from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/1).
In midmorning on Oct. 3, a fire was reported in trailer 75 at Wahweap Trailer Village. The ARA Leisure Services owned 1971 64 foot Vintage brand mobil home was occupied by the Laura Gishic family. A 12 year old girl and three small children were at home watching television when the fire started. Flames were seen in the curtains behind the tv and the children fled the trailer. ARA, NPS and Page City Fire Departments responded to the call. The fire was rapidly extinguished with no injuries. Investigation of the fire was conducted by the Arizona State Fire Marshals Office and NPS Rangers. The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical in nature and the origin was identified as being in the vicinity of the T.V. It was noted that the trailer had aluminum and copper wire mated in violation of State Electrical Codes. There were two electric circuits which were 15amp but had 20amp fuses installed. The trailer damage was estimated at $15,000.00, loss of personal property was $3000.00 and a nearby car sustained $600.00 paint damage. (CompuServe from Larry D. Clark, C. R.)
Shortly after dark on October 5th, an 18-foot runabout owned by ARA Leisure Services struck the lighted breakwater at the Bullfrog Marina. The operator, J.H., and his passengers, J.D. and R.W., all employees of ARA, sustained head and chest injuries. Park medics and several doctors who were attending a Dive Alert Network (DAN) seminar extricated the victims and brought them to the Bullfrog Clinic by NPS boat and ambulance. A St. Mary's Air Life helicopter then transported them to a hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, while waiting for the helicopter, J.W. became unstable, and ceased breathing on several occasions. Additional IV therapy corrected the problem. Alcohol was a contributing factor in the accident. (CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/11).
On October 17th, rangers and Coconino County deputies arrested K.G., 24, a seasonal maintenance worker, and R.F., 32, a Marble Canyon Lodge employee, for an alleged sexual assault on a 30-year-old woman at Lees Ferry in September. Both men are being held in the Coconino County jail without bail pending additional charges by state authorities. (CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/23).
Shortly before noon on November 7th, a female operator at the ARA Leisure Services reservation desk in Phoenix, Arizona, received a sexually harassing phone call from a man who she believed was at ARA's Wahweap lodge and marina complex in Glen Canyon. During the call, the man said that he had a "black box with a button on it" and that he intended to use it. The only description she was able to give was that the man was middle-aged and had a southern accent. Park rangers and Coconino County deputies immediately began a search of the complex. Within an hour, they had contacted a suspicious man with a southern accent, who was found to be E.L.B., 32, of Phoenix. When checking on E.L.B., rangers found that he had a history of larcenies and an outstanding felony warrant against him for failure to appear in court on charges of passing bad checks. When questioned, E.L.B. began to give the description and location of his truck, then stopped after stating only that it was a half-ton Chevy pickup. He refused to say anything more. The vehicle has not yet been located. There's no proof that E.L.B. was the caller, however, and no other calls have since been received. Nor has any explosive device been found. The investigation continues. (CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GIGA, 11/8).
Late on the night of September 25th, ranger Dan Madrid was assaulted while arresting ARA Leisure Services employee J.D. for disorderly conduct and violation of probation. During the arrest, J.D. kicked Madrid in the chest, but Madrid was wearing body armor with a shock-trauma plate in place and was not injured. J.D. served 30 days in jail; his probation was terminated upon agreement with the Arizona State Probation Department that he not return to Arizona for five years. A standing five-year warrant has been issued for his arrest if he returns to the state during that time. (CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 11/30).
At about 7:30 a.m. on the 15th, park staff discovered that an NPS-owned, 56-foot-long, 1944 military landing craft used to transport diesel fuel had sunk at the dock at Dangling Rope. On the 14th, the vessel had been piloted from Wahweap to the remote Dangling Rope marina, which is not accessible by road. The crew left the vessel tied to the dock for the night, and intended to pump the 4,000 gallons of diesel fuel on board into shoreside tanks on the 15th. Some time during the night, the vessel sank, and the 5,000 gallon diesel tank with the fuel on board, which had been sitting loose on the deck, floated free and out into the harbor. No fuel was lost from the tank, but a small quantity of diesel fuel escaped from the boats tanks. ARA Leisure Service and NPS crews are currently attempting to salvage the tank and vessel. Park rangers are investigating the incident. [CompuServe message from GLCA, 1/15]
The following information was excerpted from reports which were submitted by J.J. McLaughlin (RAD/MWRO) and Jim Reilly (RAD/RMRO). Our policy is and will be to provide you with general information on Middle East-related activities in the parks, but to exclude any confidential details from reports received from the field. * Glen Canyon has increased security at the airport and dam. Please advise us through your regional offices of all threats received, permits issued for demonstrations, and demonstrations or incidents that occur which are related to the war in the Gulf. Reports should be submitted as soon as possible; there is a high degree of interest in such activities in the Department and among other governmental agencies. Call Major Schamp at FTS 268-4209 (202-208-4209).
Shortly before midnight on January 25th, J.G., 24, of Mexican Hat, Utah, was arrested for residential burglary and forcible sexual assault by the ranger at Hall's Crossing. J.G., an employee of ARA Leisure Services, the park concessioner, had been at a fellow employee's company-owned trailer listening to music. Two girls from Cortez, Colorado, ages 16 and 18, were visiting; after J.G. left, the 16-year-old retired to a back bedroom. Approximately ten minutes later, J.G. entered the house through the back door, went into her room, and attempted to assault her. She was able to get free, however, and ran into the living room, calling for help. J.G. ran from the trailer to his residence, where he was later arrested. Alcohol was involved. During the trip to the jail, J.G. made an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide. Prosecution will be by San Juan County, Utah. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 2/1]
Shortly before midnight on February 10th, rangers Keith Lober and Ariel Leonard responded to a medical at the residence of C. and K.W. in the trailer village at Wahweap. Lober is a paramedic; Leonard is an IEMT. K.W., 37, had complained of chest pains, but became agitated when the rangers arrived. A family bout ensued, and she refused examination or transportation to a hospital. When she was prevented from leaving the trailer, K.W. went to a couch, pulled out an eight-inch butcher knife which she had hidden there, and made a deliberate stab at Lober, inflicting a superficial laceration on the middle finger of his left hand. Lober stepped back, drew his service revolver, and ordered her to drop the knife. While K.W.'s attention was focused on Lober, C.W. was able to rush her from the side and disarm her. During handcuffing, Leonard sustained a minor laceration to her hand which was probably caused by K.W.'s fingernails. K.W. was taken to the Page Hospital, where she refused treatment, and was then transported 120 miles to the Coconino County jail in Flagstaff. The incident is under joint investigation by the county sheriff's department and the park. K.W. has been formally charged with two counts of aggravated assault, a class III felony carrying a minimum sentence of five years and a fine of up to $150,000. C.W. is a concession employee. Alcohol was involved. Lober was wearing a protective vest. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 2/13]
The marina store at Hite was burglarized late on the evening of February 15th; about $165 worth of merchandise, including beer, sunglasses and key chains, was taken. Entry to the concession-operated store was gained by breaking out a window. The building had no alarm system. On the morning of the 17th, the subdistrict ranger at Hite located several items taken from the store and identified three suspects in a local campground. Since Hite is a remote, one-man station, a ranger was flown in from Halls Crossing by park aircraft to assist in the case. At noon, the rangers arrested T.D., 29, and D.K., 23, both of Price, Utah, for forcible entry and burglary. T.O., 29, also of Price, was cited for possession of stolen property and released. T.D. and D.K. were transported to the San Juan county jail in Monticello, where they were turned over to sheriff's deputies for state prosecution. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 2/21]
At about 8:30 a.m. on the 18th, L.S., 92, of Hall's Crossing, Utah, committed suicide with a handgun in his trailer residence. L.S., a retired Colorado rancher, had been employed by the park concessioner from 1978 to 1986. He had been in poor health during the past year, and had a living will on file with local park medics. The park's medical control was contacted and a decision was made not to make any efforts at resuscitation. No note was found. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 2/21]
Around 9:00 p.m. on the evening of the 12th, rangers received word that a park visitor in Jackass Creek in Grand Canyon was suffering from severe seizures from an unknown cause. Because of the remote location, rangers responded by motorboat down the Colorado River. The victim, R.F., 42, of Flagstaff, was treated at the scene by ranger medics and transported back to Lee's Ferry. He was then air evacuated to Flagstaff at 3:30 a.m. by an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter. The rescue required two night runs of three sets of rapids. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/15]
During the night of April 16th, high winds blew the Wahweap concession's marina fuel dock against the shore, thereby causing a flexible diesel fuel hose to begin leaking. The spill, estimated at a minimum of 100 gallons, was discovered at 7:00 am on the following morning. Approximately 35 park and ARA Leisure Services employees responded and deployed containment booms and absorbent pads. An Arizona Department of Environmental Quality hazardous materials specialist was dispatched from Phoenix to provide technical assistance. Because of continuing gusty winds of up to 40 mph, volatiles were released and fuel escaped into the water table and outside the containment area. A new chemical known as Bio-Safe was prescribed and 20 gallons of the material were shipped by air to the scene. Application was complete by 10:00 pm. This was the first use of this material in Arizona, which had only recently approved its use in the state. The chemical is designed to cause molecular structure change to the fuel, which then sinks to the bottom where algae begin digesting it. The chemical appears to have worked well. Local wildlife and fish appear to be minimally affected at this time. Cleanup was completed 29 hours after discovery of the spill. [CompuServe message from Larry D. Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/22]
On the afternoon of April 19th, employees of the Hite Store saw O.K., 73, of Dove Creek, Colorado, place a piece of frozen meat under his coveralls. When confronted by marina manager Joe Swank outside the store, O.K. pulled the frozen meat from inside his clothing and struck Swank on the head with it. O.K. then attempted to strike Swank and another employee with his fists while shouting threats and profanities. Swank left the store area for his camper trailer parked in the local NPS campground. Two rangers from Bullfrog drove 76 miles to the scene, a third ranger was flown to the area by the park plane, and two San Juan County deputy sheriffs drove 180 miles from Monticello, Utah. O.K. was approached by the team just before dark. While being interviewed, he swung at a deputy but missed him. O.K. was arrested and is being charged with two counts of assault and one count of larceny. Alcohol was involved. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/22]
As in the past, Memorial Day weekend at Glen Canyon was a rowdy and somewhat riotous affair. Although holiday travel was almost the same as last year, the weather was better. Low lake levels were not a major influence on visitor protection activities. Late seasonal registers resulted in rangers coming on in May rather than in March or April, so some positions were still vacant during the weekend and the seasonal staff finished training only the day before the holiday began. The park was therefore forced to rely heavily on returning seasonals in order to give new rangers onthejob training. The combined federal, state and county shifts at Bullfrog, for instance, were down from 20 officers and rangers in 1990 to seven this year, with 12-hour shifts often extending to 18 hours per day. Initial tallies indicate that the park handled 329 incidents, including 19 drug cases, 15 drunk driving and two drunk boating cases, 38 incidents of minors in possession of controlled substances, 11 incidents of disorderly conduct, seven larcenies, one actual and three attempted rapes, six boating and two motor vehicle accidents, eight basic life support (not including "bandaid" cases) and ten advanced life support incidents, and one death from natural causes. There were four instances of persons being so intoxicated on alcohol or drugs that they became unconscious and required medical instance up to and including CPR for one woman whose heart stopped. The park issued 140 nonparking citations, and made 51 arrests. Rangers also responded to an accident which occurred 45 miles outside the park involving a party of people heading home after leaving Glen Canyon; the accident killed at least one person and left eight people with injuries serious enough to warrant advanced life support. The weekend was typified by a major accident at Wahweap in which a British visitor made a turn on the wrong side of the road and was struck by a German driver; the first persons on the scene were Australian. The park extends its thanks to Tony Schetzsle and the staff at Canyonlands for their assistance in providing two rangers to help out at Bullfrog. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/28]
ARA Leisure Services employees noticed a shortage of unleaded gasoline at the Halls Crossing Marina on June 6th and subsequently discovered that a buried fiberglass fuel line had been leaking through an old patch. The tank, which had been installed in 1980, had a service line with a quarter-inch-wide hole located about 20 feet above the high water line. The hole had been patched with several radiator hose clamps and a section of radiator hose. The age of the patch job and date of the original damage are unknown. It's estimated that about 3,000 gallons of unleaded gasoline have leaked into the surrounding soil. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA,6/7].
An off-duty FBI agent who was camping at Antelope Point was assaulted by four intoxicated men on the evening of June 22nd. The incident stemmed from a fight in the campground which involved several people and extended over several campsites. The violence of the brawl frightened many campers and caused them to leave the area. At one point, the four men caught a fifth and began beating him; when he pleaded for help, the agent attempted to intercede. The assailants then turned on the agent and attacked him with rocks and a broken tent pole, which was used as a spear. The agent, who had identified himself at the outset of the confrontation, was forced to draw his weapon to stop the attack and to back the assailants away from his campsite. A call for help was subsequently made on a marine band radio, and rangers arrived at the scene and arrested all four men. The agent was not injured in the incident. Felony charges are pending. [Telefax from GLCA, 6/24]
J.B., 11, of Salt Lake City, was assisting his father on their houseboat on the afternoon of the 25th when the rope he was holding to a tagalong boat got tangled around his wrist. Severe stress on the taut rope resulted in a 95% amputation of J.B.'s right hand. Hall's Crossing rangermedic J.D. Swed responded to the scene, began IVs, correctly rearticulated the hand, and packed it in ice for transport. J.B. was airlifted by helicopter to Hanksville, Utah, then transferred to a fixed-wing aircraft for a flight to the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where reconstructive surgery was performed. Twenty hours after the incident, J.B. had good circulation in his hand and prospects for recovery are reported to be good. The family expressed thanks and admiration to the NPS medic team involved in the incident. [Telefax from Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, 6/26]
On June 20th, ranger Ernie Soper of Lake Mead and two detectives from the sheriff's office in Mohave County, Arizona, arrived in the park and asked for assistance in locating a homicide suspect who they believed was working for the park concessioner. The homicide had occurred in mid-May along the Colorado River near the town of Fort Mohave. The suspect, 19-year-old J.S., was described as a psychopath who had been in and out of mental institutions and was considered to be extremely dangerous. J.S. was reported to be carrying a .45 automatic and had made statements that he would not be taken alive. J.S. had eluded law enforcement authorities in Palm Springs, California, and had been tracked to the Page/Wahweap area. Glen Canyon ranger Dan Madrid was assigned to assist the investigation team along with local police and sheriff's deputies. As leads developed, eight additional rangers were called in to assist with surveillance of beach areas within the park. The team eventually learned that J.S. was at a residence in Page; as the surveillance team was setting up operations at the house, J.S. was spotted sitting on the sidewalk of a shopping mall. Madrid and a Mohave County officer made a surprise felony arrest without incident. J.S. was not armed at the time of his arrest. It was later learned that he was not a concession employee. [Telefax from Phil Hibbs, Acting CR, GLCA, 6/24]
As a result of good weather, crowds in the park were larger than any in the previous four to five years. The recently expanded parking lots were filled to overflowing, and beach areas were lined with boats. There were 263 incidents requiring ranger intervention, including ten serious boat accidents, five motor vehicle accidents, one boat fire, two search and rescue operations and 31 EMS runs. One 21-year-old male nearly drowned near Antelope Point, but he was pulled from the water and saved via CPR conducted by visitors and rangers Jack Gossett and Andy Baxter. The victim regained consciousness in a local hospital and is expected to recover fully. Other incidents included an attempted rape, an assault with a firearm, two larcenies, nine incidents of disorderly conduct, three incidents of vehicle tampering, and three weapons violations. Rangers issued 133 violation notices and arrested 14 persons. The arrests were for driving under the influence (three), boating under the influence (one), violation of alcohol laws (five), disorderly conduct (two), larceny (one), and outstanding felony warrants (two). [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/9]
When park archeologist Chris Kincaid visited Three Roof Ruin in the Escalante River arm of Lake Powell on July 11th, he discovered that a total of six wall and ceiling support beams from two different structures had been forcibly removed and burned as fuel in a campfire adjacent to the ruins. Both buildings were constructed by the Anasazi and date from the 11th or 12th centuries. They are accessible by boat, and are popular attractions for tens of thousands of annual visitors. The park announced a $499 award for information on the vandalism during an on-site news report by KTVX, a Salt Lake City television station. Since the airing of the story on the 26th, private citizens, the Page, Arizona, Rotary Club and a local business have added more money to the reward, bringing the total to $1,400. Bullfrog rangers are conducting the investigation and are following up on leads. [CompuServe message from Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, 7/30]
On August 11th, W.H., 38, of Phoenix, Arizona, scrambled and free climbed to a point several hundred feet above a sandy beach area in the left fork of Kane Wash Canyon in Padre Bay, but was unable to get down. A helicopter from Page, Arizona, transported rangers Pete Dalton and Bern Huffman to the landing site nearest to W.H., a thin rock finger which extends out from Sit Down Bench. The rangers rappeled approximately 300 feet down to W.H.'s location, then lowered W.H. 150 feet in two stages on a buddy rappel. Rangers subsequently learned that W.H. had no rock climbing training or experience. [CompuServe message from P.D. Hibbs, GLCA, 8/11]
A six-inch-long pipe bomb was found by a camper in Lone Rock Canyon on August 7th. The camper was looking for firewood when he came upon the device. Rangers secured the area in shifts and the incident was reported to ATF and the Army EOD unit at Fort Douglas, Utah. EOD personnel arrived the following day and examined the bomb with a portable xray device. They found that it was filled with either black powder or gun powder. Although it was inert because it had been soaked in lake water, no rust was evident on the bomb's steel shell. It had a hobby store type fuse inserted through a sealed drill hole in the side of the pipe. [CompuServe message from Phil Hibbs, GLCA, 8/10]
Eight members of the B. family of Loma Linda, California, were reported overdue from a day hike in White Canyon early this week. Around midnight on the evening following the report, ranger Kerry Haut and VIP Deanne Haut from Hite Subdistrict located the family in The Black Hole - a narrow section of the canyon which is five feet wide and approximately 200 feet deep. The group was comprised of A.B., Junior, 63, his 41-year old son, A.B., III, and six children ranging in age from nine to 17 years old. All were dressed in swim clothes, since the hike requires swimming long pools of cold water. The Hauts could only communicate with the group by yelling down into the canyon. The B.s refused rescue and said that they would instead spend the night in the canyon. Early the next morning, however, a flash flood occurred in the area before the party had returned. Haut returned to the canyon and found the family members clinging to rocks in the canyon. The elder B. was sitting on a rock with water up to his chest, holding on to his nine-year-old grandson. B. said that they had almost been swept away several times, and that he had held on to his grandson's swim trunks to keep the water from pulling him downstream. The remainder of the party was out of sight, but was found clinging to another rock. Each group thought the other had been lost. A multi-agency rescue, with Haut as incident commander, was immediately begun, as the weather forecast called for more thunderstorms and flash floods in the area. Technical climbers rescued all members of the family by 7:30 pm, just as rain began falling again. The rescue attracted wide regional media attention, which resulted in numerous calls about the welfare of both the B.s and other campers in the area. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 8/14]
Two young boys found the remains of a man in the slick rock area between the Page airport and the point where Antelope Canyon joins the channel of the Colorado River. The body, clad only in jeans and socks, had been there for some time. There were no identifying items, but the victim appears to have been an American Indian male between 25 and 35 years of age. Ranger and Coconino County sheriff's officers are investigating. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 8/16]
The body discovered near the juncture of Antelope Canyon and the channel of the Colorado River on August 15th has been identified as that of 23-year-old V.J.O. of Tonalea, Arizona. V.J.O. had a history of epileptic seizures and was last seen by his family about two months before his remains were found. Foul play is not suspected. [CompuServe message from Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, 8/29]
A high-pressure fuel line providing unleaded gas from the concessioner's storage tanks to marine pumps at Hall's Crossing burst on September 10th, spilling approximately 450 gallons of fuel. It appears that about half of the amount seeped into the soil and half went into the lake. As of yesterday, the gas on the lake's surface was confined to an inlet by 10 to 12 knot winds. Absorbent booms have been employed to enclose the spill, and concessionerfunded cleanup efforts are underway. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via phone report from Dick Powell, RAD/RMRO, 9/10]
A strong low pressure area centered over northern Arizona on September 6th produced extremely heavy rains over a wide area and caused some damage to the park. Roads were blocked by mud flows and flood waters in and around Lees Ferry and Page, and a flash flood in Bridge Canyon near Rainbow Bridge blocked a section of the path from the floating walkway to the bridge and damaged the walkway. Visitors were barred from the area for several hours. A full damage assessment will be made over the next few days. The trail was reopened on September 7th. [CompuServe message from Denny Davies, CVS, GLCA, 9/14]
Shortly before midnight on September 5th, a mobile home at Bullfrog owned by ARA, the park concessioner, caught fire. The sole occupant, 34-year-old C.C., was aroused from sleep on the front room couch by ARA employees. After several attempts, C.C. was finally able to exit the burning trailer through the front door. He was taken to the University of Utah burn center, where he is in serious condition with first and second degree burns on 30% of his body and third degree burns on his head and feet. C.C. is also suffering from severe respiratory problems from inhaling hot gases. One ARA employee who attempted to rescue C.C. sustained a severe laceration to his right forearm; surgery was required to repair the damage. C.C. told investigators that he was frying potatoes in oil on the kitchen stove when he laid down on the couch and fell asleep. Alcohol was involved. The park and ARA fire brigades knocked down the fire. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 9/14]
Late on the afternoon of September 17th, a 57-foot, older model house boat owned by C.S. of Albuquerque, New Mexico, began sinking in the Halls Crossing buoy field on Lake Powell. When concession employees attempted to move it to a dock, it began sinking more rapidly. The house boat was maneuvered to a nearby launch ramp, where it sank in shallow water on the ramp's concrete surface. The boat's rudders and drive shaft were severely damaged when it hit bottom. Fuel and oil escaping from the vessel caused a 75 by 50 foot sheen on the lake's surface before booms could be deployed. All of the spillage has since been contained and removed. Attempts to refloat the vessel have failed. A marine salvage company has been contracted to remove it from the lake. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 9/19]
On September 16th, rangers joined Kane County sheriff's department officers in the investigation of N.D., a night auditor for ARA Leisure Services who was suspected of embezzling $17,000 of the company's money. N.D. was subsequently arrested at Bullfrog and charged with seven counts of felony theft. Most of the property that was purchased with the money has been recovered. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/1]
On the morning of October 5th, two-year-old P.C., Jr., of Salt Lake City, utah, crawled into his father's pickup truck on the main ramp of the Wahweap marina and pushed the vehicle gear shift out of park. The truck rolled backwards down the ramp and the open passenger door struck 12-year-old S.C. and dragged her into the lake. The children's father, P.C., Sr., jumped into the lake and rescued both of them. S.C. sustained a hairline fracture of the pelvis, two broken ribs, and a blood clot in one lung. P.C. was uninjured. The pickup truck was recovered from 30 feet of water. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 10/9]
During the late evening hours of November 2nd, a female employee of ARA Leisure Services, the park's concessioner, reported that her boyfriend, S.L., had beaten her after an argument. She was treated for seven facial bruises and lacerations. S.L., 36, was found hiding tin the bathroom of the complainant's concession-owned trailer home in Wahweap and was arrested by Coconino County deputies and rangers on charges of domestic and simple assault. Lake is not a concession employee. Alcohol was a factor in the incident. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 11/4]
During the late evening hours of November 5th, ARA Leisure Services employees M.D., 18, and K.A., 18, got into a fight in a dormitory at Wahweap. K.A. was beaten into unconsciousness and was taken to the hospital in Page, where he was treated for lacerations, bruises and a fractured collar bone. Both M.D. and K.A. were arrested and have been charged with disorderly conduct and public intoxication. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 11/9]
Over Labor Day weekend, rangers arrested T.B., 30, and N.D., 38, for possession of a controlled substance while at Lone Rock Beach. B.W., 30, was later charged for her participation in the same incident, and a pickup truck and camper trailer were seized. The case was brought before county court on state charges on November 14th. T.B. was sentenced to two years supervised probation and ordered to pay $2,900 in fines. The seized property was returned to him. Sentencing on the other two individuals is pending. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 11/18]
On December 11th, rangers at Halls Crossing investigated a burglary of the Halls Crossing marina store which had occurred sometime during the previous night. Fingerprints, footprints and other physical evidence were found at the store, and the subsequent investigation led rangers to C.C., 21, an ARA Leisure Service employee at Halls Crossing. C.C. had been at an employee party the previous night and had become very angry when the concession-owned bar had refused to serve him any more alcohol. A consent search of his residence and vehicle led to the discovery of several pieces of evidence linking him with the burglary. C.C. then confessed to the break-in. About $450 worth of merchandise was recovered from a hiding place under Coghan's trailer home. C.C. was turned over to the San Juan county sheriff's office for state prosecution. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 12/17]
On February 6th, J.A., 28, of Flagstaff, Arizona, was indicted by a Coconino County grand jury on two counts of sexual assault, each a class two felony. J.A., a former ARA Leisure Services employee who worked as a bar manager at the Wahweap Driftwood Lounge, allegedly committed the assaults on two different victims at Wahweap during the summer of 1990. The incidents were only recently reported. An investigation is underway. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLAC, 2/28]
On February 12th, W.B., 38, of Kanab, Utah, was charged with conducting guided commercial desert bighorn sheep hunts in the park without a permit. Information leading to the charge against W.B. was obtained from a hunter who had employed W.B.'s services. W.B. had taken the hunter on a boat trip on Lake Powell from Wahweap to Dry Rock Creek and had killed a bighorn sheep at the latter location. Forest Service and BLM law enforcement officers also took part in the investigation, as W.B. is suspected of having committed similar illegal hunts on lands administered by those agencies. [Telefax from Bob Maguire, LES, GLCA, 3/2]
On February 29th, Escalante subdistrict ranger Jim Bowman discovered that 21 petroglyphs in the Mobius panel in Willow Gulch on the Escalante River had been seriously damaged. The petroglyphs, dating to about 950 to 1150 A.D., are part of a "billboard" of over 100 elements which is considered to be a highly significant scientific resource eligible for the national register. The panel is one of only a few such panels found in all of the Escalante canyons. The petroglyphs were damaged by scraping which was apparently done to enhance them so they would show up better in photographs. The scraping, which was probably done with a sharp instrument, removed natural varnish and altered their shape through careless tracing of the original outlines. The park archeologist believes that the damage is irreparable. Rangers investigating the incident have served a search warrant on a residence in Escalante, Utah, and the investigation into the incident is continuing. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 3/6]
On March 13th, D.M., 23, of Pueblo, Colorado, fell 50 feet while scrambling on the rock formation known as The Windows on the northeast side of Wahweap Bay. D.M. suffered a compound fracture of the left ankle, a six-inch open wound, and possible internal injuries. Rangers Dan Madrid and Ariel Leonard responded and provided emergency medical assistance until a rescue and evacuation team could arrive. The team, comprised of rangers, county deputies and concessioner employees, carried D.M. a mile to a waiting boat. He was taken by water to Wahweap, transported by ambulance to Page, then evacuated by air to Flagstaff for surgery. [CompuServe message from P.D. Hibbs, GLCA, 3/14]
A concession-operated tour boat came upon the body of a women in the lake near the shoreline close to the mouth of Antelope Canyon late on the morning of March 31st. She was partially disrobed and had suffered a blunt trauma wound to her head and a piercing wound to her spine. The victim has not yet been identified. The park and Coconino County deputies are conducting a joint investigation. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, via telefax from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 3/31]
It has been determined that the woman whose body was found in the lake near the mouth of Antelope Canyon on March 31st was not a homicide victim. The woman, who has been positively identified as 28-year-old A.L. of Highlands, California, apparently committed suicide by jumping from a cliff above the lake. The identification was made after an intensive search of the surrounding area for clues by fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, boat and foot. A Coconino County search and rescue team discovered a "walkman" tape player and keys on the high cliffs overlooking the lake immediately north of Page last Saturday. Among the keys was one for a General Motors vehicle, which lead to an intensive search for the car. It was located on Monday in the Wahweap Marina parking lot about ten miles from the point where the keys were found. Within the vehicle, which had a car cover over it, was a Bible with a suicide note written on its last few blank pages. Because of the note, investigators believe that A.L. probably committed suicide by jumping from the cliff. Her injuries are consistent with that type of fall, but the actual cause of death was drowning. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/15]
On April 11th, park law enforcement specialist Robert Maguire assisted two FBI agents from Flagstaff in the preparation of a seizure warrant to obtain evidence in a homicide case that occurred on the Navajo reservation 15 miles southwest of Page. The agents were new to the area and were working against a short time frame. The two suspects were being held on unrelated charges by a state agency and would have been released from the local jail within four hours. Maguire was able to help the agents prepare the warrant, locate the local magistrate at the Grand Canyon, and get a telephonic warrant issued before the suspects could be released. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/14]
Ranger Pete Dalton found 28-year-old F.A. of Zurich, Switzerland, lying unconscious near the Bullfrog marina store early on the morning of April 21st. F.A. was non-responsive and had fixed and pinpoint pupils. He was transported to the Bullfrog clinic, where rangers started IV's and administered medication to counteract a drug overdose. During treatment, he stopped breathing several times and had irregular heartbeats. F.A. was flown by a Saint Mary's Airlife helicopter to Grand Junction, Colorado, a flight of two hours. He regained consciousness the next morning, and his prognosis is good. Empty pill packs indicated that F.A. may have taken up to 150 tablets of various anti-psychotic drugs, several of which are controlled substances. He had a journal with him that indicated he'd come to the United States to commit suicide. Rangers and doctors have been unable to contact any relatives. An in-depth interview by doctors is to be conducted today. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/23]
During the evening of April 24th, Grand Canyon ranger Marty McCaslin was camping in the Wahweap campground when he noticed drug paraphernalia in a nearby campsite. Marty notified rangers and the campsite was staked out. Near midnight, rangers and a Coconino deputy arrested G.B., 24, and W.T., 28, of Aspen, Colorado, for felony possession of drug paraphernalia, marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms. A 1986 Honda car was seized. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/28]
On May 6, 1990, J.D., 23, of Casper, Wyoming, dove off a houseboat into Lake Powell in Davis Gulch and sustained a fractured neck which resulted in complete and permanent quadriplegia. On May 4th, a Eugene, Oregon, law firm filed a $10 million tort claim against the park on behalf of J.D. The claim is based on the premise that the NPS failed to supervise ARA Leisure Services, the park's concessioner, by failing to assure that they advise boat lessees of underwater hazards that exist in the lake. It is not presently known whether ARA Leisure Services will also be sued. The park recently completed a successful defense against another claim of failure to supervise the concessioner when a rope broke between a rented houseboat and a tag-a-long runabout and a passenger received severe trauma to the head. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/9]
During the week of May 3rd, rangers were involved in a number of significant incidents. Among them were: * 13 EMS responses, including a double finger amputation, a SCUBA diving
decompression accident, and a neck fracture resulting from a 170-foot
cliff dive; [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/12]
During the morning of May 23rd, 12-year-old T.W. of Alpine, Utah, was fatally injured in a jet ski accident on Lake Powell's Upper Bullfrog Bay. T.W. was operating a two-person jet ski with a nine-year-old female on board when they were struck by a similar two-person jet ski operated by M.L. and J.T.. M.L. was doing hard left and right turns when he struck the T.W. jet ski. T.W. was pulled from the water and transported by private boat to Bullfrog, where NPS medics and clinic staff began treatment. T.W. was then airlifted to Page, Arizona, where she received a whole blood transfusion before continuing to the Flagstaff Medical Center. T.W. died in Flagstaff, apparently from internal bleeding. An autopsy will be conducted. An investigation is being conducted by rangers and local county and state park officers. Alcohol may have been a contributing factor. No one else was injured in the accident. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/24]
During the early morning hours of May 23rd, a 17-year-old woman from Wes Valley City, Utah, was sexually assaulted at her campsite at Bullfrog campground. J.D., 19, of Salt Lake City, apparently took advantage of the woman when she was in an extreme condition of drunkenness. When she resisted, J.D. ceased. After the incident, other males in the group beat him up. Rangers and local deputies were advised at 7:30 a.m.; they arrested J.D. and flew him to Kanab, Utah, for arraignment on rape charges. He appeared uninjured by the beating. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/24]
Despite heavy afternoon and evening thunderstorms throughout the three-day period, Memorial Day weekend was again a busy and tumultuous weekend for Glen Canyon rangers. The staff of 18 permanent and 12 seasonal rangers, supported by a Park Police officer with his dog and six rangers from other Rocky Mountain parks and RMRO, handled 589 incidents in 72 hours, including 27 drug possession and four drug sale cases (with three vehicle seizures), 10 drunk driving and four drunk boating cases, 45 incidents involving minors in possession of controlled substances, 24 instances of public intoxication, 16 larcenies, two burglaries, four fugitive arrests, three weapons cases, eight boating accidents, three motor vehicle accidents, five basic life support and six advanced life support cases, one rape and one attempted rape. Rangers issued 195 citations and made 97 arrests. On two occasions, near riot conditions occurred at Hobie Cat and Lone Rock beaches. At Lone Rock, rangers had to seek assistance from Kane County and Utah highway patrol officers, who sent ten units to back up the five ranger units on scene. At Bullfrog, a group pelted a four-wheel-drive patrol vehicle, breaking a window and denting the body. Night shift had two dispatchers and a message taker at Wahweap and one dispatcher at Bullfrog; during one four-hour period, a Page police department dispatcher also helped out at Wahweap. Wahweap dispatch made 8,603 radio calls during the weekend. On Sunday, the busiest day of the weekend, there was one call transmitted every 30 seconds. The training room at Wahweap was kept full as a detention area while persons were awaiting transport or detoxification, and there were 45 bookings at the park's new holding facility at the Bullfrog visitor center. Some notes from the weekend: Rangers for the first time saw the "colors" of gangs from Salt Lake City, and arrested several members of a Tongan gang involved in aggravated assault. One person conducted armed robberies in which he would stick his gun in people's faces and steal their caps. And a subject hallucinating from LSD jumped through the open driver's window of a state patrol car, spilling beer all over the insides and damaging the vehicle's radar unit. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/3]
Following their graduation from several high schools in Flagstaff on Friday, June 5th, a number of graduates and friends visited Lone Rock Beach to celebrate. A brawl subsequently broke out when E.L., 22, attacked 18-year-old M.P. in revenge for a prior incident in which M.P. had stuck a gun in his face at a high school function in Flagstaff. M.P. attempted to defend himself with a baseball bat when E.L. and several friends attacked him, and rangers subsequently received a report that one person had been killed and several had suffered serious injuries in the melee. Eight rangers responded, but found that there had not even been any serious injuries. The festivities and fighting continued sporadically until early Sunday morning. A total of thirteen people were arrested for disorderly conduct and drunkenness before dawn arrived. One graduate was found to have a $1,400 warrant outstanding for his arrest on a larceny charge. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/11]
The "Rice Pad", an 18-year-old, 57-foot fiberglass houseboat owned and operated by Robert Rice of Salt Lake City, caught fire during the early evening of June 9th and burned to the water line at the mouth of Padre Bay on Lake Powell. All five adults and seven children who were on the boat jumped overboard; none were injured except K.B., 76, and his wife E., 65, who were treated for smoke inhalation by park EMT's, then taken to Page Hospital, where they received further treatment and were released. The fire started in the boat's engine compartment and spread rapidly because of the 400 gallons of diesel fuel it had on board. The loss is estimated at $125,000. Just before noon the following day, the "Desert Reflection", a 54-foot tour boat operated by ARA Leisure Services, was headed up-lake empty to pick up passengers from a broken down tour boat at Rainbow Bridge when an engine fire broke out. The pilot and deck hand activated the on-board Halon engine compartment fire extinguisher system, then beached and abandoned the boat near Dominguez Butte because of noxious fumes. NPS firefighters Rod Turner and Bob Maguire boarded the boat and extinguished the remaining fire with concession-owned fire equipment. The fire was electrical in nature and the total damage was estimated at about $1,000. The 1988 Nordic yacht is valued at $461,000. [CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/11]
A.H., 14, of Roosevelt, Utah, fell to his death while free climbing in the sandstone cliffs 77 miles north of Glen Canyon Dam on the afternoon of June 16th. A.H. and his family were on a houseboat on Lake Powell near the Rincon when he and school friend M.B. decided to climb to the mesa above the lake. After climbing to the rim, they started back down, with M.B. in the lead. A.H. stepped out on a rock which broke loose; he fell 50 feet, landing face down and sustaining internal injuries and a probable broken neck. Family members, including an aunt who is a doctor, came to his aid. Rangers and a Classic Lifeguard III helicopter were dispatched to the incident. A.H.'s aunt pronounced him dead at the scene. A.H.'s mother is an FBI agent, his father is a police officer in Roosevelt, Utah, and his grandfather is head of the Utah Highway Patrol. This is the park's second accidental death this year. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/17]
Late on the afternoon of June 22nd, off-duty Hite Marina employee M.S., 17, and M.C., 23, were severely burned when their boat caught fire after fueling at Bullfrog Marina on Lake Powell. The 18-foot runabout, owned and operated as a rental by ARA Leisure Services, the park's concessioner, had just been fueled and was being driven away from the gas dock when the fire broke out. When M.C. bent behind the windshield to light a cigarette for M.S., an explosion occurred and the boat caught fire. Although both were able to get out of the burning boat into the lake, M.S. suffered second and third degree burns to her feet and legs and M.C. sustained first, second and third degree burns over most of her body, including her face. M.C. was flown to the University of Utah burn center by a Classic Lifeguard helicopter and is listed in critical condition. M.S. was taken by ground to a Grand Junction, Colorado, burn unit and is in serious condition. The boat fire was extinguished by a concession fire boat. The cause of the fire is being investigated by the park. M.S. is the granddaughter of J.S., the manager of Hite Marina. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/24]
During the early afternoon of July 18th, a two-passenger, 1989 Robinson R22 helicopter owned and operated by B.S. of San Diego, California, crashed into Lake Powell at the edge of a small rock island northwest of Padre Butte. Neither B.S. nor his passenger were injured. The small helicopter had lifted off B.S.'s houseboat in Gunsight Bay and had only flown a short distance when it lost manifold pressure. B.S. was approaching the shore of the island when the helicopter settled on its side on a small rocky ledge in the water. Both men were able to get their seatbelts off and escape to the surface. The helicopter was retrieved by the park concessioner the following morning. No appreciable amount of fuel or oil was lost into the lake. Neither alcohol nor drugs are thought to be a contributing factor. Rangers are being joined in the investigation by FAA and NTSB. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/21]
Shortly after noon on July 20th, P.L., 16, of Gunnison, Utah, drowned while swimming in upper Bullfrog Bay. P.L., a member of an LDS church outing, was swimming with a friend when he experienced a leg cramp about 15 feet from shore and sank beneath the surface. His body was recovered from 17 feet of water by a park diver. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/22]
Rangers Jim Hensley and Andy Reeves responded to a domestic disturbance in the ARA Leisure Services dormitory late on the morning of July 23rd. Upon arrival, the rangers found T.C., 29, in a dispute with his 19-year-old girlfriend in the dorm hallway. While they were attempting to calm the situation, T.C. became very upset, threw keys and change at Hensley, and began walking away. When Hensley attempted to stop T.C., who was obviously intoxicated, T.C. punched him twice in the face. T.C. was subdued, taken to jail in Flagstaff and charged with domestic violence and striking a federal officer. Hensley was not seriously hurt. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/24]
On the afternoon of July 30th, A.M., 35, a Grand Canyon Lodge seasonal employee originally from Cranston, Rhode Island, drowned off Lone Rock Beach. A.M., who was visiting the park with his fiancee, also a concessions employee at Grand Canyon, was lying on a large, round inflatable swim toy about 100 yards from the shore when he attempted to sit up from a reclining position and apparently fell backwards into the water. He yelled for help several times, then slipped under the surface. NPS and concession divers rushed to the scene in a Class Lifeguard III helicopter, but were unable to find him in the lake's waters, which are from 40 to 60 feet deep at that location. A.M. was reportedly a poor swimmer. Alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/31]
Late on the evening of August 22nd, two nine-year-old twin girls and an eight-year-old boy were playing in Wahweap Creek near Bigwater when a flash flood occurred. One the twins, S.S., and the boy were caught in the water and swept downstream. The boy was able to get to shore; he and the remaining twin went home and played Nintendo, as they were afraid to tell their mothers what had happened. The mother of the twins inquired about the missing child after "counting heads" and realizing that one of her ten children was missing. Rangers and Kane County deputies responded and a helicopter was dispatched to search the area from the air. Many local volunteers also showed up at various points of the wash to search for the girl. S.S. was found by one of her older brothers, who swam across the wash to search for her. She was in good physical condition. The two were spotted from the helicopter and flown to the incident command post, where the girl was examined and released to her mother. During the search, one of the volunteers also became a victim. W.D. of Bigwater was using the winch on the front of his truck as a safety line when an eroded bank gave away and he was washed down the river. He was found shivering and clinging to a bush about 300 yards downstream. An NPS employee pulled him to shore. Although the incident occurred just outside the park, the initial call came in as being within Glen Canyon. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 8/27]
An investigation into drug trafficking was begun in the park last month after an off-duty Utah highway patrolman camping with his family in the Lone Rock Beach area witnessed obvious drug activity in the area. The involved vehicles and a vessel were staked out from a motorhome by a team of rangers and a county deputy from August 13th to the 17th. The team became friendly with the suspects and spent several days "partying" with them. At the conclusion of the period, the team arrested D.C., 38, D.A., 20 and J.M., 32, on charges of possession with intent to distribute. Their 1980 Dodge motorhome was seized. Criminal charges and the seizure are being processed through Utah state courts. Motorcycle gang activity is involved, but the exact gang is not known at this time. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 9/2]
Late on the afternoon of Friday, November 13th, park dispatch received a report that the bodies of two adults and a dog had been discovered in a room at the Bullfrog Lodge. At the time of the report, rangers and Kane County deputies were en route to the scene. Preliminary information obtained through the phone report indicates that this may be a case of homicide, after which the assailant committed suicide. A follow-up report will appear tomorrow. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA; Brian Reilly, LES, RAD/RMRO, 11/13]
On Friday, November 13th, two young girls, both dependents of concession employees, discovered the bodies of a man and woman and a large dog about 300 yards north of Anasazi Lodge. Responding rangers determined that the couple had been dead for 24 to 36 hours. All three apparently died of gunshot wounds to the head; the male had a .38 caliber revolver in his hand. The park plane flew the Kane County sheriff, a deputy sheriff and two park criminal investigators to the scene to conduct the investigation. The couple was identified from personal belongings found in their room and an extensive written suicide pact. The man and woman, who were from Littleton, Colorado, were married, and their note indicated that the woman was pregnant with twins. Investigation into the reasons for their suicides continues. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 11/16]
The park received a report on the afternoon of January 15th that three concession employees had suffered stomach pains after drinking water from the municipal water supply at Bullfrog. The tank was subsequently taken off-line and the water was drained into the desert. Preliminary bacteriological tests have been conducted with negative results. The district ranger and park concessions specialists have met with the employees and recommended that they see a physician to determine the exact cause of their illness. There were only three or four guests at the Bullfrog Lodge at the time of the incident and none are reported to have been affected. The interior of the tank was painted with an epoxy-based paint in December. The curing time for the paint is 25 days, and the tank was refilled on the 26th day. During the curing process, however, the outdoor temperature should be above 35 degrees, and it appears that the temperature fell below that mark during the period. An investigation continues; further details will be forwarded when available. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 1/15]
Since the first reports of stomach pains associated with the water supply at Bullfrog were received last Friday, as many as 19 residents of the community have reported symptoms such as stomach cramps and diarrhea. The reports coincided with the return to service of a half-million gallon water tank which had recently been painted with an epoxy in a standard, approved maintenance procedure. Water users also complained of a taste and odor in their water. Barry Davis, a U.S. Public Health Service official attached to the regional office in Denver, is currently on site and conducting an investigation. Davis is interviewing employees in an effort to determine the origin of the illness, and is in contact with other public health officials at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta. Water service from the epoxied tank has been discontinued; a second tank that was used during the maintenance period was put back in service shortly after the symptoms began to appear. The epoxy cured for 26 days before the tank was refilled - a day more than the 25 days recommended by the epoxy's manufacturer. Although temperatures dropped below a recommended level of 35 degrees on several nights during that period, Utah health officials approved putting the tanks back into service after tests were conducted. About 200 people live in Bullfrog, most of them employed by the NPS or by ARA Leisure Service, the park concessioner. As many as 100 visitors could have been in the Bullfrog area during the time when the water supply from the tank was in service, but the number was probably well below that figure. One person became ill and was evacuated by air from Bullfrog on January 11th, but the illness was not related to the stomach problems experienced by others in the community. [RAD/RMRO, 1/19]
On the afternoon of March 19th, rangers investigated an incident of sexually offensive and threatening behavior which occurred at the ARA Leisure Service gift shop at Bullfrog. M.P., a 38-year-old ARA boat repair supervisor, was attempting to purchase liquor while off duty when he accosted the female sales person and engaged in unwanted hand-holding and slaps. When she reported him to her supervisor for sexual harassment, M.P. returned to the gift shop, threatening her and using vulgar language. Alcohol was involved. M.P. was arrested and taken by park aircraft to the Kane County jail, where he was charged with lewdness. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 3/23]
An ARA Leisure Service boat pilot reported spotting a vehicle submerged in about 20 feet of water in Antelope Canyon on March 13th. Coconino County deputies and rangers, assisted by several other agencies, worked several days to recover the vehicle, a 1967 International pickup with a 1983 Utah plate which was registered to G.W of Provo, Utah. When contacted, Wagstaff indicated that he sold the vehicle to a friend, R.P., ten years ago. G.W also reported that R.P. has been missing since then. Investigators have since determined that R.P. has been officially listed as missing since that time. His family has been noncommunicative, but G.W says that R.P. is "on the lam." Suspicions have been aroused by certain aspects regarding the vehicle's submersion in Lake Powell, and an investigation is underway. No body has yet been found. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 3/23]
During the late afternoon of May 9th, a 14-year-old boy, the son of an ARA Leisure Services employee, was discovered unconscious on Lone Rock Beach. Park medics responded and treated him for alcohol overdose. He was air evacuated to Page Hospital, then to Flagstaff Memorial, where he remains in a semi-conscious state with irregular brain wave patterns. His blood alcohol content at the time of the incident was .300. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/16]
Early on the morning of May 6th, Calvin Leach, a Bureau of Reclamation employee, was injured while working on a scaffold on the face of Glen Canyon Dam. Leach was inadvertently lifted 30 feet when his safety rope caught on a crane truck, then fell that distance to the scaffolding. Six rangers responded to the scene and began initial EMS treatment. A Paged fire department rescue team assisted in lifting Leach to the top of the dam. He was taken to a local hospital and treated for a variety of minor injuries. During the incident, the park's safety officer discovered that the sandblasting materials and paint dust that the rescue team had been working in were considered hazardous. All six rangers and 14 Page rescue personnel had to go through decontamination and be checked by a physician. The materials involved were Tarset, a coal tar epoxy, and Blackhawk Slag, a sandblasting material containing lead, zinc and copper. Several rescuers had sore throats and itching, and one who was more directly in contact with the sandblasting materials suffered from a raspy throat, severe headache, nausea, skin rash, dizziness and loss of appetite. Most symptoms were gone in three days, but it was five days before the rash completely cleared. There was no posted notice at the accident scene advising of the cancer- causing agent being used, nor that the area was unsafe. The only warnings consisted of a yellow ribbon around the area and a sign warming of an open manhatch. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 5/16]
Elwood Mees, 46, the park's roads and trails foreman, sustained severe facial lacerations and multiple facial fractures while moving government boat docks at Wahweap Marina early on the morning of June 3rd. Meeks was working on an anchor winch at the end of the boat dock when the winch began free wheeling. When he attempted to apply the hand brake, the spinning winch handle hit his arm and caused him to fall or be pulled into the handle's path. Park medics transported him to Page Hospital, where he was stabilized; he was then flown by helicopter to Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. He underwent successful reconstructive surgery on June 9th. His left eye was severely damaged, but it's now believed that he will regain partial vision in that eye. He is still in the hospital, but will probably return to Page within a few days. Elwood's wife Cheryl, who is a secretary at park headquarters, has been with him in Phoenix. She thanks everyone who has sent cards, messages and flowers. They've helped keep his spirits up. If you'd like to send a card or letter to him, you may do so at the following address: Cheryl and Elwood Meeks, c/o Ed Jennerjohn, 48 S. Willow Creek St., Chandler, AZ 85225. [GLCA, 6/10]
During the early morning hours of May 22nd, a twin-engine 1969 Beechcraft Duke 60 piloted by G.O. of Salt Lake City, Utah, crashed while landing at Bullfrog airstrip. The plane's tricycle landing gear failed and the craft slid approximately 900 feet before coming to a stop just off the edge of the runway. Damage to the aircraft is estimated at $150,000. Neither the pilot nor his three passengers was injured. The FAA and NTSB have requested an NPS investigation into the incident. The airstrip was closed for eight hours. Initial investigation indicates that a stress crack in the nose gear steering may have allowed the gear to turn 90 degrees, and that the nose gear collapsed because the tire rolled off the wheel. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/10]
The holiday weekend literally began with a bang when a 36-foot homemade houseboat blew up at Lone Rock at noon on Thursday, May 27th. Although there were no injuries, the blast, which was caused by a propane leak, caused $75,000 in damage to the boat. The centers of subsequent activities at the park were Hobie Cat Beach, Lone Rock Beach and Antelope Point. There were between 8,000 and 10,000 youths at Hobie Cat throughout the weekend. Although binge drinking was common, there were few medical emergencies and no deaths. For the second year in a row, there were gangs present at both beaches. Two unidentified white gangs showed up at Lone Rock and apparently engaged in racial attacks against blacks; all reports were by third parties, though, and rangers were unable to confirm the incidents or make contact with either group. Tongan groups were again present at Hobie Cat. In one incident, they retaliated against a couple for stealing firewood by severely beating both of them with boards. The male lost six or eight of his front teeth and also suffered facial fractures. Activities there this year featured a female strip show and open performance of sexual acts. Representatives from approximately ten agencies were at Hobie Cat, but only two were at Lone Rock. Because of the decrease in EMS calls, rangers and officers were able to allocate more time to law enforcement. There were 124 arrests, almost all involving alcohol violations (DUI, boating under the influence, public intoxication and fighting), and 262 citations. The U.S. magistrate heard 78 cased over the weekend from Hobie Cat Beach alone. There were 40 drug arrests; associated with these arrests were the seizures of five vehicles, a 40-foot motor home, and a 35-foot fifth-wheel camper. This year, Hobie Cat attracted persons from as far away as California, Oregon and Alabama. The park brought in assistance from several areas, including Washington and San Francisco. Most of the drug cases were made through the use of two undercover USPP officers from San Francisco and a canine officer and his dog from Washington. The latter worked with counternarcotics rangers and local sheriff's department officers. At one point, an undercover Utah Bureau of Investigation officer approached a ranger, advised him that the beach was unsafe for uniformed officers, and suggested that he leave. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/10]
K.H., 14, of Orem, Utah, and J.E., 23, of Provo, Utah, were jet skiing near Stanton Creek about two miles from Bullfrog Marina on the morning of June 25th when K.H. fell from her one-person craft and was struck by J.E.. K.H. was rushed to the clinic in Bullfrog, then flown to Salt Lake City by Blanding Airlife. She is being treated for a ruptured spleen. Citations were issued to J.E. for several watercraft violations. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/28]
Late on the afternoon of Saturday, June 26th, twelve-year-old C.L.P. and her eight-year old cousin B.S., both from Colorado, were playing on a small raft near their families' houseboat in a small cove about 16 miles south of Bullfrog Marina when they were struck by a jet ski operated by a twelve-year-old boy in their group. B.S. was wearing a life jacket and was able to stay afloat; C.L.P., who normally wore a life jacket, did not have one, and sank beneath the lake's surface. When B.S. was pulled from the water by bystanders, she was not breathing. Her father administered CPR for about 30 seconds before she resumed breathing on her own. She was flown by Classic Lifeguard helicopter to Page and then to Phoenix Children's Hospital, where she remains in critical condition from multiple skull fractures and near drowning. Diving operations were begun late in the day to find C.L.P.'s body. At the time of the report, five NPS and three concessions divers were working in approximately 75 feet of water in the small cove. Relief divers and an ROV - an underwater vehicle with lights and video camera - had been requested from the K.C. Johnson Foundation, a non-profit organization established by the parents of a child who drowned in the lake to assist others with similar misfortunes. Investigation of the incident is underway in conjunction with the Kane County sheriff's office. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 6/28]
The search continues for the body of twelve-year-old C.P. of Bellvue, Colorado, who was struck by a jet ski and drowned on June 26th. Following an ascent from a search for her body 80 feet under the lake's surface on June 30th, Maricopa County deputy B.A., 27, of Phoenix, Arizona, became dizzy and complained of a tingling sensation, which soon spread from his feet up to his arms. He was airlifted by helicopter to Bullfrog, the flown to the hyperbaric chamber at the hospital in Van Nuys, California, where he was treated for an air embolism. He was scheduled to be released from the hospital on July 2nd. B.A., who is a master diver, was part of a three-person dive team that had been down only 11 minutes on its first dive before the embolism occurred on the ascent. There was no indication that there was any problem with the air used by the divers, as neither of B.A.'s companions suffered injuries. Recovery efforts continue. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/2]
On the afternoon of July 3rd, J.S. of Bitter Springs, Arizona, an employee of ARA Leisure Services, dove into the water at the buoy field at Wahweap to retrieve his work boat, which was tied to a houseboat that he was repairing. J.S., who was wearing his trousers and shoes when he jumped in the water, swam about 30 yards before becoming fatigued and drowning. A search for his body was begun immediately despite winds up to 35 mph and four foot waves in the area. J.S.'s body was recovered in 26 feet of water that evening. Personnel from the park, Coconino County sheriff's office, Arizona Game and Fish and ARA Leisure Services participated in the recovery effort. [Phil Hibbs, GLCA, 7/6]
The underwater search for C.L.P. concluded on the afternoon of July 3rd with the recovery of her body. Park, ARA Leisure Services and Maricopa County divers sought her for eight days following the accident in which she and her cousin were struck by a jet ski. C.L.P.'s eight-year old cousin, Brittany Salazar, remains hospitalized in critical condition. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/7]
Just before 11 p.m. on the evening of July 17th, a 23-foot Eliminator operated by J.B., 38, of Ogden, Utah, struck a 23-foot Glastron fishing boat between the Wahweap Marina and Castle Rock, killing B.S., 47, of Flagstaff, Arizona, one of the boat's three occupants, and injuring three others. B.S. and companions G.B., 24, and D.C., 32, were drift fishing when the Eliminator struck their Glastron from the port stern side, crossed over it, and exited on the starboard bow side. Lower unit skeg and propeller marks were made across the vessel. B.S. was knocked from the boat and heard to scream for help; his friends tried to come to his assistance, but were unable to locate him. D.C. suffered a three inch laceration in his head, and two passengers on the J.B. boat received minor injuries. All three were treated and released. B.S.'s body has not yet been recovered. The accident occurred in 150 to 270 feet of water; because of the depth and the site of the search area, a review is being conducted to determine whether the search should be continued. G.B., the operator of the Glastron, told investigators that the navigation and anchor lights were on prior to the accident, but witnesses at the marina stated that the anchor light was not visible prior to the collision. The Eliminator was seen leaving the marina at a high rate of speed prior to the accident. J.B. was arrested for second degree homicide, and a search warrant was obtained for a drug/alcohol blood screen. J.B. was released after posting a $40,000 secured bond. A joint investigation is being conducted by the park and Coconino County sheriff's office. [Phil Hibbs, ACR, GLCA, 7/19]
On the morning of July 26th, a Bell Jet Ranger owned by Arizona Helicopter Adventures which was being used to film a Polaris personal watercraft commercial lost power and crash-landed in the lake near Gunsight Butte about 12 miles north of Page, Arizona. The pilot and his two passengers were able to escape before the helicopter sank and suffered only minor injuries. The pilot, D.D., 46, told investigators that they were flying between 100 and 200 feet above the surface of the lake and were beginning to turn around when the engine lost power and the helicopter auto-rotated to the lake surface. Before hitting the surface, the helicopter rolled onto its right side, thereby causing the rotor blades to strike the water and popping the windshield out. The two passengers, producer A.A., 25, and cameraman J.J., 37, both employed by Media Loft Productions of Minneapolis, Minnesota, were able to escape through the spot where the windshield had been, but not without difficulties. J.J., who was seated in the right rear seat, could not get his seatbelt to release. A.A. swam down to him twice to help release the belt, and was able to do so just before the helicopter sank. J.J., a non-swimmer, was kept afloat by using the pilot's briefcase as a flotation device. A.A. also helped him tread water until they were picked up by members of the Polaris group. The helicopter was valued at $275,000 and the on-board camera system was valued at $200,000. The helicopter has not yet been located. There was a large sheen of fuel on the water when it went down, but it has since dissipated. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/27]
On February 29, 1992, ranger Jim Bowman discovered that 21 petroglyphs in Willow Gulch on the Escalante River had been damaged by scraping, apparently to enhance them so that they would show up better in photographs. Investigation led to the issuance and execution of a search warrant at a residence in Escalante, Utah, where pertinent evidence was gathered. This was presented to the U.S. attorney in July. Bowman and law enforcement specialist Bob Maguire subsequently testified before a federal grand jury in Salt Lake City. The grand jury indicted M.B., 63, for destruction of government property and violations of the Archeological Resource Protection Act (ARPA). M.B.'s 1990 Ford four-wheel-drive pickup has been seized under ARPA's forfeiture statutes. No trial date has yet been set. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/28]
On the morning of July 23rd, family friends found the body of M.M., 38, of Church Wells, Utah, alongside Highway 89 about two miles northwest of the Glen Canyon Dam. M.M. was on his motorcycle when he apparently failed to negotiate a slight left hand curve, struck a guard rail at high speed, and was thrown with his motorcycle approximately 100 feet into a barrow pit and out of sight of road traffic. The incident apparently occurred sometime after midnight as M.M. was returning home from Page, Arizona. Alcohol is believed to have been involved. [Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 7/26]
D.J.L., 25, of Newport Beach, California, drowned in the Escalante Arm of Lake Powell about 35 miles south of Bullfrog Marina early on the morning of July 25th. D.J.L. and friends were aboard a houseboat when he told a companion that he was going to swim underneath the houseboat and pull the fishing line of another passenger as a joke. When D.J.L. did not surface and there was no response from the friend who was fishing, a search was begun. Thinking he might be trapped underneath the hull, D.J.L.'s friends moved the houseboat downstream. The park was notified after search efforts failed. D.J.L.'s body was recovered at noon by park divers in 25 feet of water. Family members report that D.J.L. was an outstanding swimmer. He had been drinking the night before, but alcohol is not thought to have been a contributing factor. Investigators believe that D.J.L. probably came up under the vessel, became disoriented, and was unable to get out from under it before he ran out of air. [Larry Clark, CR, GLAC, 7/26]
H.C., 39, of Kayenta, Arizona, drowned on the afternoon of August 28th when he attempted to swim to a rock about 25 yards from shore in an area known as "The Chains". He was there with three friends and had been drinking. Resuscitation was attempted by rangers and a county deputy. [Phil Hibbs, GLCA, 8/30]
A 16-foot Bayliner with four occupants was involved in a serious accident in an unnamed cove adjacent to Lone Rock beach at 9:30 p.m. on the evening of September 3rd. The boat, which was being operated by A.M., 21, was traveling at 30 mph when it struck a sandstone rock, became airborne, rotated 180 degrees to starboard, and landed upside down on a sandstone ledge 56 feet from the water's edge. A.M., C.M., 22, and B.B., 40, were all thrown clear; R.B., 42, was pinned underneath the boat but was eventually able to crawl out. Campers across the bay on Lone Rock beach heard the collision and the occupants screaming for help. Four park medics, three rangers, a helicopter and 15 volunteers - including two Oklahoma paramedics and a nurse - responded to the scene. All four were taken to the hospital in Page. R.B. was eventually flown to a hospital in Phoenix with more serious injuries. The remaining three victims were treated for a variety of minor injuries and released the following day. Alcohol was not a factor in the accident. [Phil Hibbs, GLCA, 9/7]
Twenty-month-old A.C. wandered away from camp at Lone Rock beach on the afternoon of September 6th and was found face down in water at the shoreline. Visitors in the area immediately began CPR on her, and occupants of a nearby houseboat reported the incident to the park via marine band radio. Park medic Joel Ellis was entering the beach from the access road and immediately responded. Ellis and an off-duty Arizona DPS paramedic established an airway, administered oxygen, and restored the little girl's breathing. She was taken to Page Hospital by park ambulance. [Phil Hibbs, GLCA, 9/7]
On the morning of October 3rd, 19-year-old S.O. ran into Anasazi Lodge and reported that his 21-year-old brother A.O. had failed to surface after diving into the lake. S.O. led rangers to a small slickrock cliff below the lodge - a location popular with swimmers and divers. A companion corroborated the report; both were highly agitated. Rangers and divers were nearby and responded promptly. Divers were in the water within 16 minutes of the report, but they were unable to find the victim. A life flight helicopter responded from Page in preparation for handling a cold-water drowning. About 40 minutes after the original notification, a person identifying himself as A.O. telephoned dispatch from an unknown location and said that he was okay and that S.O. shouldn't worry about him. An investigation into the incident is underway. Charges may be filed. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 10/5]
On September 9th, rangers arrested the Kane County (Utah) attorney at Lone Rock Beach for disorderly conduct, public intoxication and interfering with an agency function. The attorney was on state probation at the time for two prior DUI's, one in 1987 and the other in 1992. On October 29th, he pled guilty in federal court to disorderly conduct and public intoxication. As part of a plea agreement involving four government agencies, the attorney was sentenced to a year's federal probation, suspension from the Utah state bar for 90 days, and probation for another two years. He also agreed to complete an in-patient alcohol rehabilitation program for 30 days at his own expense, pay the mandatory victim assessment fee, and resign as the Kane County attorney (effective December 1st). In exchange for this plea, the government agreed to dismiss the charge of interfering with an agency function. [Robert Maguire, LES, GLCA, 11/18]
On April 28, 1990, a backcountry patrol ranger discovered that a significant archeological site on the Escalante river had been looted. The remote and virtually inaccessible alcove site was discovered and its visible contents documented in May of 1987. Because the site was pristine and difficult to reach, the artifacts were left in place pending proper excavation. One of the items taken was a large, intact corrugated Anasazi storage jar. Following an 18-month-long investigation based on information received from a confidential informant, that storage jar was recently found and seized from a private residence in Escalante, Utah. The residence is the home of one of the suspect's parents. Numerous felony charges against four individuals are being coordinated through the U.S. attorney's office. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 2/14]
On February 29, 1992, rangers discovered that 21 petroglyphs in the Mobius panel in Willow Gulch on the Escalante River had been seriously damaged. The petroglyphs, dating to about 950 to 1150 A.D., are part of a "billboard" of over 100 elements which is considered to be a highly significant scientific resource eligible for the national register. The panel is one of only a few such panels found in all of the Escalante canyons. The petroglyphs were damaged by scraping, which was apparently done with a sharp instrument to enhance them so they would show up better in photographs. Natural varnish was removed in the process and the petroglyphs' shapes were altered through careless tracing of the original outlines. On March 10th, M.B. of Escalante, Utah, pled guilty to the destruction of the petroglyphs. As part of his plea agreement, M.B. agreed that the archeological value of the panel he damaged was $21,745; he also agreed to forfeit his 1990 Ford 4x4 pickup, and to reimburse the NPS $2,846 for restoration and repair of the site and $2,970 for direct government expenses. In exchange for this plea, the government has agreed to recommend a $1,000 fine and dismiss the second count in the indictment for destruction of government property. Sentencing is scheduled for June. In a televised interview, M.B.'s attorney stated that the case had cost his client $25,000 and that M.B. had gotten the message of the importance of protecting archeological resources on federal lands. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 3/16]
On Tuesday, March 16th, rangers at Halls Crossing received a call advising that a red Toyota Four Runner with two male and two female occupants had driven off from a local gas station without paying for $17 worth of fuel. Rangers pursued, at one point closing to within a mile of the vehicle. Despite their best efforts, however, they were unable to get any closer. The suspects apparently did not know that they were being followed. When it became apparent that the pursuit would lead out of the park, county deputies were notified and assistance was sought from rangers at Natural Bridges. Before the vehicle reached their roadblock, the occupants decided to turn off onto a gravel road leading into a remote historical mining area. Having already passed the road, however, they turned around to drive a mile back; they then discovered that rangers were pursuing them and took off cross country in an effort to reach the dirt road. They were again able to elude their pursuers, and their dust cloud showed that they were getting further away. When the rangers rounded a particularly sharp corner, they found a fresh set of tracks leading off the road and over a 300-foot cliff into the canyon below. Debris scattered along the fall line confirmed that the vehicle had gone over the edge, although the Toyota couldn't be seen from the top. Pat Horning, the first ranger to reach the car, reported that there were no occupants within, and ranger Steve Luckesen discovered footprints leading uphill from the road, indicating that the occupants had gotten out of the car before it went over the edge. The park plane assisted in the subsequent search for the foursome, which was conducted by rangers (including ranger Jim Ireland from Natural Bridges), Utah Highway Patrol officers, San Juan county deputies, a Utah wildlife officer and an FBI agent. Ranger Russ Miller tracked the four youths to their hiding spot several hundred yards upslope. Three were found to be juveniles; the fourth was 19 years old. They'd stolen the car from a dealership in Murray, Utah, then had decided to take a camping trip into the desert. The vehicle was a total loss. All suspects were taken into custody by Utah Highway Patrol officers. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 3/23]
Although there appeared to be fewer visitors this year to Hobie Cat and Lone Rock beaches - the two beaches that are traditional problem areas on Memorial Day weekend - parkwide visitation and law enforcement incidents were up over 1993. A good indicator of that increase was the level of activity in the dispatch office. Dispatch averaged an outgoing radio transmission every 60 seconds, with incoming calls often covering each other, and averaged one incoming or outgoing phone call every three minutes. There were 43 EMS incidents, 19 accidents requiring investigation, and a high volume of law enforcement incidents, including a rape, eight assaults, 105 alcohol-related incidents, 46 cases of drunk driving, 20 disorderly conducts, 179 traffic offenses, 141 boating offenses, and 86 drug incidents. Overall, rangers made 98 arrests and issued 270 citations. The park's 20 commissioned rangers were augmented by officers from the Coconino and Kane County sheriff's offices, Utah state police, Utah state park rangers, Arizona game and fish officers, Coast Guard auxiliary, U.S. Park Police officers, and rangers detailed to the park from other NPS areas. Volunteers and park interpretive rangers assisted in directing traffic, parking vehicles, and helping out at launch ramps. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/17]
On the evening of July 3rd, I.I., 50, a doctor from Milpitas, California, was swimming in the Hobie Cat beach area near Bullfrog when he began having trouble. I.I.'s eight-year-old son was swimming nearby and saw his father go under. NPS maintenance mechanic Chris Thompson and bystanders pulled I.I. from the water and immediately began CPR. Park medics transported I.I. to the park clinic, where advanced life support measures were administered for an hour until I.I. was finally pronounced dead. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/5]
Around noon on July 4th, C.D., 16, a citizen of Great Britain, dove off a cliff face at a height of 150 feet and suffered major trauma to his head upon striking the surface of the lake. Park medics and Classic Life Guard helicopters responded. C.D. was flown immediately to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment. On July 6th, C.D.'s family decided to have him removed from life support due to the severity of his brain injury. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/7]
J.J., 41, of Page, Arizona, drowned in the Coves area at Wahweap on July 6th. J.J. was swimming with his 14-year-old son, ten-year-old daughter and four neighborhood children when one of the neighbors, a ten- year-old girl, tried to swim to a buoy field which was beyond her abilities. J.J. saw that she was in trouble and attempted to swim to her rescue; two men on shore also swam to her and were able to reach her as she was going under and bring her to shore. No one realized J.J. was in trouble, however, and he was not missed for some time. Rangers recovered him from 42 feet of water about 100 feet from shore. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/7]
Rangers in the Hite Subdistrict responded to two medical incidents requiring rescues in the Dark Canyon primitive area last week. Both incidents involved members of The Road Less Traveled, a Chicago-based wilderness adventure group. At 3 a.m. on July 6th, a 15-year-old female with severe abdominal pain was evacuated to a hospital in Farmington, New Mexico, where doctors determined that she had a ruptured ovarian cyst and bladder infection. At 7 a.m. on the 7th, a 15-year-old male from the same group became disoriented and unable to walk. Rangers treated him for dehydration and hypoglycemia at the scene, then had him air evacuated to Farmington. In both cases, rangers who are also parkmedics administered Ivs and medication according to established protocols. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/7]
On July 15th, rangers in the Uplake District received sketchy, third-hand information about a six-year-old boy who had reportedly been missing from his camp in the vicinity of Halls Crossing for over an hour and a half. The rangers soon arrived at the point the child had last been seen and initiated a search which utilized protection and interpretive rangers and maintenance staff. Within 45 minutes, four patrol boats, several park and local aircraft and a state ranger were brought into the search effort. The child's body was found on a mesa about a mile and a half above his family's campsite approximately 90 minutes after the original report was received. The child had followed other children to the mesa and had told them he was going to return to camp. He was wearing only swimming shorts and sandals and had no water. The air temperature at the time was 107 degrees, but ground temperatures were much higher. Indications are that he became disoriented and hyperthermic. A CISD team from Zion conducted a critical stress debriefing later that day. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/15]
Y.B., 21, of Kaibeto, Arizona drowned approximately one mile north of the Glen Canyon Dam on July 26th. Y.B. was walking out on a sandstone ledge and walked off the edge into 400 to 500 feet of water. Y.B. was reportedly not a good swimmer. His brother-in-law, J.A., tried to rescue him, but was unsuccessful. Alcohol was not a factor in this accident. Park divers unsuccessfully searched the area for Y.B.'s body. Search efforts are continuing. [LES, GLCA, 7/27]
Late on the afternoon of August 9th, rangers at Bullfrog received a marine band radio call reporting an overdue solo party in the area of Waterpocket Fold. One hundred degree temperatures and a recent heat-related fatality in the same area reinforced the need for a rapid response, and a shoreline search near the party's camp was begun by maintenance personnel and protection and interpretive rangers from Bullfrog and Halls Crossing. The park aircraft was also brought in and soon spotted 15-year-old D.D. in a drainage below one pour-off and above another in very rough terrain three-quarters of the way up the Fold. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter ferried NPS climbers to the site, where the rescue was completed just before dark and ahead of approaching storms. Meanwhile, during the technical portion of D.D.'s rescue, a second search was initiated in the Halls Crossing buoy field for 18-year-old B.L., who disappeared after diving from a moored houseboat into three-foot waves in an attempt to recover his party's drifting ski boat. Boat searchers were hampered by darkness and bad weather, but eventually located B.L., who was in good condition on a downwind shore. Prior to jumping into the rough water, B.L. had donned a life jacker, which undoubtedly contributed to his survival. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/11]
On August 12th, the park received a request from the Kane County sheriff's office for assistance with a fight involving shots fire and wounded victims in Big Water, Utah, a small unincorporated town on the park's southwest boundary, as it would take their officers 20 to 30 minutes to reach the scene. Additional reports indicated that one victim had been shot in the head, and that a person was standing on his porch with a high-powered rifle, threatening to kill anyone who came after him. Responding rangers and park medics confronted J.W., 30, who put his rifle down inside the house as soon as they arrived and surrendered without further incident. They found that he was had suffered head wounds from being struck in the head with a pistol, and that S.W., 32, had been shot in the hand (not the head) with a small caliber handgun. S.W, who has a lengthy criminal file, was convicted of assault on a Glen Canyon ranger in 1990 and is considered to be a high risk individual because of his expressed hatred for law enforcement officers in general and rangers in particular. Kane County deputies took both men into custody. Alcohol appears to have been a contributing factor in the fight between the two men, who are neighbors. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/15]
On the evening of August 18th, three juvenile boys were swimming at the rear of their families' houseboat, which was moored in a side canyon of Rock Creek, while the boat's generator was running. The boys were apparently swimming under a solid wooden deck at the back of the boat where exhaust from the generator is expelled. Around dark, the three climbed on to the deck to rest. One of them, 13-year-old M."D."W., said he felt dizzy. The other boys left him sitting on the deck and went into the houseboat. Some time later, W.'s family realized that he was missing. The park received notification that he might have drowned just after 9 p.m. Rangers from Dangling Rope and Wahweap responded. Park divers recovered W.s's body in about 20 feet of water at the rear of the houseboat just before midnight. During the ensuing investigation, one of the boys stated that he too had felt dizzy after climbing onto the deck. Investigators believe that carbon monoxide from the exhaust may have been a factor in the drowning. An autopsy will be performed by the Utah State medical examiner's office. A CISD debriefing is scheduled for all involved personnel. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/22]
Rangers at Hite received a report of a drowning in the White Canyon area around 5 p.m. on August 19th. Three-year-old D.R. of Salt Lake City had been missing about 45 minutes and was found face down in a foot of water under a rock ledge by her family before park personnel arrived at the scene. EMT-trained visitors performed continuous CPR while the medical response was mobilized. A medevac helicopter had to be pulled off a climbing rescue in the Gunsight Butte area of the park; it flew to Bullfrog, picked up park medics, and arrived at the scene shortly thereafter. In spite of concerted rescue efforts, the child was pronounced dead at 6:30 p.m. A CISD session was held for all NPS personnel involved in the incident, the seventh fatality in the park this season. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/22]
On the evening of September 2nd, Bullfrog rangers received a report of a sexual assault in progress at the ARA trailer village store. Several witnesses had seen Harry Sine, 46, of Alaska, sexually assault an unconscious 18-year-old female in the front seat of her girlfriend's car. Sine had also been seen drinking with the victim earlier during the day and supplying the minor female with alcohol. Sine was taken into custody by rangers, then turned over to the county sheriff. The sheriff's department has charged Sine with forcible sexual abuse and supplying alcohol to a minor. [LES, GLCA, 9/8]
On the afternoon of September 15th, rangers received a cellular phone request for medical assistance for a person with life-threatening injuries who'd fallen from a cliff near the mouth of the Escalante arm of Lake Powell. Upon arrival, they found that P.T., 51, of Dixon, California, had already expired. P.T. was part of a group of seven BASE jumpers who'd made several parachute jumps from the cliff face just south of the Escalante confluence. Witnesses said that his chute deployed upon jumping, but that P.T. got twisted around and struck the cliff face several times because of the parachute's pendulum effect. The chute then collapsed and P.T. fell a significant distance, struck a rock, and landed in the water. Companions in a recovery boat witnessed the event and picked him up almost immediately. They said that they'd performed CPR, but that they were unsuccessful due to severe face, chest, and pelvic trauma. BASE jumping has not been a problem for Glen Canyon in past years. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 9/16]
On the evening of September 14th, a four-year-old girl drowned while playing in the main swimming pool at Wahweap Lodge. The victim and her family, residents of nearby Big Water, Utah, were using the pool, even though it is only open to guests. The girl's mother, M.D., left the child and her six-year-old brother under the oversight of a friend, M.H., while she went back to her residence. Shortly after M.H. entered the pool with her own child, guests heard her cry out for help. Two of them responded and found the boy face down in the pool. They pulled him out, administered the Heimlich maneuver, and revived the boy. While this was happening, they noticed that M.H. was standing in five feet of water with two children in her arms - her own child and her friend's daughter, who was limp and not breathing. Rangers in a park ambulance and Page fire department personnel in a second ambulance arrived on scene shortly thereafter and began CPR, which was continued until the child was pronounced dead at the Page hospital about an hour later. [Phil Hibbs, DR, GLCA, 9/18]
On the afternoon of September 24th, J.S., 46, of Sandy, Utah, went jet skiing on the lake. After returning and tying up his jet ski in about two feet of water, he began walking to shore, then fell face down in the water. Members of his family found him there a few minutes later. Ranger-park medics arrived and administered advanced life measures. J.S. was taken to the Bullfrog Clinic shortly thereafter, where he was pronounced dead. The state medical examiner has ruled that he died of drowning. [LES, GLCA, 9/26]
Early on the evening of September 29th, a 49-year-old male drowned while trying to secure his boat in shallow waters near Hobie Cat beach. The victim and his three companions had been visiting the lake for the past four days and had been sailing on their two boats. Just before the accident, an intense storm of short duration had passed through the Bullfrog area, causing the victim's boat to drift away. While swimming out in the lake in an attempt to retrieve it, he began struggling in the water. A nearby fisherman entered the lake and attempted to bring him to shore, but had to disengage because the victim repeatedly pulled him underwater. Park diver's recovered the victim's body in eight feet of water about 15 feet from shore after about an hour's submersion. It was not possible to revive him. [Pat Buccello, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/29]
On November 12th, B.L. and B.M. were inspecting the hull of a houseboat moored at Wahweap Marina. According to B.M., B.L., who was unfamiliar with the lake, signaled him that he was going to dive to the bottom. B.M. tried to stop him and swam after B.L. to a depth of approximately 40 feet, where he lost sight of him. The depth under that portion of the Wahweap Marina is approximately 250 feet. B.M. waited about an hour and a half for B.L. to reappear; when he failed to do so, B.M. reported him as missing. A search effort was begun, but has so far been unsuccessful. The investigation is continuing. [LES, GLCA, 11/14]
On the evening of November 11th, the park received a report of a stranded climber on a small ledge in Ribbon Canyon. Rescuers responding from Halls Crossing and Bullfrog worked throughout the night attempting to reach and rescue D.M. of Davis, California, who was perched on a small ledge about 115 feet above the canyon floor. Night time rescue operations were hindered by a light rain and poor quality sandstone rock. At first light, a rescue party consisting of rangers Matt Vandzura and Russ Miller and maintenance workers Pat Horning and Greg Taylor succeeded in attaining a position on a higher ledge from which Vandzura was able to traverse across to a position above D.M. and from there complete the rescue by lowering him to the ground. D.M. spent nearly 19 hours standing on the small ledge. He was clad in t-shirt, shorts, hiking shoes, and an inexpensive plastic rain poncho. The latter likely kept him from developing hypothermia. Investigation following the rescue indicated that D.M. and his party were BASE jumpers who have frequently visited remote areas of the park and were all present in the nearby Escalante Canyon area when Paul Thompson died during a BASE jump in September. This particular rescue was not related to BASE jumping, however, as D.M. was simply free climbing in a narrow side canyon. [Tommie Lee, CR, GLCA, 11/14]
On Christmas Eve, park dispatch received an emergency call reporting that a visitor in the Wahweap Lodge lounge was having serious medical problems. Responding ranger/medics found that Michael Linger of Hurricane, Utah, who was on his honeymoon, was suffering from an extreme case of hives, was having difficulty breathing, and was extremely tachycardiac. While treating him with oxygen, the medics interviewed his new wife about possible insect bites, allergies, or other causes for his medical problems, and found that his only known allergy was to metals. Further investigation led to the discovery that Linger had had a shot of an alcoholic beverage known as "Goldschlager", which contains floating flakes of gold. As the medics began preparing Linger for transport to the hospital, he began to lose consciousness and started shaking uncontrollably. Epinephrine and benadryl were administered intravenously, and he was taken to Page Hospital. Linger was subsequently released and was able to continue with his honeymoon. [Phil Hibbs, DR, GLCA, 12/28]
Leo Watson, 49, the park's inventory management specialist, died of an apparent heart attack in the early morning hours of April 6th. He called for assistance from his home in Page just before midnight and was taken to the hospital in that city, where he subsequently passed away. Leo was hired by Glen Canyon in 1986 as the park's radio technician and was reassigned to inventory management in 1993. He had a history of heart problems and had by-pass surgery several years ago. A CISD briefing was held for his co-workers. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/7]
Employees in the Uplake District were involved in several rescues and a medical evacuation during a period of extreme weather conditions on April 9th. Parties in two boats became separated on April 8th while en route back to Bullfrog from taking photographs of Rainbow Bridge. The party in one of the boats was assisted by other boaters in the area; the party of six in the other, including a woman who was three months pregnant, was stranded overnight. Members of the group were dressed in shorts and light clothing and were unprepared for the sudden drop in temperature, high winds and precipitation that struck the area. The boat was located from the park's aircraft and the group was rescued by rangers who had to battle severe winds and rough water. At about the same time, rangers were involved in the air evacuation of a 20-year-old man who complained of the sudden onset of acute stomach cramps and other symptoms, and the rescues of ten passengers in a runabout and the occupants of a houseboat that had run out of gas while battling strong winds and high waves. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/10]
An unoccupied vehicle was found parked in the corner of the lower Chains parking lot near Glen Canyon Dam on the evening of March 31st. The doors were unlocked, keys were in the ignition, and there were personal items, including a driver's license, scattered about the inside. The vehicle appeared to have been there for some time. The registration came back to C.B., 37, of Flagstaff, who was reported as missing and a suicide risk. Investigators determined that he'd quit his job on March 26th, mailed a suicide letter while en route to the park on the 27th, then purchased a flotation device locally later that same day. A search of the land area was begun that evening, but discontinued when no signs of C.B. were found. The search continued by boat, helicopter and ground the following morning, but was equally fruitless. The lake at that location is about 1500 feet wide and up to almost 500 feet deep. No trace of C.B. has yet been found, and he remains listed as missing. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/10]
A number of boats have either broken away from their moorings or been swamped during recent days because of continuing high winds in the area. One of them, a 70-foot houseboat moored in the Hite buoy field, capsized and partially sank on April 15th. The boat had taken on water the previous day, but appeared to be stable. The concessioner notified the owners and made arrangements to keep it afloat, but the boat capsized before the needed equipment arrived from Bullfrog. It is currently suspended on the buoy field's grid system in about 80 feet of water. Recovery operations are being arranged by the owner. The same boat sank last year at Bullfrog, but in only a few feet of water. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/17]
On April 15th, a cabin cruiser tied up at Dangling Rope marina with the engine running while members of a Utah family used the boat's shower. Because of the weather, the canvas top and plastic side curtains over the deck were closed, except for a small section near the rear deck which allowed exhaust from the engine to enter the boat. T.P., nine, was overcome by carbon monoxide and collapsed. The ranger on duty first became aware of the emergency when he saw her being carried down the marina to his office. He found that T.P. was suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning; before he could act, she stopped breathing. An airway was inserted, oxygen was administered, and her breathing was restored. She was flown to a hospital in Page, where she was treated and subsequently released. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/17]
On November 12, 1994, B.L. was inspecting the hull of a houseboat moored at the Wahweap Marina with another diver when he told his companion that he was going to dive down and "touch the bottom of the lake", not realizing that the water is over 200 feet deep at that location. B.L. never resurfaced. On April 19th, his body was found by a small, remotely-operated submersible on loan from a private foundation and was raised to a depth where divers could safely retrieve it. Investigation into this incident continues and will be aided by recovery of the B.L.'s body and his diving equipment. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 5/1]
Four local Page residents were overcome by carbon monoxide while towing an empty boat belonging to one of the victims from Navajo Canyon to Wahweap Marina on the evening of May 5th. The tow boat's full canvas cover was buttoned down except for the rear section, which allowed the strong winds blowing at the time to funnel engine exhaust into the boat. When the two boats were found aground on Antelope Island the next morning, the ignition on the tow boat was still on and the gas tank was empty, suggesting that the jet outdrive engine had continue to run after grounding and had forced carbon monoxide into the interior of the boat. All four occupants were suffering from acute carbon monoxide poisoning, and one, Joe Premeaux, 68, had no vital signs. He never regained consciousness. The other three were air evacuated to a decompression chamber in Salt Lake City. Although in serious condition, all have since recovered and been released. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 5/15]
Fifteen-month-old C.S. drowned on the morning of May 14th when he fell from a four-foot rock bank into three feet of water at the mouth of the Dirty Devil River, a popular camping area across the lake from Hite Marina. The C.S. family was visiting a friend in a nearby campsite at the time; each parent thought the child was with the other. The father found his son floating in the water and began CPR. The family then headed for Hite, arriving 30 to 45 minutes later. A park ranger/medic and concession employees at Hite continued CPR for about an hour before the medevac helicopter arrived. The boy was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. A debriefing was conducted after the incident and a full CISD debriefing was held the next day. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 5/15]
On June 22nd, rangers received a report of a man acting strangely in the Stanton Creek primitive camping area near Bullfrog. The man, later identified as M.C., had asked campers for food and a place to sleep. They provided M.C. with food, but refused to let him stay in their camp. M.C. then told the campers that he was in the Bullfrog area to "destroy a nucleus of cannibals", and that everyone there was in danger. Rangers subsequently found M.C. locked in one of the area's portable outhouses. M.C. told them that he was an angel who had been dispatched to Bullfrog to rid the area of "a nucleus of purple cannibal people." He further stated that he'd been able to sleep only 50 hours in the previous month because of his mission, and repeated the warning that everyone in the area was in danger from the purple cannibal people. He could not explain how he'd gotten to the area, or how he was going to carry out his mission; he had neither money nor transportation. M.C. was taken to the Bullfrog detention facility, where he agreed to voluntarily commit himself for a mental evaluation in St. George, Utah. He was transported out of the park the next morning. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/23]
Six concession employees at Bullfrog were arrested for possession and/or use of controlled substances over the course of two days last week. On June 20th, an off-duty ranger at the concessioner's service station saw several large marijuana cigarettes in a cigarette box sitting on the counter. When asked, concession employee Mandy Hose said that they belonged to her husband, Michael, a cook at a concession restaurant. When rangers contacted him, he smelled of marijuana, and admitted that he'd been smoking it with Howard Smith, a fellow cook. Rangers found that there was a warrant against Hose in Oregon for a parole violation. The same ranger, this time on duty, came upon a truck the next day with drug paraphernalia in it. A consent search of the vehicle and the occupants' residences in the concession employees' dorm led to the discovery of cocaine paraphernalia and marijuana. Arrested were T.B., B.C., and K.W. All six were fired by the concessioner. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/23]
A visitor who was sleeping on his boat at Hite Marina was awakened by noised from the boat rental office just before 5 a.m. on June 23rd. When he went to the marina to investigate, he saw a vehicle backing down toward the dock and noticed a safe sitting near the marina walkway. The driver of the vehicle apparently saw him and drove away instead of picking up the safe. Investigators determined that entry to the office was gained through an unlocked window and that tools kept in the office were used to remove the safe. Although the safe was severely damaged, the contents remained secure. There are no suspects at this time, but the investigation continues. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/23]
C.J., 36, of Bountiful, Utah, was killed on June 30th when the vehicle her husband was driving went off a steep embankment into a canyon just outside the park and rolled over. The large boat and trailer being towed had begun swaying and forced the vehicle off the road. Ranger/medics from Bullfrog provided emergency medical assistance to the victims and managed the accident scene until Utah Highway Patrol officers could respond. The park medics stabilized the couple's 20-year-old daughter and had her air-evacuated by helicopter. The driver was uninjured. No one in the vehicle was wearing a seatbelt. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/30]
Just before 1 a.m. on July 4th, rangers responded to a fight at Lone Rock beach, and found that several members of a Navajo gang of about 50 camped at that location had severely beaten a visitor from a non-Indian group camped near them. There appears to have been no provocation from members of the latter group, who asked that they be left alone and said that they wanted no trouble. The victim, who was beaten with hands and feet, was stabilized by ranger-medics and taken by helicopter to a local hospital. Three gang members were arrested. The Navajo gang is affiliated with Hispanic gangs in Phoenix. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
While rangers were handling the above incident at Lone Rock in the early morning hours of July 4th, a shooting occurred at Antelope Point. The shooting was the culmination of an argument between two brothers who live on the neighboring Navajo reservation. The victim suffered a leg wound. His brother had left the area when Coconino County deputies arrived. The investigation is continuing. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Just before midnight on July 3rd, the Halls Crossing campground host called rangers for assistance with a gang of skinheads who refused to comply with quiet hours and were abusive to the host and other campers when asked to quiet down and to pick up the numerous beer cans and liquor bottles littering their campsites. They also resisted the responding ranger's similar requests. One member of the group, Josh Halverson, reached for a large hunting knife at his side; he persisted despite being told to stop, and the ranger struck him across the hand with his baton. Halverson received a minor laceration and contusion, but was dissuaded from drawing his knife. He fled the area and was not apprehended until the following morning. Other members of the group were cited for disorderly conduct and for interference. Review of the incident found the use of the baton to be justified. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
K.M., 34, was killed in a one-vehicle rollover just north of Bullfrog airstrip at 11:30 p.m. on July 7th. K.M. had attended a party at Bullfrog and was returning to his lodging when the accident occurred. He had passed several other vehicles at a high rate of speed when his truck left the roadway and rolled several times over a distance of about 400 feet. Alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Part of Lone Rock Beach was gassed by camper Blake Vitali when he detonated a canister of CS (tear gas) in the densely populated area on the afternoon of July 2nd. Many visitors jumped into the lake to relieve the burning sensations on their skin and in their eyes. Several children, however, ran into tents and hid under sleeping bags and were consequently more seriously burned, generally on their arms and legs. Vitali told rangers that he'd bought the canister on the street in California. He said that he didn't know what the term CS or the military markings on the canister meant, and that he thought it was just a smoke bomb. Vitali was bent over the canister when it went off, so also reaped what he had sown - a small but significant consolation to neighboring campers. He was arrested and turned over to the county sheriff's office on state felony charges. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
On July 6th, a 17-year-old boat operator ran into a jet ski being ridden by L.L., 51, of Provo, Utah. The force of the collision spun the jet ski around and into the larger boat's prop. L.L. suffered seven severe lacerations on the back of his leg from below his knee the bottom of his foot, and may also have suffered a fracture to his tailbone. Ranger-medics stabilized him at the scene and transported him to the park clinic. He was later taken by helicopter to the hospital in Provo. Alcohol does not appear to have been a contributing factor. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Two confirmed and two possible cases of carbon monoxide poisoning were investigated by rangers on July 2nd: * Ranger-medics administered CPR to T.B. for about 15 minutes before his heartbeat and breathing were restored. He was flown to Salt Lake City for hyperbaric treatment. * A 15-year-old female was treated by ranger-medics for dizziness, difficulty in breathing and shakiness. * R.A., 24, was brought unconscious to Bullfrog and was treated by ranger-medics. * B.L.H., 16, of Riverside, California, was riding in the back of her family's jet-powered ski boat. When the family arrived at the dock after an extended trip, they could not awaken her and began CPR. Ranger-medics continued CPR and began advanced life support measures. She was taken to a hospital in Phoenix and placed on life support systems although she shows no brain activity. Another member of the party riding in the rear of the boat also suffered minor symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. All four victims were in open boats. When patients riding in open boats show symptoms similar to "minor" carbon monoxide poisoning, the cause is often attributed to dehydration, alcohol, too much sun, or seasickness. It appears, however, that some of the cases may in fact be carbon monoxide poisoning and have in the past been overlooked because the victims were not in enclosed boats or confined spaces. A local testing program has been proposed to study the frequency of undiagnosed carbon monoxide poisonings. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
A truck operated by a male juvenile ran over a tent occupied by the B. family at Lone Rock Beach around 3 a.m. on June 3rd. S.B., 31, was run over and suffered injuries to her pelvis; S.B.'s four-year-old daughter was struck in the head by one of the truck's tires. Family members camped nearby heard the screams from the tent; several took the two victims to the hospital, while others chased the truck back to Page at speeds approaching 80 mph. They were finally able to apprehend the driver, and held him until Page police officers could arrive. Park rangers and investigators were notified and responded to Page and Lone Rock Beach. Rangers arrested the juvenile in Page and seized his truck. They then contacted his parents and asked and received permission to take blood samples from their son. The sample later showed his blood alcohol level to be 0.12% - well over the legal limit, although the sample was taken eight hours after the accident. The boy's parents also agreed to waive extradition of their son from Arizona to Utah, and he was subsequently taken to a juvenile detention center in Richfield, Utah. On July 7th, the boy pled guilty to two counts of felony aggravated assault in district court. Final disposition of the case is pending. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
A 40-foot, privately-owned houseboat caught fire in upper Halls Creek Bay on July 1st and burned to its pontoons. The occupants were apparently boiling water on the grill mounted on the deck when the water boiled over into the grease catcher under the grill and the grease ignited and spilled onto the deck. The occupants attempted to put out the fire with an extinguisher, but were unable to do so and had to abandon the boat. The boat was fully engulfed in flames when rangers arrived on scene. There were no injuries. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
An off-duty Wayne County deputy was attacked by a large Rotwieller tied up in an adjacent camp at Hite on July 5th. One of the responding rangers was also attacked; his pant leg was ripped and the dog was dragging him backwards when the ranger stopped him with OC (pepper) spray. The owner, Gary Juul, had the two dogs on 20-foot leashes, one at either end of his campsite. He was cited by rangers. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Bullfrog rangers stopped a vehicle which lacked a rear license plate on the evening of July 12th. Neither of the occupants - R.H. and B.H. of Price, Utah - had a valid driver's license or verifiable identification. Subsequent questioning led to the discovery of numerous bundles of methamphetamine, several small baggies of same that had not yet been bundled, marijuana, and a wide variety of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana related paraphernalia. Both H.s, who had been convicted in the past for possession with intent to distribute, were charged with possession of controlled substances and held for Utah authorities for filing of felony distribution charges. Both were wanted by the state on misdemeanor warrants. Their vehicle was impounded and will be seized. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Concession employee J.N., 29, was arrested at Bullfrog on the morning of July 16th for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, and larceny following ranger response to a report of domestic violence at his quarters. J.N. was subsequently released on bond and returned home. Rangers were called back to the residence in the evening when he threatened to commit suicide. They found him hiding in a closet, but were able to get him to come out without further incident. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
On July 20th, a drifter called the Coconino County sheriff's department to report that he'd been picked up by a man - later identified as S.H., 27 - who said he was going to steal parts from a vehicle in the 14-day lot at Wahweap. According to the drifter, S.H., who was driving a 1979 Z-280, intended to steal the fuel pump out of another Z-280 in the lot. The drifter did not want to get involved, left the area, and called police. Rangers found the target vehicle and began surveillance of the area. Meanwhile, a deputy found S.H. parked along the road with his car's hood up and an assortment of tools lying on the front seat. It appears that the car broke down before S.H. was able to get to the lot. A routine computer check revealed that there were two warrants out against S.H.. S.H. resisted arrest, but was subdued by the deputy with the help of rangers and incarcerated. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
A 12-year-old Page girl was raped by D.J., a neighbor and family acquaintance, at Antelope Point on July 5th. The girl had been allowed to accompany D.J. and his family on a camping trip to the park. The girl was assaulted while D.J.'s family was sleeping nearby. D.J. confessed to the rape and has been charged with two Class 2 state felonies. They carry a mandatory sentence of from 14 to 35 years incarceration. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
A Salt Lake City family camped in a remote area of the park radioed a distress call that they might be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning on the morning of July 25th. A Halls Crossing boat patrol ranger was less than a mile away at the time and was accordingly able to respond quickly. The family had been sleeping in their cabin cruiser with the air conditioner running, and it had circulated exhaust fumes from the inboard gasoline generator into the cabin. The F.'s three-year-old daughter was unconscious when the ranger arrived, but was revived through aggressive oxygen therapy. Her parents initially displayed only mild symptoms, but their conditions soon deteriorated to semi-consciousness. The family was taken by helicopter to the hospital in Page; the parents later had to be flown to a hyperbaric chamber in Salt Lake City for further treatment. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
The night auditor at the Bullfrog lodge and marina returned home at 6 a.m. on July 23rd to find that her pickup truck was missing. Shortly thereafter, the administrative cashier discovered that all the night deposit bags from the busy weekend had been cut open prior to being deposited in a drop safe. An estimated $50,000 was missing. A night security guard is the prime suspect, as he had access to the night audtori's vehicle and signed for receipt of each of the deposit bags. He could not be located in the area, and failed to appear for his shift that afternoon. Investigators have learned that there is an outstanding warrant against him for a previous vehicle theft. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
On the afternoon of July 26th, J.M., 42, was waterskiing with four other people behind a boat when the rope he was using became tangled around his wrist, tightened and severed his hand. Park medics responded and evacuated him to a hospital in Page. Park divers were called out in an effort to retrieve J.M.'s hand in the hope that it could be reattached. The water at that location, however, was about 150 feet deep, which reduced the likelihood of recovering it. Doctors also determined that such surgery would not be feasible due to the nature of the injury. The search was accordingly terminated. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
On July 23rd, camper J.S. reported to rangers that L.H., a friend of his, was camping at the Upper Bullfrog beach and had a stolen Jeep in his possession. The Jeep was sighted and stopped as it left the area. L.H. first provided an alias, but subsequently admitted to both stealing the vehicle and possessing methamphetamine. It also turned out that J.S. had reported L.H. because L.H. had stolen the methamphetamine from J.S. L.H., J.S., and a third companion, Howard Martindale, were arrested and charged on a number of counts, including check fraud. The trio had stolen and forged checks in their possession, and had used at least one while in the area. Rangers also found that L.H. was wanted on several warrants and had been involved in a high speed chase in Salt Lake City during the previous week. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
The night auditor at the Bullfrog lodge and marina returned home at 6 a.m. on July 23rd to find that her pickup truck was missing. Shortly thereafter, the administrative cashier discovered that all the night deposit bags from the busy weekend had been cut open prior to being deposited in a drop safe. An estimated $50,000 was missing. A night security guard is the prime suspect, as he had access to the night auditor's vehicle and signed for receipt of each of the bags. He could not be located in the area, and failed to appear for his shift that afternoon. Investigators have learned that there is an outstanding warrant against him for a previous vehicle theft. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
On the afternoon of July 26th, J.M., 42, was waterskiing with four other people behind a boat when the rope he was using became tangled around his wrist, tightened and severed his hand. Park medics responded and evacuated him to a hospital in Page. Park divers were called out in an effort to retrieve J.M.'s hand in the hope that it could be reattached. The water at that location, however, was about 150 feet deep, which reduced the likelihood of recovering it. Doctors also determined that such surgery would not be feasible due to the nature of the injury. The search was accordingly terminated. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
On July 23rd, camper J.S. reported to rangers that L.H., a friend of his, was camping at the Upper Bullfrog beach and had a stolen Jeep in his possession. The Jeep was sighted and stopped as it left the area. = first provided an alias, but subsequently admitted to both stealing the vehicle and possessing methamphetamine. It also turned out that J.S. had reported L.H. because L.H. had stolen the methamphetamine from J.S.. L.H., J.S., and a third companion, Howard Martindale, were arrested and charged on a number of counts, including check fraud. The trio had stolen and forged checks in their possession, and had used at least one while in the area. Rangers also found that L.H. was wanted on several warrants and had been involved in a high speed chase in Salt Lake City during the previous week. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
T.B., 43, drowned in Lake Powell early on the morning of August 6th. T.B. had just left his son and nephew on a beach in Gunsight Canyon and was returning to the site where the rest of the T.B. party had camped the night before. The boys saw him jump or fall into the water from the moving boat, yell for help, then disappear under the lake's surface. Diving operations continued for almost three days before his body was found in 42 feet of water. T.B. had a history of cardiac problems and was not in good physical condition. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
On April 28, 1990, ranger Bill Wolverton discovered that the Seldom Seen Alcove site along a tributary of the Escalante River had been illegally excavated and that artifacts had been stolen. Investigating ranger Jim Bowman subsequently determined that a ceramic vessel and reed/juniper backpack had been taken. Archeologist Phil Geib told Bowman that he could identify the vessel from existing photos of it. Following the offering of a $5,000 reward, a tip was received on the vessel's location. On February 1, 1994, Bowman, ranger Bob Piontek and criminal investigator James Houseman seized the vessel from the residence of the parents of S.C. in Escalante. Houseman and special agent Pat Buccello talked with S.C. regarding his involvement in the theft and obtained admissions of culpability from him. On March 29th, the regional solicitor's office began a civil penalty proceeding against S.C.. An assessment of just under $45,000 was filed against S.C. based on archeologist Tim Burchett's analysis. S.C. agreed to four stipulations in lieu of the full fine: identification and return of the reed/juniper backpack; field trips to the Seldom Seen and other sites that S.C. knew had been disturbed, under immunity; formal debriefing interviews regarding all previous ARPA violations; and a fine between $5,000 and $10,000. S.C. completed the stipulations in August; FLETC instructor Woody Jones videotaped the debriefing and field trip for the center's ARPA course. Due to S.C.'s level of cooperation, the fine was set at $5,000. During the debriefing interview, S.C. stated that he had additional artifacts from public lands and that he was willing to forfeit them in exchange for a lower fine. On August 22nd, he turned over moccasins, sandals, wooden shovels and pottery. Due to the significance of the artifacts, the fine was reduced to $3,000. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA]
A search for concession employee D.P., 25, was begun on December 16th when it was learned that he hadn't returned from a boat trip on the lake. D.P. was last seen when he launched his boat from Stateline ramp on December 14th; he was not found to be missing until his roommate returned from a trip on the 16th. D.P.'s boat was found in a cove behind Castle Rock. Although tied to a rock, it was partially submerged. D.P.'s shoes were found in the boat. His shirt and socks had been wrapped around the bellows to plug leaks. The search was called off at dark and resumed the following morning. D.P.'s body was found on Antelope Island across from the Wahweap Marina at 11 a.m. - about two-and-a-half miles from his boat. He was clad in jeans and a ski vest. It appears that D.P. had had trouble with his boat, was unable to repair it, and had attempted to swim to the main channel. D.P. and his family have been long-time residents of Page; his mother and brother are both concession employees, and his father retired from the Bureau of Reclamation. Close to 100 Page residents and concession employees assisted the limited park staff and county officials in the search. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Ranger Chris Cessna came upon a man having mechanical problems with his vehicle at the Glen Canyon Bridge pullout on Highway 89 on December 3rd. Cessna asked the man - later identified as L.G. - if he needed any assistance, and noted that L.G. was very nervous. When Cessna asked for identification, L.G. produced a driver's license from Sonora, Mexico. The license proved to be altered, and Cessna found that L.G. also lacked papers permitting him to be in the United States legally. A consent search of his vehicle was conducted with the assistance of Arizona state police. Four packages wrapped in duct tape were found in a hidden compartment; they contained 20 pounds of marijuana. L.G. was arrested and his vehicle was seized. He will be prosecuted in Coconino County court. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
A 40-year-old man from Ogden, Utah, was arrested for sexually molesting his cousin's 17-year-old son on a boat moored at Bullfrog Marina during the early morning hours of January 14th. Investigating rangers determined that the boy had accompanied his relative with plans to spend the holiday weekend working on the boat. The case has been turned over to the county for investigation. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
Last week, park visitors told rangers that they'd seen a man, subsequently identified as A.A., 41, of Flagstaff, Arizona, kill a fox on the shore of the river between Lee's Ferry and Glen Canyon dam. Subdistrict ranger Mike McGinnis spotted A.A. operating a boat, then driving off in a vehicle, and stopped him for questioning. McGinnis found that A.A. was intoxicated, and that he'd shot the fox in an area closed to hunting. The animal's back had been broken, but the shot had not killed it. A.A. accordingly stomped it to death. He was charged with boating under the influence, driving under the influence, hunting in a closed area, unauthorized taking of wildlife, and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana). [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
A routine background investigation conducted by the park's concessioner on M.R., 32, a newly-hired boat mechanic, turned up information which lead to an investigation by rangers Russ Miller and Steve Luckesen. The rangers learned that M.R. was wanted on an Oregon warrant for parole violations and for the theft of a U-Haul truck, and that he was suspected of theft and fraud in New Hampshire. During an interview with M.R. at his concession-owned housing, Miller and Luckesen saw a computer which matched the description of one reported as stolen from Roger's New Hampshire employer. A consent search led to the discovery of a printer and evidence of stolen and forged checks which were also on the list of items stolen from New Hampshire. Other evidence was found which indicated that M.R. had been involved in a fraudulent scheme involving a non-existent marina operation in New Hampshire. The rangers also learned that M.R. was a convicted felon with an extensive criminal record. He was arrested and turned over to the county sheriff's office. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
On the afternoon of May 2nd, a pontoon rental boat with a party of four adults and one child was traveling upstream on the lake near Hite, Utah, when the child, a seven-year-old girl, fell overboard. Her father and another man dove into the water in an attempt to rescue her. The second man was able to return to the boat, but the father and daughter did not reappear. Rangers were notified and a search was begun utilizing a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft. Park divers were on scene at the time of the report (Friday) and were searching for the pair. [LES, GLCA]
The search for six-year-old S.S. and her father, D.S., was suspended on the evening of Friday, May 3rd, due to several high risk factors, including undercurrents, debris, zero visibility conditions, and the lack of a clear determination of where they were last seen. Search efforts continued on the surface and with sonar and were still underway yesterday. [David Sanbakken, LES, GLCA]
The body of a female child believed to be that of six-year-old Stephanie Strom was found by a park visitor fishing off-shore near the launch ramp at Hite on May 10th. On May 11th, rangers conducting grid searches of the surrounding lake waters a mile southwest of the Colorado River bridge found the body of an adult male believed to be her father, D.. The pair had been missing since the accident on May 2nd in which both were presumed to have drowned. Park investigators and the county medical examination were called in for verification and identification of bodies. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
On the evening of Friday, June 21st, two local concession employees attacked, brutally stabbed and killed another employee at the Wahweap dormitories. The pair then fled on foot. Rangers and county deputies responded. Both suspects were apprehended in the Wahweap area the following morning by rangers, deputies and Aramark security guards. At the request of the sheriff's department, further details are being temporarily withheld, pending indictments. [Dave Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
The victim of the June 21st homicide in the Wahweap concession dormitory has been identified as L.T., 25, a local resident and graduate of Page High School. The two men arrested for the killing were F.C. 19, and his 16-year-old brother, both of Tonelea, Arizona. The two have admitted involvement in the incident; F.C. confessed to the stabbing. Both are now in custody. An assault related to the murder occurred on June 24th. A concession security guard was flagged down and advised of an assault in the Wahweap dorms at 10 pm that evening. Rangers and Coconino County deputies responded and found a badly beaten 16-year-old male outside the dormitories. Extensive searches of the area resulted in the apprehension of one of the assailants, 19-year-old L.M. of Kaibeto, Leroy L.T.'s cousin. L.M. and five friends had beaten the 16-year- old to "avenge" L.T.'s death. L.M. apparently did not know that F.C. and his brother had been arrested for the murder. The names of three of the other five men involved in the assault were obtained, and the investigation continues. The victim was released from the hospital to a parent on June 25th. There appear to be some Navajo Reservation gang affiliations associated with the two incidents, both of which are part of a trend of increased violence in the park. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
J.G., 20, and D.D., 53, were killed when their 19-foot boat struck an anchor buoy at the Wahweap breakwater around 1 a.m. on Sunday, June 30th. The lone survivor of the accident, Cary Stoneberger, 32, suffered only a minor laceration and was able to swim to the breakwater after the accident. D.D. was pulled from under the capsized boat within minutes of the accident. CPR was begun, but proved fruitless. A multi-agency search was begun for J.G., the daughter of an Arizona Game and Fish commissioner; her body was recovered in 145 feet of water by divers following an extensive underwater search by the park's ROV (remote operated vessel). Witnesses from the marina said that the boat was traveling at a high rate of speed, slowed down momentarily, then was throttled up again just before impact. Stoneberger said that D.D., the owner and operator of the prototype bass boat, applied power in an attempt to avoid the buoy. It's believed that alcohol was a contributing factor. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
The park received a report of a possible drowning at the Coves at 6:08 p.m. on July 4th. The parents of K.B., 10, of Crown Point, New Mexico, found her shoes on the shore at a point where the slick rock slopes steeply into the water. She had been left at the water's edge by her family, but told not to enter the water. A land and water search was begun, and park divers found her at 6:48 p.m. Because of her age, the temperature of the water at which she was recovered, and her core temperature, aggressive efforts were made to revive her at the scene, en route to the hospital, and at the hospital. These proved to be of no avail, however, and she was pronounced dead at 8:26 p.m. While K.B. was being removed from the water, rangers received a report that a riderless jet ski had been seen circling in Warm Creek. One of the patrol boats at the Coves was sent to investigate. Ranger David VanInwagen found J.K., 27, in the lake without a life jacket and in serious distress. He pulled J.K. from the lake just as he was going under and brought him to shore. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
J.R.C., 21, a local resident, committed at least seven separate sexual assaults at Lone Rock Beach during the early morning hours of July 6th. His victims were small children, young girls and adult women. J.R.C. entered the tents and RVs while the occupants were sleeping to commit the crimes. Campers were alerted when a ten-year-old girl woke her mother, crying and saying a man had been touching her. J.R.C. was seen entering a nearby tent and captured by several campers, who in turn alerted park rangers. J.R.C. was arrested and taken to a jail in Kanab, Utah. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
On the evening of July 6th, a 36-year-old woman was walking down the Burr Trail following a dispute with her husband when two men in their 20s drove up in a vehicle, stopped and raped her. An investigation is underway. Numerous leads are being pursued, and a description of the vehicle has been broadcast to all area law enforcement agencies. [Jim Houseman, CI, GLCA]
The park had a record number of visitors over the Fourth of July weekend, and also experienced a high number of incidents, including three major search and rescue operations, a drowning, 36 medical responses, and 24 arrests. The latter included two rapes, the multiple sexual assault incident reported last week in the Morning Report and four arrests for disorderly conduct arrests, five for assault, seven for driving under the influence, one for auto theft (this involved a 50 mile chase by representatives from four agencies at speeds up to 105 mph and concluded with an arrest by rangers), three for burglaries, one for theft, seven for drugs and two for illegal possession of weapons. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
M.L., an employee at the gas station at Bullfrog, reported a theft of $3,700 on Saturday, July 20th. Further investigation by park rangers and the park's criminal investigator indicated that it was M.L. who had stolen the money, then attempted to make the theft look like a burglary. The stolen money was found inside a tire at the gas station. M.L. confessed to the crime and was taken into custody for booking at the Kane County jail. [CRO, GLCA]
J.H., 16, of Page, Arizona, was cliff jumping into the lake with four other boys in an area between Glen Canyon Dam and Anchovy Point on July 28th. One of the boys jumped off the cliff from a height of 50 to 60 feet and landed on top of J.H., who was swimming below the cliff. J.H. went under and did not resurface. Divers from the park and the Coconino County rescue team made numerous dives, but were unable to locate him. The underwater topography in that area is very steep, with slopes leading to a drop-off into an inner gorge that descends to a point over 500 feet below the surface. The park's remote operated vessel (ROV) is not operational at present, but will be used as soon as it can be repaired. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA]
Rangers arrested 49-year-old D.A. for assaulting a woman at Lone Rock Beach on the afternoon of July 31st. Investigation revealed that a felony warrant had been issued by Yavapai County for his extradition on charges of sexual contact with minors. D.A. has a history of violence, weapons violations, and molestation of children. Following his arrest, D.A. told rangers he was HIV positive, but this was not confirmed by medical testing. Such claims are becoming an issue with prisoners seeking release when charged. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
J.H., 37, was reported missing by family members at 6 p.m. on the evening of August 3rd. J.H.'s family had arranged to meet him at Halls Crossing. J.H. arrived late, however, and found that his family had already gone out on the lake. A security guard who talked to him just after midnight said that J.H. told him he was upset, that this had happened to him before, and that his family would never do it to him again. His car was subsequently found in the parking lot at Halls Crossing with his wallet inside. Air, water and ground searches were begun, and dog teams have been brought in. The main difficulty faced by searchers is in determining the point where he was last seen. J.H. has a history of manic depression, drug use and previous suicide attempts. An investigation is underway. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
The search for 16-year-old J.H. concluded on July 31st with the recovery of his body from a depth of 428 feet. J.H. drowned on July 28th when a friend jumping off a cliff into the lake struck J.H., who was swimming below. Dive recovery teams and the park's remote operated vehicle (ROV) were used extensively to cover the search area down to a depth of 500 feet. The K.C. Johnson Foundation, a non-profit organization established to help recover drowning victims, provided a second ROV to assist in the search on the 31st, and it located the body. An armature attached to the ROV was used to recover and raise the body to a depth of 80 feet. Dive team members from the park met the ROV at that point and brought the body to the surface. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
R.F., 26, drowned in the Coves area on the morning of August 9th. R.F. was visiting the park with a church group from southern California which was doing volunteer work with Native Americans in Tuba City. A member of the group who couldn't swim saw him struggling and shouting for help less than 20 feet from shore. R.F. was not a strong swimmer. The park's dive team found him within 45 minutes of the incident's occurrence; CPR was begun by rangers and continued during transport to the hospital in Page, but R.F. did not respond. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
Smoke and flames were observed pouring out of the attic of NPS housing unit 119D at Wahweap around 11:30 a.m. on August 12th. The park's structural fire brigade, concessions personnel and the Page fire department responded and had the fire under control within an hour. The building and an adjoining apartment suffered flame, smoke and water damage sufficient to make them unfit for human habitation. Damage has been estimated at $120,000. Two permanent park employees have been displaced and are now living in temporary housing. The cause of the fire is believed to have been a fault in the electrical wiring in the attic. [Chris Pergiel, SDR, GLCA]
The body of R.J., 40, of Salt Lake City, was found floating face down under the dive platform at the rear of the houseboat on which she'd been vacationing around 3 p.m. on September 9th. The other three occupants of the houseboat had not seen her for about 30 minutes. Park staff responded and conducted CPR, but to no avail. The boat's generator was operating, and carbon monoxide poisoning from the exhaust is thought to have been the proximate cause of death. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA]
On September 14th, the San Juan county sheriff's office asked the NPS for assistance in a search for a party of 13 people who'd been caught in a flash flood in White Canyon just downstream from Natural Bridges. The group had started a hike down a slot canyon section of White Canyon known as the Black Hole. Heavy rains caused the stream to rise rapidly and made it difficult for group members to cross it and reach the only available escape route. Six of them were able to cross, but the seventh - 16-year-old T.H. - lost her footing and was swept away. The six who'd gotten across managed to scramble up the side of the 600 foot canyon wall and find their way overland about six miles to the highway. They eventually reached Hite Marina at Glen Canyon and notified the sheriff's office. Four rangers and maintenance personnel from Natural Bridges and four rangers from Glen Canyon joined about 30 deputies and SAR volunteers in a night search for T.H. and the remaining six members of the group. Despite the presence of a state police helicopter with night vision equipment and search lights, no sign of the hikers was found, and the search was suspended at 3 a.m. As the search resumed the following morning, the six hikers who'd been stranded in the canyon emerged, having crossed the stream when flood waters subsided. Members of the group were becoming hypothermic by that time. The search for T.H. continued throughout the day, but was unsuccessful until three private individuals with wet suits and other gear who'd come to hike the Black Hole volunteered to search the slot canyon. T.H.'s body was found suspended from a piece of drift about 30 feet above the existing stream level. The body was recovered the following day after a difficult extrication effort. [Steve Chaney, NABR]
On October 8th, ranger Dirk Murphy contacted M.L. and J.D. (actual name) in the Wahweap picnic area regarding an expired vehicle registration. Investigation revealed that the delivery truck they were driving had been stolen from its owner in San Francisco while making night deliveries on September 24th. Items found in the truck's cargo area tied J.D. and M.L. to five car clouts that had occurred in Grand Canyon between October 1st and 6th. Drivers licenses, credit cards and personal property belonging to four other people were also found in the truck. One of the victims was an NPS employee who had lost a wallet and organizer from a vehicle parked at Grand Canyon's visitor center. Unauthorized charges on the employee's government American Express card and checks forged against the employee's account exceeded $1,000. Five federal felony charges were filed against the two men, who also face several state felony charges for credit card fraud and forgery while in Flagstaff. They are being held without bail. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA]
A boat with two men aboard struck the canyon wall at a high rate of speed in an area known as the Escalante Arm at 3 p.m. on October 24th. C.P., 28, was killed; David Altop, 32, was injured and flown to a hospital in Page for treatment. The park dive team is attempting to recover C.P.'s body, which is in 30 to 200 feet of water. There are no underwater obstructions in the area. Alcohol may have been involved. [David Sandbakken, GLCA]
An undercover operation focusing on illegal commercial operations on Lake Powell was conducted during the month of August. Criminal investigator Todd Swain from Joshua Tree NP acted as the undercover agent. Six rental companies were found to be illegally launching and retrieving personal watercraft within the park. All six were cited into court, pled guilty to charges of illegal commercial operation, and paid a total of $3,000 in fines and over $1,700 in restitution costs. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
On October 14th, J.E., 44, of Tucson, Arizona, was reported overdue from a camping trip to the Escalante area of Glen Canyon. Rangers begin searching for J.E. with fixed wing aircraft and vehicles and by foot. J.E.'s pickup was located by air search. Rangers found a diary inside the truck, last dated October 8th. Ranger Jim Bowman accordingly requested that efforts be focused on the Brimstone Gulch area. The following day, ranger Jeff Lauersdorf and a search dog handler located J.E. 75 feet below the west rim of the gulch. A technical rescue was initiated and J.E. was medevaced by helicopter. J.E. stated he had entered the slot canyon on October 8th by climbing down drop-offs and soon realized that he was trapped. J.E. had survived over eight days on five ounces of water and no food, clad only in a tee shirt and shorts. He was released from the hospital on October 23rd in good condition. Search dogs and the Kane County and Garfield County sheriff's departments participated in the incident. [Dave Sandbakken, LES, GLCA]
The body of K.P., 28, was found by the park's underwater search vehicle on October 26th and later recovered. K.P. and D.A., 32, were boating in the remote Escalante Arm area of Lake Powell on October 24th when their 23-foot cutty cabin cruiser struck a vertical rock wall at a high rate of speed. K.P. was thrown from the vessel into the lake and did not surface. Stormy weather hampered initial dive operations. Preliminary indications are that K.P. was driving the boat. No charges have yet been filed. The IC was Russ Miller. [David Sanbakken, LES, GLCA]
Rangers responded to an emergency request for assistance from the inholding community at Greenhaven, Arizona, on the afternoon of March 3rd. A 12-year- old boy and his sisters were digging a tunnel into a sand wall when it collapsed, burying the boy. A multi-agency rescue effort led to his extrication from the cave-in. Rangers and local rescue personnel began advanced life support measures and were able to restore his pulse. The child was flown by air ambulance to the children's hospital in Phoenix, where he died the next day. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 3/5]
On the evening of March 29th, visitors saw a man park his sports utility vehicle about 120 feet from the edge of Muley Point, elevation 6,400 feet. They then heard the vehicle start and saw it accelerate rapidly and go straight over the rim. It came to rest about 400 feet below. The incident was reported to a nearby BLM office at 11 a.m. the following morning. NPS rangers responded with a local EMS helicopter and personnel from three other agencies. They found the body of W.S., a German national in his early 50s, in the vehicle. It appears that he was the only victim. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. Ranger Cindy Ott-Jones was IC. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 3/27]
A search is underway for 23-year-old K.G., who fell off a boat around 1 a.m. on April 26th and apparently drowned. K.G. was attending a party for an upcoming wedding and was riding on the bow of the boat when it made a sharp turn in the Crosby Canyon area and he fell overboard. He was not wearing a life jacket. The operator of the boat, Robert Bunch, 21, was subsequently arrested by park criminal investigators for operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol; he was later released to the custody of his father. The park's dive team is attempting to locate the body and completed more than 75 dives over the weekend. The K. C. Johnson Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the recovery of drowning victims, is sending eight search divers to participate in the incident. Ranger Maya Seraphin is the incident commander. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 4/28]
The body of K.G. was recovered from the waters of Lake Powell on the morning of April 29th following an intensive, three-day effort that included over 100 dives and more than 50 hours of bottom time. K.G. was attending a party on a boat and fell overboard during the early morning hours of April 26th when it made a sharp turn. He was not wearing a life jacket. Members of the NPS-lead, multi-agency team recovered the body just north of the Arizona state line at the mouth of Crosby Canyon in Warm Creek Bay. The successful recovery effort was due to combined efforts by the National Park Service, K.C. Johnson Foundation, Kane County Sheriff's Office, Coconino County Sheriff's Office, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Utah State Parks, Arizona Game and Fish, ARAMARK, and local businesses. Criminal charges against the boat operator are pending. [CRO, GLCA, 4/30]
Park personnel from all divisions responded to a report of a plane crash and fire at the Bullfrog airstrip around 10 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, May 3rd. Upon arrival, they found a Cessna 210 turboprop fully engulfed in flames 300 yards north of the runway. The fire was quickly extinguished, but none of the four occupants survived. Killed were R.S., 52, G.R., 34, T.P., 36, and G.J., 38. R.S. and G.r. were from Gunnison, Colorado; T.P. and G.J. were from Crested Butte, also in Colorado. Preliminary investigation revealed that the Cessna had departed from Gunnison that morning and was approaching the runway for a landing when the accident occurred. The cause is still unknown at this time. The FAA and NTSB are investigating. Bullfrog subdistrict ranger Dixon Freeland was IC for the incident. A CISD session was conducted by staff from Canyonlands and Arches. [CRO, GLCA, 5/5]
During a vehicle stop just after midnight on May 18th, Arizona state officers discovered that the female passenger in a pickup truck was crying and that she had an abrasion on her lip. The driver was arrested for operating under the influence, and the woman was taken to the police department in Page. She told officers that the driver, who was her estranged boyfriend and the father of the child she is carrying, had forced her to leave Lone Rock Beach, which is within the park. Rangers were summoned and advised of the full details of the incident. The woman said that her ex-boyfriend had found her at the beach and called her to his truck. When she got near the door, he punched her in the mouth, then got out of his truck, grabbed a bat from the truck's bed, and threatened the woman and her friend. Two of the woman's friends tried to defend her and disarm the man, but he overpowered both of them, punching one in the face several times and hitting the other on the head with the bat. The woman told him she'd go with him if he'd stop hurting her friends and got in the truck. He drove to Page, bought some more beer, then headed back to the beach so he could find her friends and "finish the job." When they got back to the beach, he hit her in the mouth again and asked where their camp was. She gave a false location and description in an attempt to protect her companions. He then made some Molotov cocktails out of empty beer bottles and sent his cousins to firebomb the camp. When their efforts proved fruitless, the ex-boyfriend became enraged, grabbed the Molotov cocktails, and decided to firebomb the woman's friend's vehicle. The cousins did so, setting the vehicle on fire. Bystanders extinguished the flames after they left the area. Search and arrest warrants are being sought, and the investigation, headed by ranger David VanInwagen, is continuing. [CRO, GLCA, 5/23]
Preliminary statistics for the past holiday weekend indicate a sharp increase in arrests and serious offenses from numbers recorded during last year's Memorial Day weekend. Although the infamous "Hobie Cat Beach" party has been eliminated as an event, there was an increase in serious crimes, reflecting a general trend in the park over the past year. There were 69 arrests (up from the 28 arrests during the holiday weekend last year), 19 Part I offenses (only one was recorded last Memorial Day weekend), 252 Part II offenses, 11 assaults, and 35 alcohol and 40 drug/controlled substance incidents (crystal methedrine, LSD, cocaine, mushrooms and marijuana). Serious accidents and EMS incidents, however, were down from the same period last year. The number of incidents is expected to rise as more reports are completed and filed. Glen Canyon rangers were supported by rangers from Grand Canyon, White Sands, Zion, Grand Teton, Mesa Verde, Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Curecanti, Arches, Capitol Reef, Petrified Forest, Navajo, and Bryce Canyon, as well as officers from law enforcement agencies in Arizona and Utah. [CRO, GLCA, 5/28]
A Scenic Airlines charter flight with four persons on board made an emergency water landing near Wilson Creek Canyon after losing power late on the morning of June 4th. The plane, a Cessna 177, flipped upside down on impact. The pilot and the three German nationals on board were able to escape from the aircraft, which sank in about 150 feet of water within 30 seconds of impact. There were no injuries. A nearby private vessel rescued the pilot and passengers. Ranger Lisa Slobodzian responded and transported the victims to the marina at Dangling Rope. Salvage operations have been initiated. [CRO, GLCA, 6/9]
S.B.K., 18, a Korean national, drowned while swimming at Hite just before 8 p.m. on June 12th. A friend reported seeing S.B.K. struggle, then disappear under the lake's surface. Rangers were on scene within 15 minutes and began a search of the area by vessel. Park divers were brought in from other areas of the park, but were not able to arrive on scene within the time frame needed to make a rescue. Due to darkness and adverse water conditions, dive recovery operations were delayed until the following morning. S.B.K.'s body was recovered by the dive team in about 12 feet of water at 9 a.m. [Kerry Haut, Hite SDR, GLCA, 6/17]
On May 24th, M.S., 38, was arrested at Lone Rock Beach on stalking charges. On two separate occasions, M.S. crossed state lines from Utah into Arizona to write harassing, threatening and profane statements about an NPS employee on park buildings. The content of these statements caused the employee to fear for her personal safety. Surveillance cameras were instrumental in identifying M.S. as the perpetrator. M.S. admitted to the incidents, stating that he was a former seasonal at Glen Canyon ten years ago and carried a grudge over work-related issues. He has a total of 17 years NPS experience as a non-commissioned seasonal. M.S. was subsequently indicted by a grand jury on two felony and four misdemeanor counts and is currently awaiting trial. [Joe Sumner, CI, GLCA, 6/26]
Interagency law enforcement efforts over the Fourth of July weekend resulted in 58 arrests parkwide, with a total of 388 case incidents reported. Serious EMS calls were limited to 38 incidents, and there were no fatalities. The safe weekend and relatively low stats were credited in large part to interagency cooperation and an expanded seasonal staff. (CRO, GLCA, 7/10)
On October 8, 1996, ranger Dirk Murphy contacted M.L., 35, and Christopher White, 29, in the Wahweap picnic area regarding an expired vehicle registration. Investigation revealed that the delivery truck they were driving had been stolen from its owner in San Francisco in September while the owner had been making night deliveries. Items found in the truck's cargo area tied White and M.L. to five car clouts that had occurred in Grand Canyon earlier in October. Late this spring, the district court judge in Phoenix sentenced M.L. to two years and White to 11 months in prison for stealing the vehicle. White was also sentenced for his possession of a counterfeit San Francisco postal key. The investigation was conducted by criminal investigators Jim Houseman and Joe Sumner. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/21]
Four separate auto burglaries were conducted in the parking lots in the state line area on June 15th and 22nd. Stolen were electric winches, bumpers, tool boxes, CDs, and fog lights with a cumulative value of $8,500. On June 30th, the investigation led rangers and a criminal investigator to three different residences and one business where stolen items were recovered. On July 15th, three men - A.B., 21, D.S., 21, and K.B., 18, all residents of Page, Arizona - were arrested and appeared in county district court. They will be prosecuted for felony theft and auto burglary. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/22]
A strong weather system passed through the Wahweap subdistrict on the afternoon of July 27th. Sustained winds of 45 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph, were recorded from 3 p.m. until dark. Waves up to six feet high were whipped up near Castle Rock along the main boat route back to Wahweap. Many boats were returning to the launch ramps and marina after a long and very busy weekend, and numerous accidents occurred. Several boats were swamped, at least one vessel sank, and one boat with eight Boy Scouts on board capsized in the middle of Wahweap Bay. Another three people on personal water craft (PWCs) were repeatedly knocked into the water by the high winds and required assistance. Reports are still coming in, but a total of at least 59 people were rescued through a coordinated effort by rangers, concession employees and visitors. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/28]
On Tuesday, August 12th, eleven people who had entered Antelope Canyon from the adjacent Navajo Reservation were killed when caught by a sudden flash flood which funneled a wall of water through the very narrow canyon (the canyon begins on the reservation and empties into Lake Powell). Six of the twelve were members of a Trek America tour group; only the guide survived. A joint, inter-agency search was begun which involved park staff, state and county officers, tribal police, and members of the county SAR team and Page fire and rescue department. Searchers also employed dog teams, divers, boats and helicopters in the effort. One body was located immediately, but no others were found on Tuesday or Wednesday. The flood deposited about five feet of silt and left a debris field near the lake which consisted of a dense mat of highly compressed and entwined vegetative material with the overall consistency of peat moss. This mat, which ranged in thickness from two to six feet, floated on two to seven feet of water, which in turn covered a second layer of debris. The method of searching through the debris field involved personnel in wet suits working chest deep in water and compressed debris in extreme heat and water temperatures in the 80s. Working conditions were described as hellish. Two victims were found on Thursday; five more on Friday; none on Saturday. A boater on Lake Powell discovered a floating body about a mile from the debris field on Sunday, bringing the total number of recovered victims to nine. Additional personnel were brought in from Grand Canyon's SAR team late in the week, as Glen Canyon rangers were needed in the park (the Wahweap subdistrict alone had a major medical, a drowning and a mayday call from a swamped boat, all on Wednesday). Because of the exceedingly difficult working conditions and the unusually disagreeable nature of the recovery efforts, the park has employed a three-person CISD team from Zion, a two-person CISD team from Arches/Canyonlands, and two mental health professionals from Tucson for critical incident stress debriefings. The sessions have been open to all agencies and have been heavily utilized. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/12-8/17]
D.B., 44, and his wife N.B., 45, both of Chatsworth, California, departed Dry Rock Creek in an 18-foot rental vessel and headed for Dangling Rope Marina on the morning of August 7th. The vessel crashed into a rock wall only minutes after their departure. N.B. was killed, and D.B. sustained life-threatening injuries. He was flown to a hospital in Page, then to Flagstaff, where he was listed in stable condition at the time of the report. Dangling Rope subdistrict ranger Lisa Slobodzian served as IC. The accident investigation is continuing. A CISD session was conducted for park staff the following day. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/11]
The search for the remaining two victims of the Antelope Canyon flood continued yesterday, but neither was found. Debris is spreading down the canyon, making it impossible to get close to the main debris field with the boats currently in use. A surplus military jet boat will therefore be employed to enter the area. The search is being conducted jointly by the park and the Coconino County sheriff's department. Current plans are to continue twice daily checks of the canyon through tomorrow night. If the remaining victims have not been found by that time, a new team of scent dogs and handlers will be brought to the search area. Representatives from the sheriff's department and park escorted the families of the British and Swedish victims through the area checked by the park boat yesterday. Although no media are left in the area, the park is receiving telephone calls requesting updates. The calls are being referred to the sheriff's office in Flagstaff. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/18]
A military jet boat was employed to search the Antelope Canyon debris field yesterday, but no sign of the remaining two victims was found. The canyon will be searched by boat again twice today; dog teams and a helicopter will be utilized tomorrow. The chief nurse from the Lake Powell Medical Center briefed park staff yesterday on the potential exposure of searchers to hepatitis A, salmonella, tetanus and giardia from collateral sewage runoff that occurred with the flood; appropriate immunizations have been identified for search team members. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/19]
D.B., 44, died on August 16th from liver and kidney injuries sustained in a boating accident in Dry Rock Creek on August 7th. His wife, N.B., 45, died at the scene. D.B. was in stable condition for several days before his condition began to deteriorate. The B.s left two small children. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/18]
J.L., 18, of Red Lake, Arizona, and three friends were floating on small inflatable rafts about 25 feet from shore near "The Chains" beach when J.L.'s raft overturned, possibly due to high, gusting winds. J.L. and the other members of his group were all poor swimmers. J.L. was unable to reach shore and disappeared under the water's surface. His body was recovered in approximately 15 feet of water by bystanders within five to ten minutes. They began CPR; rangers arrived within five minutes of notification and began administering advanced life support measures. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter was on scene within ten minutes and transported him to the hospital in Page, where he was pronounced dead. Ranger Maya Seraphin was IC. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 8/20]
Two scent dog teams were lowered into the dry sections of Antelope Canyon yesterday. Although one dog alerted, no sign of either of the remaining two victims was found. A boat search of the navigable portion of the canyon was also fruitless. Both operations will continue today. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/21]
No signs have yet been found of the two victims who are still missing, one believed to be French, the other Swedish. Search efforts have been scaled back to daily checks of the navigable portions of Antelope Canyon. Navajo officials have not yet reopened the lower Antelope Canyon tour route, which is where the flash flood and fatalities occurred. Current plans are to leave it closed until all the victims have been found. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/25]
During a drug task force search of the Page, Arizona, home of G.J. last April, officers found and seized numerous artifacts, including three Tusayan black-on-red bowls, two unidentifiable grayware bowls with black paint on red slip, two unidentifiable whiteware bowls, one Prescott grayware Verde black- on-gray bowl, one Gallup black-on-white ladle, three Tusayan grayware jars (possibly Keet Siel), two Tusayan corrugated pitchers, and two Tusayan corrugated ollas. The items were turned over to park investigators for follow-up investigations. Interviews with G.J. revealed that the artifacts came from sites around the Black Mesa coal mine on the Navajo reservation and that they were taken in the late 1980s. G.J. was a heavy equipment operator at the mine and searched for the items after work. G.J. abandoned the artifacts to the NPS, and they were recently turned over to the BIA for repatriation to the Navajo nation. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/11 and 8/27]
On August 31st, rangers Dixon Freeland and criminal investigator James Houseman learned that a concession employee was distributing marijuana through information gained during a traffic stop. Freeland and Houseman interviewed R.C., 29, a concession waiter and houseboat cleaner, at his residence, and subsequently received permission to search the property. A one pound brick of marijuana, five one-ounce bags of marijuana and $422 in cash were found in his bedroom and seized. R.C. confessed to his involvement in the distribution of marijuana in Bullfrog. R.C.'s 1990 Nissan four-by-four was also seized, and he was arrested on one felony count of possession with intent to distribute. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 9/2]
L.M., 23, of Milan, Italy, was reported missing at the Coves on the afternoon of August 30th. He was last seen in the water by his three companions about 15 minutes before they became concerned and sought help. Responding rangers were on scene within five minutes and divers arrived only minutes later. L.M. was found 42 feet below the lake's surface about 30 feet from shore 30 minutes later. The underwater topography at that locations consists of a series of sloping shelves with a sudden plunge to depths of up to 120 feet. The victim was transported to Page Hospital and was not pronounced dead until about an hour later. The incident is being investigated by ranger Will Lebon. [Tomie Patrick Lee, CR, GLCA, 9/2]
R.E., 32, was exiting a side canyon in Hansen Creek Canyon on a jet ski at high speed on the afternoon of September 10th when he struck a small jet boat head on and was thrown from his jet ski. R.E. sustained mortal injuries and never regained consciousness. [Cindy Ott-Jones, DR, Uplake District, GLCA, 9/17]
On September 20th, "The Great Escape," a 60-foot houseboat, was being fueled at the Wahweap fuel dock when winds blew fumes into the interior of the vessel through an access port and were ignited by a propane pilot light. Aramark concession employees attempted to extinguish the fire, but were unsuccessful. The houseboat was towed from the dock into Wahweap Bay by the concessioner. The park's fire boat responded, but high winds caused the fire to spread quickly through the vessel's interior. Additional NPS firefighters were summoned. The fire was extinguished after about 30 minutes, by which point the superstructure had burned down to the hull. The vessel was towed back to the Wahweap main launch ramp. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 9/29]
On the afternoon of September 22nd, park dispatch received a marine band report of a boat accident with a possible drowning in Ice Cream Canyon. The patient was reported to be en route to a park boat ramp aboard a private vessel. Wahweap rangers responded by water and land. Upon arrival, they found that the victim, a 45-year-old woman, was receiving CPR from her husband. It was determined that she was apneic with a blocked airway and was also suffering from an asthma attack secondary to the boat accident, but that she had a pulse. ALS measures were implemented by park medic David VanInwagen, assisted by EMTs Will LeBon and Patty Briggs. Two treatments of albuterol were given to the patient while en route to the hospital in Page. The woman was transferred to Flagstaff Medical Center, where she remains in intensive care. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 9/29]
Concession employee T.F., 34, assaulted and stabbed fellow employee M.K., 39, in M.K.'s dormitory room in Bullfrog just before 1 a.m. on October 15th. A security guard alerted the park. Rangers Bill Fitzpatrick and Brian Stackowicz arrested T.F., while rangers Leanne Apple and Mark Camisa provided emergency ALS treatment. Kocan was airlifted to Page Hospital in critical condition. A representative from the county sheriff's office transported T.F. to jail. T.F. admitted to the assault during interrogation and has been charged with attempted murder and assault under state statutes. T.F. was recently released from prison after serving time on a manslaughter conviction. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 10/17]
On August 8th, a film permit was issued to NEHA/MAD Films, a production company from Salt Lake City, for several days of filming within the park. The company was coordinating locations and handling permitting, bonds, insurance and other matters for a production team from Bombay, India, which was shooting a feature for Indian audiences. Insurance and a bond for $25,000 were collected. After the filming was completed, the park accepted a company check for $3,050 for the monitoring costs of the permit and returned the bond intact. The check subsequently bounced and a bill of collection will be issued in an attempt to collect the debt. This is the first time this situation has occurred in the park, which issues about 70 film permits annually. There is reason to believe that the company from India may return to America to film, possibly working with another American production company. The producer's name is S.M., the director is M.A. [Eileen Martinez, PR, GLCA, 10/20]
Two park visitors who were hiking in Moki Canyon about three miles east of Halls Crossing on October 12th reported finding a human skull. Rangers Steve Luckesen and Andrew Perry searched the area and found scattered bones and a pile of clothing nearby. Investigation revealed that they are the remains of J.H., 37, who was reported missing at the Halls Crossing marina on August 6, 1996. J.H.'s family had arranged to meet him at the marina. J.H. arrived late, however, and was unable to locate them. Observers at the marina told rangers that he was last seen demonstrating bizarre and irrational behavior on the marina breakwater. Family members reported that J.H. had a history of manic depression, drug use and previous suicide attempts. A search was begun which employed the park's dive team and underwater ROV (remote operated vehicle), Civil Air Patrol planes, and search dog teams. Temperatures at the time were around 100 degrees. It's believed that J.H. may have died of exposure. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 10/22]
Following the receipt of complaints from legitimate outfitters and hunters about an illegal guiding service during the 1996 season, an interagency operation was put into effect for the 1997 big horn hunting season to monitor remote access areas in the Escalante region. Rangers Mark Camisa (GLCA), Jeff Lauersdorf (GLCA), and Bill Wolverton (CANY) participated in the operation along with officers from BLM and the state of Utah; ranger Jim Bowman (GLCA) served as IC. Two suspected guides were subsequently contacted by the team. B.C. was cited for illegal guiding, pled guilty, and was fined $1,000 in federal court; the second man remains under investigation. Several hunters contacted during the operation voiced positive comments about the effort to curb illegal guide services. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 11/24]
On November 21st, R.L. pled guilty in federal court in Salt Lake City to one felony ARPA count and one misdemeanor NAGPRA count, both stemming from his sale of the skull of a prehistoric Native American male adult (probably from the Basketmaker culture) to an undercover park criminal investigator. At the time of the sale, R.L. was under investigation by a local drug task force which includes representatives from the park among its members. The ARPA offense came under the interstate commerce provision of the statute because R.L. transported the skull from its storage location in Arizona to the place of sale in Utah just before the sale - a violation of statutes in both Arizona and Utah. R.L. is currently in state prison in Utah for sale of methamphetamines following a conviction on charges stemming from the drug task force operation. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 12/3]
Last May, B.J. was arrested after he assaulted and kidnapped a former girlfriend at Lone Rock beach, assaulted two men who came to her aid, and was involved in firebombing one of their vehicles. He was subsequently indicted on two counts of interstate violence and one count of kidnapping. On November 16th, B.J. pled guilty to the interstate domestic violence charges in district court in Phoenix. This precedent-setting case is important because it is the first conviction of its kind in the District of Arizona. B.J. will serve 37 months in federal prison. Charges against him for the use of explosives are currently pending in the District of Utah. The investigation was completed by ranger David VanInwagen and a park criminal investigator. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 12/19]
During a bachelor party in Warm Creek Bay on April 26, 1997, K.G., 23, was standing up in the bow of a boat holding onto the bow rope while the operator, R.B., 21, made a series of serpentine turns. As a result, K.G. fell overboard and was struck by the boat's propeller. R.B.'s blood alcohol was subsequently determined to have been 0.175 at the time of the accident. K.G.'s body was recovered by the park's dive team after a four-day effort that entailed over 100 dives. On March 20th, R.B. pled guilty to vehicle/vessel homicide, a class 3 felony, in state district court, and was sentenced to up to five years in prison (with 45 days to be served), a $5,000 fine, 18 months' supervised probation, participation in a substance abuse program, and restitution of $1,675 to the victim's family and $6,379 to the park (for programmed SAR costs). [CRO, GLCA, 3/23]
The body of 18-year-old C.B. of Page, Arizona, was found at the dam overlook by two park visitors around 9 a.m. on Monday, March 23rd. The apparent cause of death was a single gunshot wound to the head. A handgun was found nearby. C.B.'s death is probably a suicide, but other leads are being pursued, since C.B. told several friends that he wanted to get even with an individual who had reported him for narcotics use. C.B. was to be sentenced to three years' probation for a recent burglary conviction later in the day on Monday. C.B. had stolen the handgun used in his death from a local police officer's home an hour before he was found dead. Park criminal investigators and county officers are continuing the investigation. [Dave Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 3/25]
W.K., 46, a Forest Service employee from Flagstaff, Arizona, fell overboard from a 14-foot aluminum fishing boat on the evening of April 23rd while returning from a day trip on the San Juan River to his fishing camp at Paiute Farms in a remote section of the park. Dive operations were begun the following morning and continued through the weekend, but without result. Murky water reduced visibility and made dives difficult. The search has been scaled back to overflights and periodic shoreline patrols. W.K. was well- known to NPS fire crews in Arizona and southeast Utah. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/27]
On April 20th, ranger Mark Camisa responded to a request from the Green County sheriff to check out a report of a human body dumped just off of State Route 276 a few miles outside of Bullfrog. Camisa and a county deputy found the body of an adult female inside a sleeping bag a few feet down a steep slope along the main road. Although the body was outside of park boundaries, the investigation now points to the possibility that the homicide was committed within the park. The victim's fingers had been amputated, thereby complicating positive identification. The investigation is continuing with assistance from the park and the Utah Bureau of Investigation; the county sheriff's office is the lead agency. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 4/27]
The body of W.K., 46, a Forest Service employee from Flagstaff, was recovered from the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell on Sunday, May 3rd. Search operations had been scaled back to daily overflights and shoreline patrols prior to the discovery of the body by bass fishermen. The fishermen stayed with the body until ranger Lisa Slobodzian and Dangling Rope maintenance employees Ron Ames and Floyd Onesalt arrived on scene to make the recovery. W.K.'s body was found about 300 yards from the point where he was last seen by his companion, who was operating the boat at the time of the accident. Injuries indicate that W.K. was hit in the head by the boat's propeller and was probably killed instantly. CISD was provided for park employees. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 5/5]
The following are summaries of events and incidents that occurred in two parks on Memorial Day weekend: Glen Canyon NRA (UT/AZ) - The park had the quietest Memorial Day weekend in recent years. Although several arrests were made for DUI and drugs, the traditional big parties at Hobie Cat and Lone Rock did not materialize. Gang fights and assaults have been largely eliminated at the latter site, which is again being used by families. Similar summaries are solicited from parks such as these that experience a high degree of activity on this traditionally busy weekend. [Bill Blake, CR, NERI, 5/26; CRO, GUIS, 5/29; Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 6/1]
The following holiday-related events took place over the Fourth of July weekend: o Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Although the park was extremely busy, there were no fatalities and the number of major incidents was down from previous years. A total of 331 incidents were reported over the holiday weekend, with 31 resulting in arrests by rangers. Numerous other arrests were made by cooperating agencies with jurisdiction within park boundaries. Personnel responded to 29 EMS calls, seven of them requiring advanced life support. A brush fire was started by illegal fireworks in the Wahweap trailer village on the evening of July 4th. When firefighters arrived on scene, two large trees had crowned out and the fire was spreading rapidly due to gusting winds, threatening several mobile homes. The fire was quickly controlled and extinguished, with no loss of property and no injuries. Fire chief and district ranger Phil Hibbs directed the operation. On the afternoon of the 4th, two park interpreters were hit by a vehicle at the Stateline launch ramp, but were not injured. They were directing traffic on the ramp during high winds and rain. There was a long line of vehicles with visitors waiting to pickup their boats and jet skis at the time. A vehicle driven by B.A., 21, of Page, cut in the line; he refused to leave and return to the back of the line. B.A. rolled up the window of his truck and ignored both interpreters' repeated attempts to talk to him. When they stepped in front of his vehicle, he motioned for them to move, then let his vehicle roll forward, striking them both. B.A. then backed up, drove around them, and attempted to load his jet skis onto his trailer. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and interference. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 7/9; Tony Sisto, Superintendent, FOVA, 7/8; Pat Ruff, CR, COWP, 7/8]
Four-year-old Z.D. of Bountiful, Utah, was thrown from the boat he was riding in when it struck a rock shoal around 3:45 p.m. on the afternoon of July 22nd. Momentum carried the boat over the boy and he was struck on the head and body by the propeller. Family members brought him to the marina at Dangling Rope. Rangers Lisa Slobodzian, Mark Henderson, and maintenance supervisor Ron Hockings provided advanced life support while awaiting the arrival of the responding medical helicopter. The medical staff on board the helicopter pronounced Z.D. dead at 4:30 p.m. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 7/23]
On August 5th, J.P., 18, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was cliff diving in Forbidding Canyon near Rainbow Bridge. J.P. and six of his friends dove from a 50-foot ledge at the same time. J.P. surfaced for a moment, then disappeared. The bottom depth at that location ranges from 130 to 179 feet, with no obstructions. Park divers searched to 130 feet the first day, but failed to find him. On August 6th, the park's remote operated vehicle (ROV) was brought in and found his body at 165 feet. NPS divers Pat Horning and Chad Nelson recovered the body, and brought him to four additional divers at the 130-foot and 60-foot levels to permit planned safety decompression stops. The case is being investigated jointly by the park and San Juan County sheriff's office. [Tomie Lee, CR, GLCA, 8/7]
M.H., 23, of South Jordan, Utah, was digging in a large sand cave in the back of Moki Canyon on August 10th when the sand collapsed and buried him. Nearby boaters and members of a Boy Scout troop dug him out after about 20 minutes. Two California firemen and a trauma nurse camping nearby began CPR on M.H., who appeared lifeless, while transporting him on a private vessel. Rangers Steve Luckesen, Leanne Apple and Phil Akers met the boat en route, began advanced life support, resuscitated M.H., and got him on a medevac helicopter. He was taken to Flagstaff Medical Center, where he's listed in critical condition. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 8/12]
While the above incident was underway on August 10th, a 13-year-old girl nearly drowned in Kane Wash. Family members recovered her from seven feet of water, began CPR, and were able to get a pulse. Rangers Lisa Slobodzian, Nate Card and Mark Henderson responded and began advanced life support while transporting her to Wahweap and Page Hospital. She was then flown to University Medical Center in Las Vegas, where she remains in critical condition. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 8/12]
J.D., 55, of Riverside, California went diving for an oil cap at the rear of his houseboat in Cottonwood Canyon on the evening of August 18th. When he failed to resurface, other members of his group tried to find him and advised the park. Ranger Steve Luckeson, ranger/diver Russ Miller and dive team leader Pat Horning responded by boat and helicopter and recovered his body in 12 feet of water at the rear of the houseboat. J.D. had earlier complained of the exhaust from the boat's engine. Carbon monoxide has since been confirmed as a contributing factor in the drowning. [Phil Hibbs, Acting CR, GLCA, 8/19]
Downlake District rangers were dispatched simultaneously to several boat accidents with serious injuries just after 2 p.m. on the afternoon of August 15th. The first incident was at Padre Bay, where a stationary personal watercraft (PWC) was struck by a second PWC operating at high speed. An eight-year-old girl suffered head and back injuries and a fractured pelvis; a 25-year old male also had a fractured pelvis, along with possible hip and leg fractures. One was flown by helicopter to the hospital in Page, the other was taken to the same location by boat and ambulance. The same alert tone that sent Wahweap rangers responding to the first incident was also used to dispatch Dangling Rope rangers to a report of a seven-year-old boy who was being transported to their location via a private vessel. The operator of the boat he was in had taken a sharp turn; the boy had struck his head on the boat, then been ejected into the lake. The boy was taken to Page Hospital by patrol vessel and park ambulance. While en route to this call, the first rangers to respond from Dangling Rope were diverted to an accident in the San Juan Arm of the lake in which a single boat had run into a rock wall, injuring four people. An 18-month-old with a fractured clavicle and his father were flown to Page Hospital, the remaining two victims were transported to Page via patrol vessel and the park ambulance. While rangers were in the midst of receiving and triaging patients in Wahweap, a private vessel arrived with a 28-year-old male who had complete paralysis on one side of his body from a tubing accident in Face Canyon. While he was being treated, the boat's operator was evaluated and subsequently arrested for boating under the influence of alcohol. His blood alcohol level was over .20 at the time. While these incidents were underway, rangers also responded to a fire alarm at the Wahweap Lodge (later discovered to have been caused by children pulling an alarm) and a report of an 18-year-old woman with chest pain and difficulty in breathing. All of these incidents were reported within an hour. Two medical flight services from outside the immediate area were utilized because the normal provider, Classic Helicopters, was returning from Flagstaff at the time, having transported a snake bite victim who suffered serious side effects after being bitten in Navajo Canyon four hours earlier. During this earlier incident, rangers also responded to, treated, and transported a boy with a second-degree rope burn to the palm of his hand and investigated a boat accident in which a small speedboat fell off a trailer on to a very congested launch ramp. Shortly thereafter, Wahweap rangers responded to an MVA with injuries. A vehicle on Lake Shore Drive was run off the road, lost control on the shoulder, crossed the center line, and struck the guardrail in the opposite lane. The guardrail saved the vehicle's occupants from going over a steep, 200-foot embankment into the lake. Both occupants of the vehicle were treated and transported to Page Hospital via park and city ambulances. A total of 13 patients were transported to the hospital by three helicopters, two ambulances, and three park vessels; ten rangers were involved, and were assisted by six different agencies and private medical flight services. The rangers extend their thanks to park dispatchers for providing outstanding support. [Chris Pergiel, SDR, Wahweap Subdistrict, GLCA, 8/21]
On August 22nd, a 35-year-old female concession employee reported that she'd been sexually assaulted in the park on the previous night. She said that she'd gotten off work at 10:45 p.m., then began walking home - a distance of 12 miles - because she didn't have a ride. She'd gone about two miles when a vehicle stopped and the driver offered her a ride. She said that she did not recognize either of the two men and was unable to give a detailed description of the vehicle. After driving a few miles, the male in the front passenger seat slid his seat back against her legs, trapping her in the back, then began forcibly fondling her. She was driven to a remote location, removed from the car, and sexually assaulted by one of the men. She said that she then lost consciousness and awoke later at a relative's home. Several questions remain unanswered, and it also appears that the assault likely took place outside the park in a remote part of the city of Page. Ranger Maya Seraphin is coordinating the NPS investigation and working with county and city officers. [Chris Pergiel, SDR, GLCA, 8/28]
S.E., 38, of Arvada, Colorado, drowned on the afternoon of August 30th while attempting to untangle a rope from a dual propeller houseboat on the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell in Paiute Canyon. He had successfully untangled one propeller and was working on the other when he disappeared. The park's dive team found his body in eight feet of water. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 9/2]
On August 31st, park visitors reported seeing two men in the park who matched the descriptions of M.P. and J.M., wanted for the murder of a police officer and assaults on other officers and the superintendent of Hovenweep NM. The visitors had beached their personal watercraft at the shoreline in a rugged, remote area in Desha Canyon where the shore borders Navajo lands. The site is several miles from any regular roads. The visitors were walking up the canyon when they saw the men watching them from behind bushes about 60 feet uphill and 100 feet away. They were carrying a five gallon water jug and long objects covered by rain gear that may have been rifles. There were no boats in the vicinity. The canyon is not frequented by backpackers, nor did the men have any backpacking equipment with them. The visitors waved to the men, but decided to leave the area when neither waved back. They then reported the incident to rangers at the Dangling Rope marina, providing accurate descriptions of the men. This information, along with prior evidence indicating that M.P. and J.M. had food and ammo caches at Lake Powell, was relayed to the FBI command post in Cortez, Colorado, and to Navajo tribal police. Navajo police tactical teams began land-based operations in the area; rangers set up perimeters with patrol vessels to protect visitors who might be entering the area. A special event team with all-risk management overhead was also brought in to assure visitor safety over the holiday weekend. The IC at the time of the report was Joe Sumner; Chris Pergiel was operations chief. Additional information will follow. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 9/4]
J.H., 34, of Rancho Mirage, California, and a friend left their campsite in Anasazi Canyon on separate personal watercraft (PWCs) around midnight on September 3rd. J.H. failed to return from the trip. Friends began searching for him and found his PWC about a quarter mile from the campsite around 7 a.m. They called for assistance through a visitor with a marine band radio. Rangers Pete Dalton and Mark Henderson responded. Henderson found and recovered J.H.'s body from about six feet of water. He had sustained head injuries and there was damage to his PWC. [David Sandbakken, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/4]
D.E., a 10-year-old girl from Durango, Colorado, drowned on the afternoon of September 6th when she fell into flash flood waters in Ice Cream Canyon. She was standing about 15 feet above the flood waters with her brother when the sandstone rock beneath her sloughed away, causing her to lose her footing. Her 12-year-old brother jumped in to attempt a rescue, but the force of the water and debris swept him away with his sister. The girl was found by her uncle within 15 minutes; she was in six feet of water under a large pile of debris. CPR was begun by family members and nearby campers. Staff from Aramark Concession Services were first on scene with a physician who continued CPR efforts, but they were unable to revive her. Rangers Jim Traub and Jay Drinkwater also responded and set up a landing zone for the medevac helicopter. [David Sandbakken, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/4]
On August 31st, visitors reported seeing two men in the park who matched the descriptions of M.P. and J.M., wanted for the murder of a police officer and assaults on other officers and the superintendent of Hovenweep NM. The visitors had beached their personal watercraft at the shoreline in a rugged, remote area in Desha Canyon where the shore borders Navajo lands. The FBI and Navajo police were notified, and Navajo police tactical teams began land-based operations in the area. Rangers set up perimeters with patrol vessels to protect visitors who might be entering the area. A special event team with all-risk management overhead was also brought in to assure visitor safety over the Labor Day weekend and to help handle the possible involvement of many law enforcement agencies and media representatives. Tactical teams found no sign of the two men and discontinued their search on the evening of Saturday, September 5th. They conducted tracking operations for over 60 hours and believe that the two men are no longer in the immediate area. The ICS team demobilized the following day, and the closure of Desha Canyon was lifted. Mona Divine was IC for the incident; the SET team was led by Rick Guerrieri. Recommendations by the team have been submitted regarding possible future incidents involving the two fugitives and impacts on NPS areas. Superintendent Joe Alston expressed his appreciation for the professionalism and expertise shown by all members of the combined team assigned to the incident. [David Sandbakken, Acting CR, 9/6 and 9/14]
V.C., 51, of Newton, Connecticut, was riding in a ski boat being towed by a houseboat near Stateline marina on the afternoon of September 9th. V.C. attempted to swim from the ski boat to the houseboat, a distance of less than 50 feet, but began calling for help while en route and soon disappeared. A distress call was sent out via marine band radio within four minutes and members of the park dive team were on scene within another 12 minutes. The visitors reporting the incident could not specify where they'd last seen him, however, so the search area covers 20 to 30 acres, with depths ranging from 200 to 300 feet. Search operations are underway using the park's ROV (remote operated vessel), which has a camera on board; a sonar side scanner may also be employed. The IC is Chris Pergiel; ops chief is Pat Horning. [David Sandbakken, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/10]
J.W., 19, of Salt Lake City, was found dead yesterday morning on the floor of her dormitory trailer in the park. J.W., who had worked as a concession employee at Hite for a month, had gotten into a fight with her boyfriend the previous evening. Evidence indicates a probable overdose from assorted substances found at the scene. J.W. had a history of suicide threats; a suicide note was found near her body. An investigation is underway. [David Sandbakken, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/15]
Although the search continues for M.P. and J.M., wanted for the murder of a police officer and assaults on other officers and the superintendent of Hovenweep NM, a review of the incident has already been held to discuss and evaluate the initial phase of the operation. The review was held in late August in Cortez, Colorado, site of the original shooting. The review included a discussion of the operation, a viewing of the shooting scenes, examination of three of the eight police vehicles hit by gunfire on May 29th, and a retracing of the route taken by the men as they fled toward Hovenweep NM. Superintendent Art Hutchison walked the group through the shooting incident that took place in the park. The field review concluded with a trip to the point where the fugitives ditched their stolen vehicle and the site along the San Juan River where a county deputy was shot. Rangers from Mesa Verde, Hovenweep, Glen Canyon, Capitol Reef, Rocky Mountain, Arches and Canyonlands participated along with local deputies, investigators, incident management personnel, a BLM ranger, staff from WASO and FLETC, and the FBI case agent. All parties agreed that the major problem with the operation was communications - too many people in the field with non- compatible radios. Overall, participants agreed that the operation went fairly smoothly, considering that between 600 and 700 people from 54 agencies were involved in the incident. Although there were many environmental hazards and the risk of 'friendly fire' accidents, there were no significant injuries to searchers during the manhunt. The FBI is now the lead agency. [Larry Van Slyke, CR, Southeast Utah Group, 9/6]
The body of V.C., 51, of Newton, Connecticut, was recovered from 230 feet of water by the park's dive team on September 20th. V.C. was riding in a ski boat being towed by a houseboat near Stateline marina on the afternoon of September 9th. He attempted to swim from the ski boat to the houseboat, a distance of less than 50 feet, but began calling for help while en route and soon disappeared. Although the park's dive team was on scene within 15 minutes, they were unable to find him. A 12-day search ensued. A commercial remote operated vehicle (ROV) and high resolution sonar images were employed to find his remains. Weather, water depth, underwater terrain features, and limited visibility were factors in the search. The commercial companies involved were Inshore Divers of Pittsburgh, California, and Marine Sonic Technology of White March, Virginia. The incident commander was Mike Archer; Pat Horning was operations chief. [David Sandbakken, Acting CR, GLCA, 9/24]
Ranger Maya Seraphin made a traffic stop near the Glen Canyon bridge around 9 p.m. on October 7th. The park dispatcher determined that the vehicle was stolen, but was unable to contact and advise Seraphin. Backup units were accordingly dispatched from the Page police department. When they contacted Seraphin at the scene, the driver jumped into the stolen car and drove off. Seraphin and the officers pursued. The driver of the stolen vehicle crashed through a locked gate onto a service road and made it about a mile down the road before losing control of and rolling his vehicle. He then fled on foot. A search ensured which involved rangers, Page canine units, and state, county and Navajo police. One of the dogs found the man, who was arrested. He has not yet been positively identified. [Chris Pergiel, SDR, GLCA, 10/9]
While hiking up the steep Hole-in-the-Rock trail on April 16th, 58-year-old S.H. of Denver, Colorado, lost her footing and fell backwards about four feet, sustaining a fracture to her left lower leg in the process. Hole-in-the-Rock is a historic site where Mormon pioneers blasted and chiseled a steep and narrow route through a cleft in the cliffs high above the Colorado River in order to cross Glen Canyon and continue their journey to southeastern Utah. The road has eroded away and boulders have fallen, leaving the trail a boulder-filled gully which climbs about 600 feet in elevation over a distance of a quarter mile from the present Lake Powell. S.H. was about 150 yards from the top when she fell. Escalante subdistrict ranger Jim Bowman and maintenance mechanic Phil Engleman arrived in the area a short time after the incident and were notified of the accident by S.H.'s companions. It took over four hours to complete a steep-angle, technical raising operation due to the logistics entailed in making two helicopter trips to ferry in climbing and medical gear and personnel to assist. Because members of the park's climbing team were at Canyonlands NP instructing a technical rescue class, the Page fire department team was utilized to conduct the rescue. Rangers Nate Card and Tim Thompson also assisted. S.H. was a client of High Desert Adventures, a park concession, and was on a backcountry trip in the Escalante Canyons area at the time of the accident. She landed backwards on her day pack, which almost certainly prevented head and neck injuries. [CRO, GLCA, 4/29]
Visitors from Salt Lake City found a wooden, lead-lined box in Lost Eden Canyon near Bullfrog in late April. Within the box was another, smaller lead-lined box which contained a "wafer" with a handle on it. They left the wooden box in the area where it was found and took the small box and wafer back home with them. On May 2nd, they returned to Lake Powell to retrieve the wooden box. When they returned to the scene, they found not only the original wooden box but also a canister-like object that was approximately seven inches tall, seven inches in diameter, and weighed 60 to 70 pounds. The wooden box and the canister were taken to the Halls Crossing Ranger Station and turned over to rangers Russ Miller and Steve Luckesen. The Utah State Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Radiation Control, arranged to have a Utah Highway Patrol hazmat responder pick up the objects and transport them to Salt Lake City for further investigation. The investigators determined that the containers held medical-grade gamma radiation nodes used in radium therapy. The technology used for this type of treatment is between 40 and 50 years old. It's possible that these boxes were left in the canyon before the creation of Lake Powell. Both the canyon area and the NPS ranger station showed no signs of contamination and have been reopened. State officials say that there is no evidence that radioactive contaminants got outside of the packages. Preliminary investigation reveals that the amount of radiation exposure by individuals who had contact with these items is not much more than what would be received from natural background radiation. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 5/6]
Rangers David Schifsky and Greg Wozniak and deputy J.J. Bradford responded to a call of a mentally unstable man wandering through campsites and scaring visitors in the undeveloped camping area at Bullfrog Bay South. The man, subsequently identified as B.C., 20, of Kaysville, Utah, was under the influence of alcohol and threatened suicide. B.C. was staggering and said he felt nauseous and was going to vomit when he suddenly stood up straight and sprinted down the beach. A hundred-yard chase ensued and ended with Wozniak and Bradford wrestling B.C. to the ground. B.C. was handcuffed and taken to a holding facility at Bullfrog. While being searched, B.C. assaulted Schifsky and Bradford. He was then taken to the county sheriff's department and charged with public intoxication and assault on a peace officer. Nobody was injured in the incident. [Dave Walton, Subdistrict Ranger, Bullfrog Subdistrict, GLCA, 5/26]
The park had another busy Memorial Day weekend. A multi-agency task force worked together to manage the park over the weekend, including park staff and representatives from five county sheriff's departments from Arizona and Utah, the Arizona Highway Patrol, the Utah Highway Patrol, wildlife and state park agencies from both states, the Coast Guard auxiliary, and the Navajo tribal police. Together, they made 47 arrests and issued 150 citations. The increased protection coverage, however, limited violent encounters to just one assault. Rangers also responded to 34 EMS calls, eight SAR incidents, and several hundred visitor assists. There was one drowning on Monday evening. Both statistics and observations by park staff confirm a continuing trend toward a more traditional, family-oriented environment for park visitors. This has come about because of inter-agency cooperation and support, extended hours of patrol coverage, check points, camping reservations at selected beaches, and the continued closure of Hobie Cat Beach, a notorious problem spot in previous years. [CRO, GLCA, 6/2]
T.C., 32, a visitor from New Zealand, drowned in the waters of Oak Bay on the afternoon of May 31st. T.C. was attempting to untangle a rope that had fouled one of the propellers of a houseboat while the vessel was beached during a period of high winds. At some point, he lost consciousness. His friends saw that he was motionless, pulled him from the water, and began CPR. Rangers soon arrived and arranged a helicopter medevac. He was pronounced dead at Page Hospital. Carbon monoxide fumes may have been a factor in the drowning. [Nate Card, IC, GLCA, 6/3]
A 32-year-old female concession employee was sexually assaulted by a male concession employee in the concession dormitories at Bullfrog around 2:20 a.m. on June 13th. The male is a foreign national who is in the United States on a work visa. Two other concession employees were passing by when they witnessed the attack and pulled the man off his victim. They provided shelter for her and called for park rangers. Rangers David Walton and David Schifsky located the suspect and took him into custody. Ranger Leanne Apple and advocate (rape counselor) Tya Ward provided medical care and crisis support for the victim. Multiple felony charges have been filed against the assailant. The case has been transferred to the Kane County Sheriff's Department. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 6/21]
Ranger Will Lebon, 50, died Sunday morning, July 11th, of complications from cancer. Will joined the park service in 1991 after retiring from a 23-year career in the Army with the rank of command sergeant major. He served two tours in Vietnam, where he was wounded in action, earned the Purple Heart, and was decorated four times for valor in combat - the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, two Bronze Stars, and the Silver Star. Will worked at Grand Canyon, Zion, and Glen Canyon. He was a strong advocate for personal fitness and was the park's physical fitness coordinator. At the age of 45, he scored a 500 on the PEB while attending FLETC. At Glen Canyon, Will participated in numerous technical rescues; on two incidents, he was credited with saving the lives of the rescued victims. His entire professional career of 31 years was spent in service to the United States, protecting his country and its resources. Will is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, P.L., and leaves behind his treasured Harley-Davidson. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 7/15]
D.D., a teacher at Kellogg Middle School (KMS, city and state not given), organized and supervised an archaeological field trip to the park for a group of KMS students in the early spring of 1994. The trip was known at the school as the "Lake Powell Expedition, 1994." The students belonged to a school archaeological society that D.D. organized and supervised as advisor. The student club was organized and conducted in conjunction with an inter- disciplinary curriculum (history, language arts, math and science) that focused on the study of ancient civilizations which was called "Digging the Past." The field trip was approved by the school's principal, the superintendent of the school district, and the district's board of education. At no time during either the planning stages of this student group activity or the field trip itself did D.D. or anyone associated with the school seek guidance, assistance, a student briefing, or any information concerning archaeological resource protection and/or the federal laws and regulations pertaining to them. The itinerary for the expedition included a visit to an archaeological site known as Crumbling Kiva Ruin, located just west of the better known Defiance House archaeological site in Forgotten Canyon. D.D. actively encouraged and counseled the students to search for, find, and remove prehistoric artifacts at the ruin. The students disturbed the surface and subsurface of several structures within the ruin by digging with collapsible shovels and removing several artifacts. On May 6, 1999, D.D. entered into a pre-trial diversion agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office that included the following: o Restoration to the park in the amount of $1,079. o Supervised probation for 18 months. o A requirement to write, edit and submit a manuscript for publication to the National Council for the Social Studies, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Middle School Association, and the Society for American Archaeology's Public Education Committee. The manuscript, which will be entitled "A Case Study: Students on Field Trip Damage Federal Archaeological Site - Mistakes Made and Lessons Learned by Their Teacher," will be reviewed by the Archeology and Ethnography Program, WASO. D.D. will also have to make oral presentations on the manuscript to the Rocky Mountain Regional Council, the National Council for the Social Studies (at their spring, 2000, conference in Colorado), and the Idaho Middle Level Association or Utah Middle School Association. o Payment of $1,065 in restitution by the school district to cover the park's investigative costs. Assistant U.S. attorney Wayne Dance was the prosecutor and instrumental in arriving at the successful resolution to a very difficult case. [Jim Houseman, CI, GLCA, 7/9]
D.L., 43, of Roosevelt, Utah, drowned while swimming near the beach camping area at Bullfrog on the afternoon of July 12th. D.L. was a chaperon for a Boy Scout group that had just arrived. He was attempting to swim to an island about 40 yards offshore when he began struggling, turned around to return to shore, then disappeared. Members of the group found him near the shoreline in six feet of water and began CPR. Rangers Dave Walton, Steve Luckesen and John Waterman began advanced life support efforts upon arrival. D.L. was flown to the Bullfrog Clinic by helicopter, where he was pronounced dead. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 7/21]
A four-member fisheries crew from the Moab Field Office of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources was camped at mile 57.7 on the San Juan River on the evening of July 29th when a thunderstorm passed through the area with heavy winds and rain. M.A., 41, entered his tent to keep it from blowing away. Co-workers saw numerous waterfalls in the area after the thunderstorm passed. At 8:50 p.m., a rock slide landed on M.A.'s tent and a boulder struck his head, inflicting a fatal injury. Two members of the crew traveled downstream to the Clay Hills pullout to report the incident; the remaining crew member was evacuated by helicopter the following morning. M.A.'s body was flown out by helicopter to the incident CP at Gooseneck State Park. There have been two other near-miss rockslides this year following thunderstorms. On August 2nd, rangers Karyl Yeston (ARCH) and Marc Yeston (CANY) held a CISD session in Moab for the three employees who witnessed the incident and coordinated another session for other co-workers. [Jim Houseman, CI, GLCA, 8/5]
Ranger Jared St. Clair began an investigation on August 4th into the reported theft of numerous license plates from the parking lot at Wahweap Lodge. Investigation revealed that a group of French nationals on a commercial tour had 188 stolen plates in their possession. Some had been stolen in Moab, Utah. Fifteen members of the group were issued citations for a total of $3,400 in fines, all paid in cash. The tour company's name is UFOVAL, Federation Des Deuvres; they operate out of Delaplaine, France. Consulate authorities were notified of the incident. The consulate requested and received passport identifications of those who were involved. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 8/20]
J,S., 19, a German national, was camping with his girlfriend's family near the Dirty Devil River in the Hite Subdistrict on August 16th. At 8 p.m., J.S. said that he was going on a hike to photograph the area. He failed to return. The park was notified and a search was begun at 10 p.m. It was suspended at 1:30 a.m., then resumed the next day. Ranger Phil Akers boarded a helicopter and located J.S.'s body at the base of a 50-foot overhang. Grand Canyon NP's helicopter was employed to extract the body. Investigators determined that J.S. was attempting a night descent down a hazardous chute when he slipped off the overhang. The incident was investigated by rangers and Garfield County officers. Ranger Aaron Kania was IC. [CRO, GLCA, 8/20]
Concession employee D.H., 47, was the victim of a fatal accident while welding at the Wahweap tour boat dock on the morning of August 27th. He was standing on an unstable raft adjacent to the dock while welding, and evidently was burned (burn marks were found above his sternal notch) and fell into the water and drowned. His body was recovered in 24 feet of water by fellow employees. Rangers responded and provided emergency medical support. He was declared dead at the scene on medical advice. The investigation is continuing. [Phil Hibbs, DR, Downlake District, GLCA, 8/30]
B.T., six, from Grand Junction, Colorado, arrived in the Bullfrog South primitive area with members of her family at 4 p.m. on the afternoon of September 8th. While her grandparents and other family members were unpacking and setting up camp, B.T. went down to the shoreline to play with the family dog. She was being watched by her uncle, who lost track of her for about five minutes. The family sought help from nearby campers, who began a frantic search of the 12-foot-deep water. The park received a 911 call at 4:27 p.m. Rangers from the park and from the Utah Parks and Recreation Department began a ground and water search and were assisted by two ARAMARK divers. The divers found the girl's body in 12 feet of water, 10 feet from shore. Rangers Dave Walton, Dave Schifsky and Mike Mayer began advanced life support measures. She was pronounced dead en route to the Bullfrog Clinic through a medical radio patch with Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. The incident was investigated by the park and county sheriff's office. [Jim Houseman, CI, GLCA, 9/10]
On October 8th, D.M. of Truckee, California, began a three-month jail sentence for aiding and abetting the fatal illegal BASE jump of P.T. at Lake Powell on September 15, 1994. D.M., head of a business called Gravity Sports Ltd., was the organizer and leader of "Cliff Camp '94," which was advertised as "an accelerated course in fixed object jumping." After the fatal jump, D.M. hid in the rocks, leaving the others on the trip to deal with the rangers investigating the death. D.M.'s full role in the jump was not known until November 12, 1994, when he was the subject of a two-day cliff rescue by rangers at Lake Powell (94-644). After the rescue, BASE equipment and videos were seized, including a commercial video called "Gravity Storm '94." The video showed "Cliff Camp '94" and the beginning of P.T.'s jump. In addition to the jail sentence, D.M. was ordered to pay $2,225.88 in restitution and given a term of 60 months probation. His company was ordered to pay a $5,000 fine. This is the last of three BASE jumping cases from 1994 and 1995. Both of the other cases resulted in circuit court decisions. In U.S. v. Albers, in which the defendants were found guilty of air delivery and disorderly conduct, the Ninth Circuit ruled that the search and seizure of houseboats fell under the Carroll Doctrine. In U.S. v. Oxx, in which the defendants were found not guilty because the judge found that the government did not prove that the defendants did not have a permit, the Tenth Circuit ruled that 36 CFR 2.17(a)(3) clearly prohibits BASE jumping at Glen Canyon NRA and other national parks. Fred Morelli, the defendant's attorney in all three cases, has filed appeals. Morelli has stated that he plans to stage a jump at Lake Powell. [CRO, GLCA, 10/28]
On November 30th, C.C., 40, a former AMFAC and Grand Canyon Natural History Association employee, was reported missing to Flagstaff PD and Grand Canyon NP rangers by her sister. C.C. had recently broken up with her boyfriend, quit her job, and moved to Flagstaff. She gave away several items of furniture and talked to friends about "not going on." On December 3rd, a hiker found C.C.'s daypack, fleece jacket and two water bottles abandoned at the Old Lees Ferry River Crossing site, a quarter mile upstream from the boat ramp. The items were placed under a tamarisk tree about 12 feet from the river. The water temperature was 46 degrees. C.C.'s 1991 Ford Explorer was then found in the boat ramp parking lot; it contained several items that led investigators to believe that she had committed suicide. A Lees Ferry self-service entrance receipt dating from November 27th was found in her car. On December 4th, search and rescue efforts were begun with a helicopter, bloodhounds, and park divers. On December 5th, C.C.'s body was found near her abandoned belongings in six feet of water, ten feet from shore. Foul play has so far been ruled out. The search and investigation were conducted jointly with the Coconino County Sheriff's Department. Lees Ferry subdistrict ranger Mike McGinnis serving as IC. [CRO, GLCA, 12/5]
On March 14th, two opposing groups exercised their First Amendment rights in the park. The Glen Canyon Action Network sponsored a demonstration advocating the removal of the Glen Canyon Dam and the return of the Colorado River to a free-flowing condition. About 150 people participated. The second group, the Friends of Lake Powell, sponsored a demonstration, attended by about 650 people, advocating the status quo and emphasizing the importance of the dam to the economic health of the town of Page and of northern Arizona. The park, Coconino County Sheriff's Department and Arizona Department of Public Safety worked together to insure that the events were conducted safely and without mishap. There were no incidents. [David Sandbakken, LES, GLCA, 3/15]
The holiday weekend, which is traditionally one of the liveliest anywhere in the system, was busy but manageable. There was 24-hour protection coverage in the two busiest subdistricts, Wahweap and Bullfrog, made possible through the assistance of a number of neighboring parks - Death Valley, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Mesa Verde, Curecanti, Dinosaur, and Canyonlands. County and state agencies also helped out. A total of 811 case incidents were recorded over the weekend, including a rape, nine weapons violations, ten disorderly conducts, 59 alcohol-related violations, ten boat and jet ski accidents, and 26 EMS calls. An interagency drug task force spent the weekend in Bullfrog and made eleven drug arrests. Another 27 drug arrests were recorded by Utah Highway Patrol and Kane County officers. Cocaine, mushrooms and "Ecstasy" were commonly found. Only one major SAR occurred. Rangers reunited a 15-year-old girl with her family after she spent a night stranded on a ledge 1,000 feet above the lake. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 6/2]
On June 16th, a fire broke out on the 70-foot houseboat "Hi Priority," which was tied up in the buoy field in Wahweap Harbor. A caretaking crew was on board at the time and immediately abandoned ship. The fire started in the area of the onboard refrigerators and propane tanks on the top deck. Fifteen foot flames were emitted under pressure from the propane tanks, and the fire spread to the kitchen and living room. Concession employees at the marina immediately took their fireboat to the scene and applied water to the exterior of the boat, helping to cool the propane tanks but having no effect on suppressing the fire. The NPS fireboat arrived and applied water to the propane tanks as it made its approach. The fireboat was tied off at the rear deck of the houseboat and park firefighters made an interior attack. The fire was suppressed within eight minutes from time of ignition, limiting its spread to just the kitchen and living room area. Overhaul operations continued while the houseboat was towed to the Wahweap main launch ramp. The veneer and cabinetry in the kitchen and living room was heavily charred, but the structure and hull remain intact. Damage is estimated at $250,000. Later inspection showed there to be 250 gallons of fuel in after-market tanks on the roof close to the propane tanks and approximately 600 gallons of fuel in the main below deck tanks. The investigation continues. Ranger Shawn McNally acted as incident commander, Jim Traub was operations. During the week prior to this incident, there was an explosion subsequent to refueling a houseboat which resulted in property damage estimated at $75,000. The specific cause is still under investigation. [Brian O'Dea, Visitor Protection Specialist, GLCA, 6/20]
On July 5th, a park concessioner reported that one of the company's administrative assistants - J.M., 51 - had failed to report to work that morning. A welfare check of his residence in Bullfrog was conducted. He was found dead, and foul play was suspected. A joint investigation with the county is underway. A Utah state crime lab team processed the crime scene and an autopsy was performed in Salt Lake City on July 6th. The death has been ruled a homicide. [Brian O'Dea, Protection Specialist, GLCA, 7/6]
F.B., 59, of Glenwood, Colorado, died as a result of injuries sustained in a boating accident in Warm Creek Bay on July 17th. G.B. was operating a personal watercraft (PWC) and was thrown when he collided with another boat. Rangers Nate Card and Janice Ross responded along with a Classic Lifeguard medivac helicopter. An investigation is underway. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 7/19]
Park dispatch received a cell phone call at 9:30 p.m. on August 2nd reporting the possible drowning of two brothers in the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell. The boys, D.D. and L.D., ages seven and ten, were swimming at the rear of a houseboat, underneath the rear platform, when they disappeared. The boat's generator was running at the time and carbon monoxide poisoning may have been a factor in their deaths. Due to inclement weather, no helicopter service was available, so a three-hour boat ride in stormy weather was required to get rangers, park divers and a county deputy to the scene. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 8/3]
The coroner has determined that the two boys, ages eight and eleven, who reportedly drowned in the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell on August 2nd died from carbon monoxide poisoning. The park has determined that there may be certain hull and generator exhaust configurations on houseboats that produce areas that can accumulate lethal levels of this gas. At least nine people have died to date from carbon monoxide poisoning on Lake Powell. It appears that the problem is exacerbated when generators are running and people are at or near the back of the houseboat or in the water in that area. If you're in a park with houseboats that has had fatalities or near misses that correspond with this scenario, please contact Char Oberg at 520-608-6208 or via cc:Mail. The park has issued a safety alert on this problem. [Brian O'Dea, Visitor Protection Specialist, GLCA, 8/14]
A five-year-old boy from Orem, Utah, was reported missing from his family's campsite at Hansen Creek north of Bullfrog Marina around mid-day on August 21st. He was found in about three feet of water, 15 feet from shore. CPR was begun by family members and continued by rangers until the boy was medevaced to Page Hospital. He was then flown to Salt Lake City, where he died on August 23rd. [David Sandbakken, CI, GLCA, 8/24]
Rangers and Coconino SAR team members were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident on Highway 89 in Blue Pools Canyon on August 18th. T.J. had driven her car off the road around 5 a.m. on August 17th. The vehicle went down an embankment and slammed into a narrow canyon about 60 feet down at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was not visible from the highway. T.J. was able to extricate herself from the vehicle, but was unable to get out of the canyon due to the nature of her injuries and the high angle of the canyon walls. Friends looked for her for two days and finally found her at 10 p.m. on the 18th. T.J. had suffered two broken arms, a broken shoulder, a punctured lung and broken ribs. Daytime temperatures reached into the high 90s, causing her to also suffer from dehydration. She was evacuated from the canyon via a high-angle rescue and flown to Flagstaff on a Classic Lifeguard helicopter. [Brian O'Dea, PR, GLCA, 8/29]
D.S., 53, of Scottsdale, Arizona, fell from the back of a houseboat in Rock Creek Canyon on October 7th and is presumed to have drowned. Park dispatch received a marine call reporting a man overboard. Rangers were on scene within 30 minutes and began a search by vessel and helicopter. The search was still underway at the time of the report Tuesday. The park's remote operated vehicle (ROV) is being utilized. The search area is about a square kilometer, with an average depth of 250 feet. Extremely rocky terrain and deep underwater canyons are making the search difficult. Witnesses report that D.S. was leaning on a small gate at the stern of the houseboat when it opened and he fell into the lake. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 10/10]
On February 1st, T.E., 30, was convicted of manslaughter in connection with his girlfriend's 1999 downing at Bullfrog Marina and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. The jury deliberated for eight hours before declaring T.E. guilty of the second degree felony. D.F., 26, drowned when the truck T.E. was driving plunged into the lake on July 18, 1999. T.E. told rangers that the truck's brakes and steering failed, causing it to go over a cliff and into the water. T.E. jumped from the truck, but D.F. was unable to escape. Her body was recovered less than an hour later. Evidence indicated that T.E. altered the truck's brakes and steering mechanisms so that they would malfunction. The two had been dating for less than a month and had been at odds for three days before D.F.'s death. A coworker told rangers that T.E. said he was going to get drunk and kill D.F. Besides the prison time, T.E. was ordered to pay $1,850 in fines and $12,500 to a crime victim's relief fund and to D.F.'s mother. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 2/1]
A fire was discovered in the covered boat slips at Bullfrog Marina on the afternoon of January 24th. Four boats and the roof over the slips were fully engulfed in flames when park units arrived. The vessels were towed away from their slips to prevent the fire from spreading to other boats. Six other vessels were damaged by extreme heat. The total damage has been placed at $152,000. The state fire marshal was called in to investigate the fire, and determined that it was started by an extension cord attached to a 30-foot Bayliner moored to one of the slips. Assisting park staff were a local deputy, employees of Bullfrog Resort and Marina and Offshore Marina, and a fire brigade from Ticaboo, Utah. [Mike Mayer, Acting CR, GLCA, 2/14]
Rangers and sheriff's deputies arrested A.C. at a motel in Page, Arizona, on the afternoon of February 16th. A.C. was wanted on an NPS warrant for disorderly conduct/lewd and obscene behavior. At the time of the arrest, A.C. was in bed. Underneath the blanket was a loaded M-16 rifle with a laser sight; also found in the room were an Uzi submachine gun with a suppressor, an AR-15 rifle, and a Ruger .22 caliber pistol with a suppressor attached. Rangers notified the U.S. Attorney's Office and ATF subsequent to the arrest. They were instructed to seize any other Class III firearms in A.C.'s possession or storage. On February 22nd rangers and deputies seized a .50 caliber machine gun, two .30 caliber Browning machine guns, two Thompson .45 caliber submachine guns, an H&K MP5, an AK-47, a Mark II Sten gun, and over 13,000 rounds of ammunition, including armor piercing rounds. Felony charges are now pending with ATF. [Mike Mayer, Acting CR, GLCA, 2/28)
Cindy Ott-Jones, the park's chief ranger, has returned home following hospitalization for a serious illness. She will remain at home for some time to regain her strength. She and her husband R. appreciate all the support, care and messages of concern that they have received from everyone in the NPS family. [Rick Jones, GLCA, 5/9]
On May 19th, the park's structural fire team responded to a report of a thousand-gallon liquid propane tanker leaking near the fuel dock in Wahweap. Visitors were evacuated from all of the nearby boat docks and road intersections were blocked within a half-mile radius. A local gas company was called to assist, but was unable to either stop the leak or pump the remaining propane in the tank to another tanker. Park staff consulted with the state hazmat commander and decided to tow the leaking tanker away from the developed area to an isolated location where they would be little potential of the leak igniting or the lake becoming contaminated. This operation forced the shutdown of the concession boat rental operation and disruptions to boat launching and recovery for about six hours. Officers from the county and state assisted with traffic control and road blocks. Ranger Eric Scott was IC. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 6/1]
Rangers led by criminal investigator David Sandbakken and special agent Todd Swain executed an ARPA-related search warrant on the morning of May 17th and seized artifacts from the premises of a hunting guide who is well know in the area. This action marked the culmination of a two-year-long investigation which also involved the park's archeologist. Charges are pending with the U.S. Attorney's Office. Details to follow. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 6/1]
Ranger Heather Yates, who is working in the park on a detail from Wrangell-St. Elias NP, contacted campers C.W. and his female companion in Crosby Canyon on the morning of May 18th and saw drug paraphernalia in plain view. During the subsequent search, Yates seized one and a half ounces of cocaine and 10 grams of marijuana along with various other drug paraphernalia. C.W. was arrested and charged with state felonies for possession of controlled substances. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 6/1]
An 18-year-old woman was sexually assaulted at Lone Rock Beach around 2:30 a.m. on May 28th. She was sleeping in a hammock next to her family's camper when a man woke her up, threatened her with a knife, removed her clothing, then tried to rape her. The woman fought back, though, and the hammock fell over during the ensuing struggle. The woman's assailant ran off. The park was already in ICS for the Memorial Day weekend and rangers were immediately assigned to the incident. Ranger Shawn McNally was the initial IC, and turned over command to ranger Billy Shott after 13 hours on duty. Rangers Heather Yates and Julie Yucker were assigned tracking duties and were able to locate the suspect several hundred yards away, hiding in his tent, by following his signature footprints on the sandy surface. Yates and Yucker took him into custody. Using Reid interview techniques, visitor protection specialist Brian O'Dea obtained a confession from the man. He is currently being held on felony charges for forcible sexual assault under Utah state statute. [David Sandbakken, SA, GLCA, 6/7]
On June 3rd, a multi-agency drug task force consisting of county, state and federal law enforcement personnel concluded a major undercover operation within the Bullfrog Sub-District at Lake Powell. Rangers participated in both undercover capacities and uniformed support of the operation. Technical surveillance was provided by a special agent from the Ranger Activity Division's Technical Investigations Unit. The task force effort resulted in 18 arrests on 20 felony counts, including distribution of controlled substances and cultivation of marijuana. Of the 18 arrested, six were concession employees. [David Sandbakken, SA, GLCA, 6/12]
Halls Crossing seasonal fee collector Janet Nielsen, 51, was preparing for work on June 7th when she experienced the sudden onset of a severe headache. Ranger/EMT David Van Nest and park medic Steve Luckesen treated her and arranged a medevac due to the severity of the symptoms. During the flight on Classic Lifeguard's aeromedical helicopter, she became unresponsive. A CT scan at Page Hospital showed that she was suffering from a subdural bleed. Nielsen was transferred to Flagstaff Medical Center, where she died the following day of a subdural hematoma secondary to an aneurysm. Due to the remoteness of the duty station, NPS personnel are currently assisting her husband P.N., a concession employee, with logistics for her funeral and other arrangements. [CRO, GLCA, 6/14]
C.E., 18, of Centerville, Utah, is missing and presumed drowned following a "teak surfing" accident in Bullfrog Bay on the morning of June 27th. C.E. was last seen by members of his party while body surfing behind a 20-foot ski boat travelling between 10 and 15 mph. Preliminary investigations have revealed that carbon monoxide poisoning may have been a contributing factor to this fatality. C.E. was not wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident. This is the first known incident of this particular activity on Lake Powell. Members of C.E.'s party reported that "teak surfing" is done behind the back of a boat - participants hang on to the (teak) swim platform, then let go to body surf the displacement wave created by the boat. The search area is approximately 10 acres in size, with water depths from 50 to 80 feet. The park dive team completed 57 dives into zero visibility water by the end of the second operational period, but without success. The park has requested relief divers from Maricopa County and a side-scan sonar device. Search efforts have been complicated by the proximity of the search area to a developed marina and breakwater that are anchored by many underwater cables and lines. The search IC is ranger Steve Luckesen. The park offers an additional note on this new and dangerous activity: "The sport of 'teak surfing,' as described to GLCA investigators, is extremely dangerous due to the proximity to the rear of the boat and direct contact with the exhaust fumes from the boat. This accident involved a modern ski boat with a center prop drive. The boat was weighted in the stern with bladder bags of water and the occupants of the boat were standing at the back. This creates a very low stern and large wake from the rear. With this configuration, a slow-moving boat creates a large center displacement wave. Teak surfers hang off the end of the small wooden swim platform until the wake gets large enough to let go and begin surfing on the wake. Surfers can move around on the standing wake by body surfing and can move forward and backward and even re-catch the swim platform. This activity is done without a life jacket (life jackets inhibit body surfing) and at relative slow speed within a few feet of the boat, making the potential for carbon monoxide poisoning very high. Glen Canyon has already received information that teak surfing is becoming popular in other areas of the country. Teak surfing is an incredibly dangerous and deadly sport." [Mike Mayer, GLCA, 6/29]
After nearly four days of searching in near zero visibility conditions, the body of C.E., 18, of Centerville, Utah, was found and recovered. The dive operations consisted of over 45 hours of bottom time in 132 dives by members of the Glen Canyon and Maricopa County Sheriff's Office dive teams. The park was also assisted in the search by Gene Ralston and Associates, which provided side-scan sonar, and Utah State Parks. The body was discovered in 60 feet of water near the outer boundary of the designated search area. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 7/2]
Park dispatch received a call via marine band radio on the evening of July 1st, reporting a drowning in the Halls Creek Bay area. The victim was a two-year-old girl from Cedar Valley, Utah. Witnesses said that family members had finished dinner and were cleaning up when the child wandered outside the houseboat. They noticed that she was missing within minutes and spotted her face down in the water. CPR was begun. Ranger/paramedics Steve Luckesen, Dave Walton and Richard Moore responded by boat and were on scene within nine minutes. When they arrived, a dentist from a nearby camp was performing CPR. The rangers began advanced life support and transported her to the clinic at Bullfrog. Resuscitation efforts continued for another 45 minutes before being called off by clinic staff. This was the second drowning in the park in six days. [Mike Murray, ACR, GLCA,
M.A., 24, of Littleton, Colorado, failed to resurface after jumping from a cliff into the Escalante arm of Lake Powell on the evening of July 4th. Park divers recovered his body in 80 feet of water early on the following morning. Witnesses said that M.A. and a companion jumped into the lake from a 70-foot-high cliff. The other jumper had no problems, but M.A. hit the water sideways. This was the third accident-related fatality in the Bullfrog Subdistrict within 10 days. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 7/5]
On June 6th, ranger David Van Nest received a visitor report of possible illegal ORV use near Clay Hills Crossing, a remote backcountry area on the San Juan River. An overflight by N2PS, the park plane, confirmed the report. Van Nest contacted a group of seven adults and six juveniles with several MX-type motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles camped near the river takeout area. The group was hostile towards Van Nest from the outset. Two members of the group refused commands to stop and fled the scene. Van Nest was able to issue mandatory appearance citations to Elizabeth Bergman, 37, and Steven Atencio, 36, both of Parker, Colorado, for off-road travel, and also identified most of the other individuals before he chose to release the group due to the lack of available backup. The full extent of the damage became apparent the next day when a follow-up overflight was conducted. At least three oval areas resembling racetracks and multiple other new trails covering more than eight square miles were observed on a mix of NPS and BLM lands. Resource management personnel are currently conducting a full assessment of the damage to vegetation and archaeological resources. Additional charges are pending. [Richard Moore, PR, Halls Crossing, GLCA, 7/12]
On Tuesday, July 17th, park visitor S.S. was reported missing as a result of a cliff diving accident that occurred shortly after 5 p.m. S.S., 33, of Greeley, Colorado, was vacationing with friends on the San Juan Arm of the lake near Wilson Creek. Witnesses said that he attempted a backflip from a 30-foot-high cliff, but struck the water on his stomach, went underwater, and did not resurface. Rangers arrived on scene and began dive operations that night. The water depth in the area where S.S. disappeared declined sharply to a shelf at 117 feet, then dropped again for an unknown distance. The initial search of the shelf was unsuccessful. The following morning, the dive team deployed Glen Canyon's remote-operated vessel (ROV), which is equipped with a camera and retractable arm for recovery, and discovered S.S.'s body at a depth of 273 feet. This is the second cliff jumping fatality this year at Lake Powell. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 7/19]
The "Desert Shadow," an Aramark tour boat, was underway on Lake Powell with 66 passengers and crew on board on the morning of June 27th when the passenger compartment began to fill with smoke. The captain ordered lifejackets donned and the passengers evacuated to the boat's upper deck. Rangers Jim Gould, Jim Traub, and engineer Dick Martin responded in the park's fireboat along with a second Aramark boat, the "Canyon Explorer." They were on scene within eight minutes of the initial report. The passengers were evacuated to the second boat in mid-lake by Aramark personnel, while NPS firefighters ventilated the vessel with positive pressure. Once the vessel and engine compartment were cleared of smoke, they were able to enter and determine that the smoke had been caused by a failed turbocharger on the port engine. There were no injuries during the evacuation or operation. There was no additional damage to the "Desert Shadow," and it returned to port under its own power. {Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 7/30]
Park dispatch received a call reporting a person missing from a houseboat in Friendship Cove on August 2nd at 4 p.m. C.S. had last been seen just after noon, when the person calling had left C.S. on his houseboat. When the person returned at 4 p.m., he found the engine cover up, both engines and the generator running, and tools scattered about in the engine area. C.S.'s body was later recovered from the lake. The autopsy report indicates that drowning was the cause of death, with carbon monoxide poisoning (38%) as the secondary factor. Rangers Jim Gould, Brandon Weathermon and Julie Yucker investigated. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 8/16]
On August 20th, N.C., 48, drowned while swimming in Lake Powell. N.C. was swimming while the houseboat he was on drifted in Gunsight Canyon. He swam for several minutes, showing no signs of distress; as the houseboat maneuvered to pick him up, though, he slipped below the surface of the water. A throw ring was tossed to him, but he was unable to grab it. A member of the party jumped in to assist, but N.C. had already disappeared. His body was found in 100 feet of water via side scanning sonar provided by the NPS Submerged Cultural Resource Unit in Santa Fe. The body was recovered with the park's remote operated vessel. The IC for the incident was ranger Jim Gould. This was the park's tenth fatality for the year. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 8/27]
Further updates have been received on the status of NPS areas and/or staff responses to Tuesday's terrorist attacks: o Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - The Hayden visitor center is closed; all other facilities are open. Other closures and operations are essentially as noted yesterday. [Russ Wilson, GATE/SHU, 9/12; Clayton Jordan, IC, Type 3 IMT, SHEN, 9/13; Karl Merchant, Plans, Type 2 IMT, NERO, 9/13]
The National Park Service continues to provide support to its parks and employees, gather information on the status of field areas for DOI, and deal with security issues throughout the country, including the brokering of numerous requests for operational support. The Service's Type 1 IMT (Eddie Lopez, IC) continues its operations from the South Interior Building; the Type 2 East Team (Bob Panko, IC) is overseeing the NPS expanded dispatch operation at Shenandoah NP. Here's a current report on the status of parks affected by this incident: o Glen Canyon - The dam access road and visitor center are open. The Chains overlook is closed. Tours of the dam have been suspended. [EICC/Type 2 IMT, SHEN, 9/27; Kris Fister, NPS Type 1 IMT, WASO, 9/28; Pat Buccello, CISM Team, 9/28; Billy Garrett, Superintendent, Jamaica Bay Unit, GATE, 9/27]
On September 15th, the first annual National Public Lands Day event was held at Lake Powell in conjunction with International Coastal Cleanup Day. A total of 110 volunteers united to remove graffiti and cleanup trash in the park. About 20 miles of shoreline were cleaned of 300 pounds of garbage, including two full portable toilets. Wire brushes and spray bottles were used to remove nearly 600 inscriptions from sandstone along the lake's shoreline. Volunteers from local businesses and service organizations worked side by side with park and interagency personnel. [Eileen Martinez, Subdistrict Interpreter, Wahweap Subdistrict, GLCA, 10/3]
Rangers responded to a fire on a houseboat at Wahweap Marina just after 10 a.m. on Monday, February 4th. Employees of Lake Powell Resorts and Marina were first on scene and removed the houseboat from the private slips area and towed it to the main ramp, where the fire was attacked and knocked down. "Gettin' Bye," a 59-foot Stardust Cruiser, sustained substantial damage, and a boat in the adjacent slip sustained minor scorching. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. [Marianne Karraker, GLCA, 2/5]
Park dispatch was notified of a fatal boat accident 40 miles up San Juan Canyon around 2 a.m. on March 25th. Rangers Greg Moss and Steve Luckesen responded 85 miles by boat; when they arrived on scene, they found that T.H., 53, of Aurora, Colorado, was in critical condition with a ruptured spleen and lacerated liver. T.H was stabilized and taken to a nearby helispot. His wife, R.H., 43, had suffered massive head injuries and was declared dead at the scene. T.H was flown to the trauma center in Flagstaff and is expected to recover. The preliminary investigation, conducted by the NPS, San Juan County Sheriff's Office and Utah State Parks indicates that T.H's vessel hit a vertical canyon wall at a high rate of speed after dark. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 4/1]
Four-year-old Z.F. was run over by an F-250 four-by-four pickup driven by her father while sitting on the beach at Bullfrog North Campground on the evening of April 27th. Ranger Dave Schneider was first on scene and found that the girl had major traumatic injuries to her head, neck and chest and was not breathing. Rangers Greg Kouns, Brian Sacia, and Jason Bowens joined Schneider and performed CPR for 45 minutes; a Classic Lifeguard helicopter flew in from Page with additional EMS staff. The girl was subsequently pronounced dead. Witnesses said that she was sleeping in a low beach chair with a blanket wrapped around her when her father, Walter, pulled into the campsite and drove over her. Alcohol was a contributing factor. A joint investigation by the NPS and Garfield County Sheriff's Office is underway. [Mike Mayer, ACR, GLCA, 4/29]
On May 26th, a multi-agency drug task force comprised of county, state and federal law enforcement officers concluded a major undercover operation within the Bullfrog Subdistrict. Rangers participated in both an undercover capacity and as part of the uniformed response. A special agent from WASO Ranger Activities Division's technical investigations unit provided technical surveillance. The operation resulted in ten felony arrests on a host of charges, including distribution of marijuana, cocaine and psilocybin mushrooms. During the operation, information was obtained that resulted in the execution of a search warrant at night on a houseboat in a remote area of the lake. Significant quantities of controlled substances, four kegs of beer, 20 cases of beer and two cases of liquor were seized. [Brian O'Dea, SA, GLCA, 5/27]
A group of ARAMARK employees went swimming in Crappie Cove northwest of Bullfrog Marina on the afternoon of June 24th. A member of the group, C.F. of Honduras, was attempting to swim across the cove, a distance of about 60 feet, when he appeared to get a cramp, yelled for help, then went under. Another member of the group quickly ran to a nearby houseboat, whose occupants contacted authorities via marine band radio. Rangers were on scene shortly thereafter, and divers made their first dive about two hours after the accident first occurred. C.F.'s body was found 15 feet from shore in about 65 feet of water. Alcohol was not a factor. [Lisa Ford, GLCA, 6/28]
C.T. of Clichy, France, went for a swim in the Chains area around 6 p.m. on July 14th. When he failed to return to his tour group's van by 7 p.m., he was reported missing. A hasty search of the lake and shoreline was begun immediately, utilizing Coconino County SAR volunteers. The search focused on the area near the point on the lake shore where C.T.'s sandals were found. Divers were brought in the next morning and found his body in 15 feet of water just out from the point where he was last seen. C.T. had multiple prescription inhalers with him to treat a respiratory condition, but it's not known at this time if his medical problem was a contributing factor. IC was ranger Jared St. Clair; also participating in the operation were Wahweap SDR Eric Scott and dive team members Pat Horning, Chad Nelson, Mike Burnett, Rick Moore, Jim Gould and Julie Yucker. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA, 7/16]
On the afternoon of August 17th, park dispatch received a call reporting that a nine-year-old girl had drowned in the Halls Creek Bay area of the park. Family members were conducting CPR when Halls Crossing SDR Steve Luckesen arrived on scene, but they were not successful. The girl was reportedly washing her hair alongside a beached 26-foot Searay cabin cruiser, utilizing the warm water from the exhaust port while the generator was running. A girlfriend who was also washing her hair there left to eat lunch. The victim was found to be missing shortly thereafter and subsequently located in two-and-a-half feet of water next to the boat. The victim's girlfriend was later treated at the Bullfrog Clinic for carbon monoxide poisoning. An hour after oxygen therapy was begun, her monoxide level registered at 18%. The victim's blood carbon monoxide level was later found to be 39%. This brings the total known carbon monoxide related fatalities within the park since 1994 to twelve. [Cindy Ott-Jones, CR, GLCA]
Park dispatcher Joe Anderson overhead an SOS call on marine band radio late on the evening of September 25. A member of a group on a houseboat beached at Oak Canyon had contacted dispatch in Window Rock, Arizona, and reported that a man had fallen overboard and was unconscious. Rangers Brian Bloom and Anne Maker responded from Dangling Rope Marina. When they arrived, they found that a paramedic from a nearby boat had begun efforts to resuscitate R.M. of Anaconda, Montana. A medical helicopter from Page also responded. Medical staff on board assessed R.M. and pronounced him dead. R.M. was evidently on the upper level of the houseboat when he fell overboard into Lake Powell, hitting his head along the way. Alcohol may have been a contributing factor. [Submitted by Cindy Ott-Jones, Chief Ranger]
The park received a marine band radio report of a missing person in the Knowles Canyon area on the afternoon of September 28. Halls Crossing subdistrict ranger Steve Luckesen, Bullfrog ranger Dave Schneider and a Utah state park ranger responded. They found that K.K. of Lakewood, Colorado, had disappeared in 40 feet of water while attempting to clear a tangled rope from the propeller of a private house boat. K.K. surfaced several times in the compartment under the stern deck before disappearing. The boat's generator was not running at the time, but had been shut off only a minute or two before K.K. started diving. Park divers Pat Horning, Chad Nelson, Rick Moore, Julie Yucker and Eric Smith made over 80 dives in very rough terrain with zero visibility over a three-and-a-half day period without finding any sign of K.K.. The houseboat had been moved before park staff arrived, adding to the difficulty of the search. K.K.'s body surfaced late on the afternoon of October 1. Initial lab reports show an extremely high level of carbon monoxide in his blood. Steve Luckesen was IC.
Rangers Matt Fisher and Ben McKay responded to a report of a stabbing victim at the Wahweap ranger station on September 12. R.C., who had been stabbed with a pair of scissors, had been brought there by his brother, L.C.. R.C. was found to be suffering from a sucking chest wound. He was stabilized and taken to a local hospital. The suspected assailant was identified as C.B., who was found near the crime scene. C.B. was seen walking out of a concession dormitory with the scissors in his hand, and was overheard saying that he needed to find a place to bury them. At the time of contact, C.B.'s blood alcohol level was .333. Rangers Eric Scott and Jared St. Clair tracked C.B.'s movement from the crime scene through the desert and found the scissors down a 30-foot embankment. The park is investigating jointly with the county sheriff's office. [Submitted by Mike Mayer, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Fifteen visitors were poisoned by carbon monoxide while vacationing on Lake Powell in two separate incidents on the morning of October 4. The first call came in via marine band radio, reporting that nine people and a dog were all vomiting. Wahweap rangers Eric Scott, Jared St. Clair, Brian Bloom and Matt Fisher responded to the privately-owned houseboat, which was located in Crosby Canyon. Six of the boat's occupants were flown to Page Hospital, two were transported by park staff, and one was treated on scene. The dog recovered quickly. Carbon monoxide levels ranger from 19% to 43%, yet all survived. As the dust was settling from this early-morning callout, dispatch received another call from Bullfrog North Central dispatch center reporting that six people were heading for the Bullfrog public launch ramp, all of them with signs of carbon monoxide poisoning. They were treated and released from Bullfrog Clinic. Ranger Brian Sacia and district ranger Greg Moss assisted. Carbon monoxide levels ranged from 18% to 24% in these six victims. Both houseboats are older models - mono-hulls with a construction style which provides avenues for the gas to migrate beneath the hull and seep into cabin areas. Fans in the two boats had either not been turned on or had been disconnected, and the generator in the Crosby Canyon houseboat had been left on all night. [Submitted by Cindy Ott-Jones, Chief Ranger]
On October 24, Arizona DPS officer Stewart Shupe stopped a minivan on Highway 89 inside the park at the Glen Canyon Bridge for a speeding violation. The driver was identified as E.D.; the passenger/owner was identified as D.A.. Their behavior and inconsistent statements caused Shupe to become suspicious, and he requested and received consent to search the van. When Shupe began the search, however, D.A. attacked him. Shupe had to strike him several times and employ pepper spray to gain control. E.D. approached Shupe, but ran away when Shupe pointed his weapon at him. Shupe then radioed for help, and rangers Julie Yucker, Jared St. Clair, Matt Fisher and Erik Larson responded. They found Shupe uninjured and D.A. in custody. Ranger and DPS officers began a search for E.D., employing both aircraft and dogs. E.D. was tracked to a nearby neighborhood, where the dogs lost his trail. Seven ounces of black tar heroin and a .22 rifle were found in the initial search of the van. D.A. was charged by the state with seven felony counts of drug possession, weapon possession, and assault on an officer; his bond was set as $145,000. The state is also seeking arrest warrants for E.D.. The van was parked and secured in the NPS fire station and searched the following day. A DPS narcotics unit from Flagstaff searched the van with assistance from rangers. The dashboard was found to have an electronically controlled hidden compartment which contained eleven kilos of cocaine and seven pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of $305,000. The state is seeking to file additional charges against both D.A. and E.D. DPS is leading the investigation. [Submitted by Mike Mayer, Assistant Chief Ranger]
A Garfield County deputy was killed in a shootout around 3:30 p.m. on
Sunday afternoon on a dirt road five miles south of Escalante. Deputy
David Jones stopped a 1994 white Ford pickup on Alvey Wash Road to
investigate two men suspected of driving under the influence. After
making the stop, Jones called in information on the truck and asked for
backup and a tow truck. When the tow truck arrived five minutes later,
the driver found that Jones had been shot. Park dispatch was notified of
the incident about ten minutes later. Rangers were asked to help find
the suspects, who were thought to be southbound toward the park. Ranger
Shawn McNally headed to Warm Creek Road on the park's north boundary and
established an incident command post. Many local agencies responded with
officers and equipment. The park's airplane and Classic Helicopter, a
local contract medical helicopter, were called in to provide air
support. The pickup was found about ten miles north of the park in an
extremely remote part of south central Utah. It was traveling on
four-wheel-drive roads and headed toward the park. While ranger/pilot
Jim Traub orbited over the pickup and provided directions, a
three-person ranger/deputy team was placed about a half mile down the
road from the pickup. As the vehicle passed them, they were able to
positively identify it and its occupants and obtain the Utah license
plate number. Blood was on the passenger side door, and a high-powered
rifle was seen inside the truck. A second team of Arizona DPS officers
was flown in and placed further down the road. They stopped the truck
and arrested the pair without incident. One of the two men had gunshot
wounds in his arm and chest, sustained during the shootout with the
deputy; a bullet was lodged in his right lung. The wounded man was flown
to Page hospital, then transferred to Flagstaff Medical Center. Special
agent Brian O'Dea conducted the first interview of the wounded man at
the hospital and confirmed that he was the one who had shot the deputy.
Officers from many jurisdictions worked together to find and arrest the
two men. The other involved rangers were Eric Scott, Steven Clary, Jim
Nichols, Dave Bauer, Matt Micale and Brenda Russell. Memorial services
for Jones are set for 1 p.m. on Friday in Escalante. He leaves a wife
and family.
On the afternoon of April 18th, park dispatch received a call over
marine band radio concerning an overdue hiker in Bridge Canyon. The
hiker, J.P., was scheduled to be picked up early on the morning of
April 17th at Rainbow Bridge. Overnight temperatures were near freezing
with storms and high winds in the area. Several other hikers in the area
reported that they had come across J.P.'s camp and his backpack two
miles from the scheduled pick-up point. His camp was just outside of the
Rainbow Bridge NM boundary on the Navajo Nation. Both the Navajo Nation
and San Juan County Sheriff's Office asked for assistance in locating
J.P.. Wahweap rangers Jared St. Clair, Stephen Clary and Shannon Hope
responded to Rainbow Bridge by boat and met with a hiker who had seen
J.P.'s camp. Pilots Tug Kangus and Jim Traub searched the area from the
air, but their efforts were hampered by strong thunderstorms and narrow
canyon walls. The responding rangers, guided by the airplane, hiked the
rugged canyon to J.P.'s camp. Although J.P. was not there, the camp was
found to be in disarray and it appeared that J.P. was in distress.
Classic Lifeguard Aeromedical Helicopter Service joined the search.
Shortly after reaching the camp, both the ground team and an observer in
the helicopter saw two hikers signaling for help about 300 yards up the
canyon from the camp. The hikers had found J.P. sitting in the cold
waters of a nearby creek. He was suffering from hypothermia and was
confused, disoriented and wearing only a pair of shorts. J.P. had
experienced hallucinations, believing he had been kidnapped and held
hostage. He was warmed and flown to Page Hospital, where he remained for
two days. The items in his camp were collected and packed out by the
rangers.
The park had a busy but relatively safe and manageable holiday
weekend. Over 380 case incidents were reported over the four-day
weekend, beginning with a memorable Thursday evening in which a 33-foot
Sea Ray with one person on board ran aground on the lake's rocky coast,
ending up well out of the water and turned completely around. The
extremely intoxicated operator did not remember how he got on the rock.
Prop marks showed where the boat left the water and how the boat's speed
and moving propellers had spun the Sea Ray 180 degrees. The operator was
flown to a hospital in Grand Junction. Over the weekend, there were also
eight accidents (six boat, one vehicle and one PWC), 19 EMS calls, eight
drug and 17 alcohol cases, 97 service calls, 186 traffic incidents, 48
boating calls, a vessel fire, a search and rescue operation, and a total
of eleven arrests. The park's 24-hour dispatch center served the nine or
more agencies working around Lake Powell, while simultaneously providing
services to Bryce Canyon NP, marine band users, and 911 backup for the
city of Page. Due to the lake's low level (95 feet below normal), park
staff were also prepared for very long launch lines, but these did not
occur, much to the relief of both visitors and staff. Assisting the park
were personnel from Kane County SO, San Juan County SO, Utah Highway
Patrol, Utah State Parks, Utah Fish and Game, Coconino County SO,
Arizona DPS, Arizona Game and Fish, and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Park dispatch received a marine band radio call on the evening of May
29th reporting that a 29-year-old man from the rental vessel K-9
in Cha Canyon was not breathing and that CPR was in progress. Through a
three-way vessel-to-dispatch relay, dispatcher Matt Micale was able to
determine that the man had been injured in a cliff jumping accident.
Rangers and a deputy sheriff responded; Richard Moore, Dangling Rope
subdistrict ranger, was IC. Investigation revealed that Toby Jack
Thompson evidently had problems in mid-flight while jumping about 45
feet into the lake. He was immediately brought to shore and CPR was
begun. Medical personnel on a Classic Lifeguard helicopter subsequently
declared Thompson deceased. San Juan County SO is investigating.
Just before noon on May 31st, park dispatch received a call for
assistance over marine band radio. The caller reported that he was
arriving at the Wahweap Marina boat ramp with a man who'd been recently
pulled from the lake. Park medics Erik Larson and Richard Moore were on
scene within a minute and found that 32-year-old H.L. was
unconscious and not breathing. Efforts to maintain an open airway were
hampered by H.L.'s recent neck surgery and the constant need for
suction. Despite these challenges, the medics - assisted by EMTs
Jared St. Clair and Brian Lake - were able to successfully intubate
and revive him. H.L. was then flown to Flagstaff Medical Center, where
he continues to recover.
A group of nine Columbia University medical students flagged down a
passing vessel near Iceberg Canyon on the afternoon of June 11th and
reported that a member of their group had disappeared while swimming and
had not been seen for 30 minutes. D.H., 25, of Vancouver, British
Columbia, had jumped into the lake from a 50-foot cliff, surfaced,
signaled he was fine, then begun swimming back to shore. While en route,
he disappeared from view. Members of the group searched for him in the
lake; when they failed to find him, they contacted dispatch. Members of
the dive team recovered D.H.'s body in 40 feet of water. Kane County SO
is investigating along with the park. Ranger Jason Bauwens was IC for
the incident.
Rangers Brian Lake and Samuel Arnberger made a traffic stop on a 1991
Chevy pickup on Highway 89 at 2 a.m. on July 9th after observing erratic
driving behavior. Lake contacted the driver and passenger - R.H.,
43, and J.G., 53 - and asked and received consent
to search the truck. The rangers found that the driver's side door had
evidently been removed, then reattached with tape. Arnberger opened the
hood of the truck and found a large duffel bag and a smaller bag,
secured with tape and emitting a very strong odor of raw marijuana. The
bags contained 13 bread-loaf sized bundles of marijuana. The two men
were arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance.
An emergency call came into park dispatch via marine band radio on
the evening of July 10th, reporting that a three-year-old boy was
missing in the Halls Creek Bay area. The boy was with a large houseboat
group and had last been seen on the shore. He was not wearing a life
jacket. Acting Uplake District DR Steve Luckesen organized an air, land
and water search, Park underwater recovery team members Eric Smith and
Laurie Axelsen found the boy's body in four feet of water alongside the
houseboat. The 30 people in the group were having a reunion. They
included the members of several families, and about two-thirds of them
were children.
A one-car rollover accident occurred on Highway 89 near the Lone Rock
Beach access road on the afternoon of July 15th. Park visitors reported
the accident to fee collectors at Lone Rock. According to witnesses, a
tire blew on the car, causing it to roll over, then burst into flames.
Both occupants were killed. Rangers, Wahweap Engine 1, and local fire
departments responded. The Utah Highway Patrol is investigating.
Park dispatch received a 911 call on the morning of July 26th
reporting a vessel fire at the Bullfrog Marina fuel dock. Firefighters
arrived minutes later and found a large, privately-owned houseboat
engulfed in flames. The fire consumed the entire boat, a large section
of the fuel dock, and one gas pump. It took firefighters on the park
fire boat and an engine crew about a half hour to extinguish the flames.
Assisting were to other departments. The fire appears to have originated
in the houseboat's engine compartment when vessel was started after
fueling. It then spread to the dock and boat, burning the boat to the
waterline. At one point, the boat broke loose from the fuel dock, but
the firefighters used the front rams on the park fireboat to push the
hull to shore before it could sink.
The Fourth of July weekend was busy but manageable, with major incidents occurring during the days before and after the holiday. During the three-day holiday weekend itself, there were 397 case incidents, including 17 boat accidents, three motor vehicle accidents, 15 alcohol-related incidents, six DUI's and 13 arrests. EMS calls for service included 18 for basic life support and eight for advanced life support. Major highlights of the weeks before and after the holiday include the following:
[Submitted by Chief Ranger's Office]
On the afternoon of August 12th, dispatch received a marine band
radio call reporting that a 15-year-old girl who'd been swimming behind
a houseboat was missing in Last Chance Bay. The park's underwater
recovery team was called in to search for the girl, who had last been
seen at a point where the lake is between 190 and 400 feet deep. The
park's remote operated underwater recovery unit and a side-scanning
sonar device were employed in the effort. It wasn't until August 15th
that her body was found at a depth of 383 feet. It appears that she was
swimming behind an idling houseboat when a monsoon-type storm hit the
area, causing high waves to blow up on the lake. All indications are
that carbon monoxide poisoning was not a factor. Ranger Jared St. Clair
was IC for this complicated search operation; Pat Horning headed the
underwater recovery team.
Over the course of Labor Day weekend, a drug task force comprised of
rangers and local officers targeted the use and distribution of illegal
drugs at Lone Rock Beach Campground. Following three days of undercover
work by task force members, a pre-dawn raid was conducted on the
campground. The operation resulted in 16 arrests and the filing of 25
felony drug charges and 14 misdemeanor drug and weapons charges. Most
common were possession and distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine,
mushrooms and marijuana.
On January 17th, a county deputy asked rangers to provide medical and
technical rescue assistance to reach and extricate a 12-year-old boy who
had been injured in a fall in a canyon near the community of Ticaboo,
about a dozen miles north of Bullfrog. The boy had slipped on slickrock
and bounced and fallen over 100 feet, sustaining a fracture of the femur
of one leg and the tibia/fibular of the other. He ended up on a steep
and hazardous slope near the edge of another cliff. Rangers and flight
medics from Classic Lifeguard packaged the boy and utilized a low-angle
belay to evacuate him to a point accessible by helicopter. The entire
operation took about three hours; assisting were members of the Ticabo
and Off Shore Marina VFD's, the Classic flight crew, and state officers.
Ranger Greg Kouns directed the SAR operation, assisted by rangers Jason
Bauwens and Kerry Haut.
The park received a 911 call at 7:45 a.m. on May 22nd, advising that a 31-year-old woman had fallen while climbing and was stranded on a 100-foot cliff above the lake in Warm Springs Canyon within Bullfrog Subdistrict. The caller reported that the woman was complaining of ankle pain, but that she evidently hadn't suffered any life-threatening injuries. Six rangers responded — Tim Sveum (IC), Greg Kouns (ops), and Jason Bauwens, Laurie Axelsen, Andrew Fitzgerald and Shuni Roth. A county deputy joined them. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter was used to transport them and their gear to the top of the 300-foot cliff. The SAR team set up a bolted anchor system to lower rescuers and a litter down to the woman, who complained of back, ankle and wrist pain. She was lowered to a park boat, taken to a landing zone, and airlifted to a hospital. [Submitted by Tim Sveum, Park Ranger]
In the early hours of June 6th, dispatch received a phone call from
Lone Rock beach reporting a fight in progress involving up to ten young
adults. Rangers Eric Scott, Jared St. Clair, Erik Larons and Fernando
Jones and field training ranger Naomi Shibata responded. When they
arrived at Lone Rock, the brawlers had already fled and were hiding
in several camps along the beach. Rangers obtained witness descriptions
of the participants and subsequently located seven adults and two
juveniles who'd been involved in the melee. All were highly intoxicated.
The seven adults were booked into the Coconino County jail in Page and
charged with disorderly conduct and public intoxication; the two
juveniles were cited for disorderly conduct and released to relatives.
The fight evidently started between a man and a woman, then escalated
into a brawl between two groups.
The Dangling Rope Marina lost power around 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July
5th. The outage affected the entire marina and developed area. The
marina, accessible only by water, is a very popular refueling and supply
stop for visitors boating on Lake Powell, and is a necessary fuel stop
for the numerous day-use visitors traveling over 50 lake miles to
Rainbow Bridge National Monument. The electrical power failure resulted
in all water, sewer, communication, fire suppression and fuel delivery
systems being shut down. Since gasoline couldn't be dispensed, well over
400 people in approximately 100 boats were left stranded without gas on
the last day of the major holiday weekend. Many visitors were unable to
return to their camping sites. Day use visitors not prepared for an
overnight trip had special needs, such as food, water, shelter,
medication and health concerns. The daytime temperature was over 100
degrees, with limited shade on the docks. Families with children or
elderly were especially susceptible to the heat. At times, nearly 50
boats per hour were entering the marina in search of fuel and/or
supplies. Some of the visitors with special needs abandoned their boats
to be evacuated in concession tour boats. Due to limited docking space,
others had to leave the marina area and were forced to camp along the
nearby shoreline to await the return of services. The park put ICS into
effect to manage the evacuation of those visitors requesting same and to
provide logistical support to meet the needs of visitors and personnel
working to re-establish electrical power to resolve the crisis. A
self-contained generator system, potable water tanks and portable vault
toilets were ordered from St. George, Utah — an effort that
entailed transporting equipment and technical specialists by truck,
barge and helicopter to the site. Several rental houseboats were
chartered and docked at the marina to provide temporary accommodations,
shelter and comfort stations for visitors. The marina concessionaire,
unable to maintain refrigerated perishables, supplied meals at no cost
to the stranded visitors. Rangers, park volunteers, concession employees
and maintenance personnel spent two days and nights aiding visitors
during this incident. During the evening of July 6th, NPS personnel and
a private electrical contractor located and repaired a break in the
three-quarter-mile long underground power line. Electrical service
was restored to the fuel docks, but other concession services remained
closed until supplies were restocked later in the week.
Two brothers — ages twelve and nine — were walking along a
steep slickrock shoreline near the mouth of Moqui Canyon when the older
boy slipped and fell into the lake. His younger brother attempted to
save him, but also slipped and fell in. The boys were not strong
swimmers and were unable to climb back up the steep shoreline. The older
boy was unable to help his brother, who disappeared under the water. The
older boy's uncle heard his cries for help and was able to rescue him,
but couldn't find the nine-year-old. The uncle took the older boy to
Bullfrog and reported the incident to rangers. The twelve-year-old was
then flown from the Bullfrog Clinic to a hospital in Price, where he was
treated as a near drowning victim. Rangers/divers Laurie Axelsen, Jason
Lux and Derek Dalrymple found the missing nine-year-old in 22 feet of
water within the hour. The older boy was released form the hospital the
next day and is expected to fully recover. The park and county sheriff's
department are investigating.
Ranger Jared St. Clair stopped a vehicle at Lake Powell Motel on
Highway 89 inside the park for a speeding violation just after
8 p.m. on July 2nd. The dispatcher told St. Clair
that the vehicle's registration was expired and that the vehicle was
uninsured. When St. Clair approached the vehicle, he noted that the
driver — Lyle Holiday — and passenger were both intoxicated.
Holiday was also seen to be making furtive movements to reach under his
seat for an unknown object. St. Clair ordered him out of the car, but
Holiday declined to comply and took off at high speed, nearly hitting
the ranger. A pursuit ensued in which rangers St. Clair and Brendon
Voss, Coconino County deputies and Arizona DPS officers chased Holiday
for almost 24 miles at speeds up to 115 mph. Holiday at that point lost
control of the vehicle and crashed. The passenger was ejected; Holiday
was trapped inside. Following extrication, he was airlifted to a
hospital in Flagstaff in critical condition. The passenger was flown to
a hospital in Page, where he was released the following day. Charges
were to be filed against Holiday for criminal damage, felony flight and
aggravated DUI. The county sheriff's office is investigating. The
passenger was charged with possession of a controlled substance and
minor consumption of alcohol.
Park dispatch received a 911 call reporting shots fired from Lone
Rock beach at 1:15 a.m. on Saturday, July
17th. The caller reported hearing a loud gunshot, then a voice yelling
"I will shoot anyone who comes near me." Rangers Kenny Barend, Brendon
Voss, Amy Mowat, Jared St.Clair and Navajo Nation canine officer Rob
Williams responded. The camp was located on the far south end of
the beach. All of the 15 or so people within were ordered onto the
ground, then checked for weapons. Barend and Voss found D.J.
hiding with his girlfriend in a tent within the camp and ordered them
out. As D.J. was coming out, the rangers saw a Remington 700 22/250
rifle in plain view. D.J. was handcuffed and his rifled was retrieved.
D.J. admitted that he'd fired the rifle into the air and that he'd also
threatened two men in the next camp. As other tents were being checked
and cleared, Williams came into contact with C.Q.
C.Q.'s wife left the tent, as ordered, but he became combative and
struck Williams twice in the upper torso with a closed fist. Williams
responded by spraying him with pepper spray. St. Clair joined Williams,
at which time C.Q. began swinging at and hitting both men. Williams
and St. Clair used their expandable batons to strike C.Q. several
times on the arms, legs and back; although he continued to resist, they
were able to get him into handcuffs. According to witnesses, the
incident began when R.N. and a companion from the next camp were
drinking with people at the D.J./C.Q. camp. When R.N. and his
companion were asked to leave, they declined to do so. R.N. instead
became angry and struck one of the campers in the head, causing a brief
loss of consciousness. D.J. then retrieved his rifle, fired a shot in
the air, and threatened to shoot R.N. if he did not leave. R.N. was
located in his camp and arrested for assault; D.J. was arrested for use
of a weapon that endangers the public, disorderly conduct, and minor in
possession of alcohol; C.Q. was arrested for two counts of assault
on a peace officer and transported by park ambulance to Page Hospital
for treatment of injuries incurred during his arrest. One other man was
cited and released on scene for a weapons violation. St.Clair and
Williams sustained only minor injuries during the altercation with
C.Q. and were treated by paramedics on scene. The case is
being prosecuted by both Kane County Sheriffs Office and the National
Park Service.
The park was notified of possible carbon monoxide poisonings on a
houseboat at Antelope Point Marina around 7:30 a.m. on July 23rd.
Interpretive ranger Dale Devries was first on scene and made the
assessment that there was at least eight victims and that three of them
had previously been unconscious. Two Page FD ambulances were dispatched
along with the Park Service ambulance from Wahweap. The ambulances
arrived just after 8 a.m. All of the victims were triaged with an
expelled carbon monoxide breath monitor, then transported accordingly.
Nine people were taken to the hospital, where seven were treated;
another three passengers remained on the boat. According to the captain
of the 55-foot Stardust houseboat, the group had been camped in the Warm
Creek area the previous night. There were lots of bugs, so they'd closed
all the windows and doors and turned on the air conditioner. The
generator was on, but the main engines were off. Around 3 a.m., one of
the teenage girls on board began to show symptoms, and others soon
complained of dizziness, nausea and headaches. At first light, they made
for Antelope Point. The boat had no carbon monoxide detectors, and the
captain was not aware of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning that
have been identified with houseboats. He said that he'd been coming to
the park since 1995 and that he'd felt tired and always seemed to have a
headache after spending time on the boat. An investigation was conducted
and revealed that the boat's original rear exhaust system had been
replaced with a starboard side exhaust system. Evidence indicates that
the side vent for the generator exhaust is too close to the engine
compartment vents, and that exhaust gets pulled into the engine
compartment from the blower units when there's no breeze and gets
transmitted through spaces in the through-hold fittings, collecting in
the crawl space and percolating up through the floor.
During the early morning hours of August 28th, park dispatch received
a call from security employees at the Wahweap Lodge who reported that a
motor home was on fire in the parking lot and that the fire was
spreading to other vehicles. Rangers Ben McKay, Kenny Barend,
Shawn McNally and Eric Scott and maintenance employee Heath Beard
responded with the park structural fire engine. When they got to the
scene, they found that the motor home, three vehicles and a boat were
fully involved. Engines from Page and Big Water Fire Departments
also responded and aided in suppression efforts. Initial indications
that someone may have been inside the motor home were proven false after
fire investigators from Coconino County Sheriff's Office arrived. The
investigators determined that the fire started in the center of the
motor home and possibly involved electrical systems and/or a propane
leak. Lost were a 2001 Safari Motor Coach, a 2000 Cadillac Escalade, a
2000 Ford Expedition, two rental cars, a 1994 19-foot Maximum ski boat
and trailer, and a second boat trailer. Several nearby vehicles received
minor heat damage. Preliminary damage estimate approximately
$260,000. The investigation continues. Ranger Shawn McNally was
IC.
Lee's Ferry rangers received a report of an aircraft going down about
a mile south of the Marble Canyon airstrip at
11 a.m. on September 4th. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter was
first on scene, followed by rangers and Coconino County SO officers. The
bodies of T.R. and M.R., both 40, of Huntington Beach,
California, were found near the wreckage. It appears that the accident
occurred sometime before 6:30 p.m. the
previous day. The aircraft was an experimental single-engine, two-seater
built by the pilot. Evidence indicates that the engine was not running
at the time of the crash, possibly because the plane ran out of gas. The
R.s were on their way to Bullfrog, Utah, when the accident
occurred. She was a safety engineer for Boeing Corporation. The
sheriff's office and FAA are investigating.
On Saturday, September 11th, 23-year-old J.H., an English national, jumped feet first off a 65-foot cliff into Lake Powell near Antelope Point Marina. J.H. was part of a Trek America tour and was visiting Glen Canyon for a day of swimming. He was the first to jump from the cliff. The tour director jumped in after J.H. in an attempt to find him when he failed to surface. Park divers searched the area to a depth of 100 feet but found no ledges for the body to rest on. The park's remote-operated submersible vehicle (ROV) found and recovered J.H.'s body at a depth of 273 feet on Monday morning. In reviewing a digital video of J.H.'s jump, investigators noted that his body was bent forward at the time of entry and that he was looking down at his feet. During the autopsy, the medical examiner determined that he'd sustained a skull fracture and ruled that he was killed instantly from impact with the water.[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Chief Ranger]
On the morning of Sunday, April 17th, dispatch was advised of a
search in progress in the Choprock and Neon Canyon areas of the
Escalante drainage within Glen Canyon NRA. Two BYU students in their
mid-twenties had entered the recreation area via the BLM Egypt trailhead
on Wednesday evening to complete a circuit loop of the canyons. When the
two failed to return on time, the family notified the Garfield County
Sheriff's Office. Searchers from the park and from the sheriff's office
were supported by rangers and a helicopter from Grand Canyon, local
volunteer rescue groups from Tropic and Boulder, Utah, and Classic
Aviation from Page, Arizona. A total of three helicopters and 32
searchers were involved. The bodies of the two students were found and
eventually removed from Choprock canyon, one of the most technical,
difficult slot canyons in southeast Utah - a canyon that is
infrequently hiked due to the advanced skills required. The recovery
efforts occurred in a long narrow slot section of the canyon that
averaged 18 inches wide at the recovery site. The canyon at that
location is over 200 feet deep, trends east and west, and receives no
sunshine. Temperatures in the narrow, dark canyon were hovering
around 40 degrees, with a water temperature in the low 40s. At the
bottom of the slot, a log jam dam created a debris-filled pool 40 yards
long, eight to 10 feet deep and less than two feet wide. The NPS
recovery team of Brett Timm, Laurie Axelson, Derek Dahlremple, Bill
Woverton, and Cathy Burns were starting the difficult process of
removing the first victim when they found the second victim under the
first and lying on the bottom of the pool. The cause of death is thought
to be a combination of hypothermia and drowning. The medical examiners
report is pending.
On the evening of April 17th, ranger Amy Mowat saw a vehicle being
driven recklessly on Lone Rock Beach. Mowat contacted the operator,
J.S., and determined that he was intoxicated. When she
attempted to take him into custody, he resisted arrest, refusing to
follow commands and becoming increasingly agitated. He began moving
towards Mowat in a threatening manner, so Mowat sprayed him twice with
her pepper spray, but without any visible effect. J.S. then stumbled
and fell to the ground, where he began fighting with Mowat. J.S. was
arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs and
violating a lawful order. On April 21st, he pled guilty to the latter
charge and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and a year's supervised
probation and was banned from entering Glen Canyon NRA, Lake Mead NRA
and Grand Canyon NP for one year.
On the morning of November 22nd, rangers noted that a vehicle parked at a scenic overlook near Glen Canyon Dam had evidently been there overnight. A check revealed that it was a rental car from Florida, and that the renter - a 58-year-old Florida man - had exceeded the length of his rental agreement. Investigation revealed that it may have been parked at the location for several days. Shortly thereafter, Page PD advised the park and the Coconino County Sheriff's Office that a local motel had reported that a suicide note had been found in a room that the man had rented. A search was begun below the dam and his body was spotted by an observer in an Arizona DPS helicopter. The body was recovered and removed from the river gorge by helicopter. [Mark Law, LES]
On December 7th, rangers and Coconino County deputies investigated a report of an apparent suicide that had occurred in a semi-remote area of the park that borders BLM land. A local cattle rancher had found a 64-year-old man from Page, Arizona, dead in his vehicle with a gunshot wound to his head. He'd also apparently shot and killed a pet dog that was found near him inside the vehicle. The man had emptied two five-gallon cans of gasoline on the vehicle's engine and throughout the interior of the vehicle, but it had failed to ignite. No suicide note was found. A joint NPS-county investigation continues. [Mark Law, Law Enforcement Specialist]
A 15-year-old boy died following a personal watercraft accident on Lake Powell on the evening of Sunday, April 16th. The boy, from Reno, Nevada, was visiting the park with friends. He was riding a personal watercraft near Warm Creek Bay, just north of Antelope Island on the Utah side of Lake Powell, when he collided with another member of his group around 6 p.m. The victim's party called the National Park Service using their marine band radio. Rangers and a helicopter from Classic Lifeguard Helicopters in Page immediately responded. The boy was flown to Page Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The rider of the personal watercraft that struck the teenager was taken to Page Hospital for evaluation but was uninjured. This was the park's first fatal accident this year. [Mark Law, Law Enforcement Specialist, and Kevin Schneider, Public Affairs Officer]
Two people were injured in separate, unrelated "kite tubing" accidents in the park last weekend. In both cases, the victims were riding kite tubes towed by boats when they lost control of the device. Each then fell into Lake Powell from heights of between 10 and 40 feet. Kite tubes are large, round inflated tubes that are towed by boats at 20 to 40 mph. The user holds onto the kite tube as it rises into the air from 15 to 60 feet. Controlling a kite tube is extremely challenging and the slightest upset in its balance causes it to fall into the water. The first incident occurred on Friday, June 2nd, at approximately 2:30 p.m. near the Bullfrog area. A 29-year-old man from St. George, Utah, was riding a kite tube when he lost control and fell from a height of 35 to 40 feet while moving at approximately 35 to 40 mph. He suffered a broken neck and was flown by helicopter from the Bullfrog Medical Clinic to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. He was the third person in his party that day to be injured while kite tubing, but the other two sustained only minor injuries and were not treated. On the afternoon of Saturday, June 3rd, a 14-year-old girl from Houston, Texas, fell from 10 to 15 feet from her kite tube while being towed at 20 to 25 mph. She lost consciousness when she struck the water. Park rangers immediately responded to the incident and she was flown by helicopter from Iceberg Canyon to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction. After further examination at the hospital, she was released without serious injuries. These were the third and fourth accidents this year involving kite tubes. The first accident occurred on April 7th and resulted in a punctured lung caused by broken ribs; the second was on May 22nd, when another person sustained injuries to the chest and back while using a kite tube. Both of these incidents involved kite tube riders losing control of the device and falling into the water while moving at a high rate of speed. The individuals involved in these accidents were also transported by helicopter to the hospital. This is the first season that park rangers at Glen Canyon have seen kite tubes on the lake. Please see the related safety alert on kite tubing in this issue for additional information and for links to two TV news videos on kite tubing accidents. [Kevin Schneider, Management Assistant]
A man operating a PWC near the launch ramp at the Wahweap Marina during an approaching thunderstorm was struck by lightning and killed on the afternoon of July 30th. Lightning struck K.V., 48, of Gilbert, Arizona, directly on the left shoulder, capsizing the PWC and throwing him into the water. Other members of his party were in the immediate area and were able to pull him from the water, begin CPR, and transport him to the main launch ramp. Rangers were on scene within minutes and transported K.V. via ranger ambulance to the hospital in Page. An intensive effort was made to resuscitate him, but proved unsuccessful. [Mark Law, Law Enforcement Specialist]
A two-year-old boy from Logan, Utah, drowned on Wednesday in Lake Powell. The boy and his family were camped with their houseboat in Warm Creek Bay. They had come aboard the houseboat to dry off after getting wet from rainstorms and to eat lunch. They boy had been wearing a life jacket earlier, but it was taken off so he could change into dry clothes. In the ensuing moments, the boy disappeared. The family immediately began searching the area and contacted the park, using their marine band radio to request assistance. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter was dispatched to the scene and rangers responded by boat. Other boaters in the area heard the call and also came to the family's aid. About two hours after he disappeared, the boy surfaced and rangers and Classic Lifeguard paramedics began CPR. The boy was flown to Page Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. [Mark Law, Law Enforcement Specialist]
A young man from Uzbekistan passed away on Saturday, August 12th, from complications resulting from a near-drowning incident that occurred on Lake Powell on July 21st. K.A., 23, was using a water trampoline near the Wahweap main launch ramp when he jumped into the water and began struggling. After K.A. went underwater, bystanders began diving down in an attempt to find him and pull him to shore. After being submerged for at least seven to ten minutes, he was found by a Dutch visitor and brought to shore, where others began performing CPR. Rangers responded and continued CPR. K.A. was flown by Classic Lifeguard helicopter to Page Hospital, then flown to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah. K.A. remained in the hospital in critical condition until his death. Although the trampoline was marked "Life Vest Required," K.A. was not wearing a life jacket at the time. He reportedly did not know how to swim. K.A. was working in a seasonal position for Aramark, the park concessioner, in the food and beverage department at Lake Powell Resort. This was the fourth fatality of the year at Glen Canyon. [Kevin Schneider, Public Affairs Specialist]
Early yesterday morning, Kirby Yocum, 24, was killed in a car accident outside the park. Kirby worked in the entrance station at Halls Crossing as a seasonal fee collector. This was his first job with the National Park Service. He was from Griffin, Georgia, near Atlanta. "Our hearts go out to Kirby's family and friends," said superintendent Kitty Roberts. "He was an exuberant young man, bounding with energy. Kirby's dream was to be a park ranger. The National Park Service family will miss Kirby greatly." The accident took place around 3 a.m., when Kirby and friends were returning to Halls Crossing after a weekend trip to Aspen, Colorado. The vehicle rolled over at a steep curve on Utah Highway 95 near Blanding. Kirby was riding in the passenger seat. [Kevin Schneider, Public Affairs Officer]
N.H., 40, of Fruita, Colorado, drowned in Lake Powell on Friday, September 15th, after the boat in which she was riding hit a wake at high speed, causing the hull to split and dumping the two occupants into the water. Her body was found the following afternoon at a depth of 387 feet, about 30 to 40 feet from the site of the accident. The other person in the boat was rescued from the water by the Desert Odyssey, a tour boat operated by Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas. N.H. was an employee of Marine Max of Grand Junction, Colorado. Marine Max holds a commercial use authorization allowing it to launch and retrieve boats on Lake Powell for its customers. Employees of the company were visiting the park for a corporate retreat when the accident occurred. The cause of the accident is under investigation. [Kevin Schneider]
The trail to Rainbow Bridge was reopened on October 13th after maintenance crews made significant progress in repairing the trail to the site, closed due to flood damage since October 6th. Flood waters washed out sections of the trail, creating unsafe conditions. Meanwhile, Lake Powell has risen more than four feet due to regional floods, an increase almost unheard of for this time of year. [Kevin Schneider, Public Affairs Officer]
On the evening of Thursday, January 18th, visitors in the area of a popular scenic viewpoint near Glen Canyon Dam reported a highly intoxicated man at that location to both Page Police Department and the park. Rangers responded and found the 19-year-old at the canyon rim, threatening to jump. He said he was distraught due to an argument that he'd had with his girlfriend earlier in the day. Ranger Laurie Axelsen talked with the man for more than a half hour in an attempt to get him to move away from the rim, but he suddenly moved forward, went over the edge and fell about 500 feet to his death. Due to darkness and the extremely hazardous topography, a recovery effort was not begun until the next morning, when the body was extricated by a team of rangers and members of the Coconino County Sheriff's Office with the assistance of an Arizona DPS helicopter. [Mark Law, Law Enforcement Specialist]
On January 28th, a Natural Bridges NM volunteer who was visiting Glen Canyon noticed what appeared to be a motor vehicle on its roof immediately below a 60-foot cliff at Muley Point. Natural Bridges ranger Lofton Wiley and San Juan County Sheriff's Office deputies responded and found that there were bodies inside the car, a rented Ford Explorer. The Explorer was winched to the top of Muley Point the next day and the bodies were extricated. Subsequent investigation has revealed that in all probability the driver deliberately steered the Explorer over the canyon rim. The driver was a 66-year-old man with dual Taiwanese and Japanese citizenry; the passenger was a 26-year-old Japanese woman. The pair were in a relationship that had been deteriorating. [Submitted by Mark Law, Law Enforcement Specialist]
A single-engine Cirrus SR-22 with three people on board crashed into Lake Powell on Saturday, February 24th. On board were pilot R.B., his brother L.B., and R.G., an Olympic gold-medalist in wrestling. The plane crashed into the lake at Good Hope Bay, a remote location between Hite and Bullfrog. Fortunately, none of the three men was significantly injured in the crash. They swam in the 44-degree water for about an hour before making it to shore, then spent a night in the backcountry without fire or shelter. On Sunday morning, they flagged down a passing fisherman, who took them back to Bullfrog. Ranger-medics at Bullfrog evaluated them and found that they were okay, though hypothermic. The incident has received national attention because of Gardner's fame. He recorded a historic upset in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, when he won a gold medal in wrestling in a significant upset. For a news story with additional details, click on "More Information" below. [Submitted by Kevin Schneider, Management Assistant] More Information...
A single-engine Cirrus SR-22 with three people on board crashed into Lake Powell on Saturday, February 24th. On board were pilot R.B., his brother L.B., and R.G., an Olympic gold-medalist in wrestling. The plane crashed into the lake at Good Hope Bay, a remote location between Hite and Bullfrog. Fortunately, none of the three men was significantly injured in the crash. They swam in the 44-degree water for about an hour before making it to shore, then spent a night in the backcountry without fire or shelter. On Sunday morning, they flagged down a passing fisherman, who took them back to Bullfrog. Ranger-medics at Bullfrog evaluated them and found that they were okay, though hypothermic. The incident has received national attention because of Gardner's fame. He recorded a historic upset in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, when he won a gold medal in wrestling in a significant upset. For a news story with additional details, click on "More Information" below. [Kevin Schneider, Management Assistant] HYPERLINK "http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5306376" http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5306376
A Canadian woman died on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 27th, when her kayak overturned in Padre Bay on Lake Powell. M.M., 41, of Edmonton, Alberta, was kayaking with a friend about 100 yards off shore when heavy winds and four-foot swells caused her boat to capsize. M.M.'s friend's boat also capsized, but he was able to swim safely to shore. He could not rescue M.M. because of the dangerous water conditions and lost track of her in the weather and confusion. M.M.'s 15-year-old son was nearby in camp when the incident occurred. The two men spent Tuesday night along the shore of the lake near Dominguez Butte, then flagged down a passing concession-operated boat the following morning. The captain of the boat contacted rangers, who immediately responded and began a boat search for M.M. The park's aircraft also began an aerial search. M.M.'s body was spotted from the aircraft around 12:30 p.m. The cause of death is under investigation. M.M. was wearing a lifejacket, but winds were blowing strong on Tuesday as storms passed over the area. Gusts at Wahweap Marina exceeded 45 mph at times. [Lindy Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
N.P., 22, of Prescott, Wisconsin, was killed in a single vehicle rollover accident along Lakeshore Drive near the South Entrance Station around 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 29th. N.P. was driving his Ford pickup at a high rate of speed when he lost control. The truck rolled several times and he was ejected. A group of friends who were in a vehicle behind N.P.'s truck witnessed the accident and called 911. Rangers, Coconino County deputies, Arizona DPS officers and city of Page paramedics all responded. Alcohol appears to have been a contributing factor. The sheriff's office is investigating. [Lindy L. Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
A 37-year-old man died in a single vehicle rollover accident on Route 276 south of Halls Crossing around 9:30 p.m. on April 6th. S.K. of Park City, Utah, was driving alone in a Dodge pickup at a high right of speed when he swerved off the right side of a curved section of road. When he attempted to pull the pickup back onto the road, he lost control and it rolled several times. S.K. was not wearing a seatbelt and was killed instantly. Visitors came upon the accident and called 911. Rangers responded along with Utah Highway Patrol officers. S.K. was traveling to Bullfrog to meet his 15-year-old daughter and friends when the accident occurred. He was a well known international Kung Fu (weapons) master who trained and competed at the world level. Alcohol appears to have been a factor in the accident. The accident is under investigation by the Utah Highway Patrol. [Lindy L. Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
M.E. and her friend, K.T., both seven years old, were swimming near two 30-foot cabin cruisers at their campsite on the shoreline of Lake Powell in Padre Bay on the morning of Saturday, July 7th. Both boats' engines were running with propellers disengaged to recharge their batteries. K.T.'s mom was showering, using hot water from the boat motor, when she noticed K.T. unconscious in the water and sinking. She immediately jumped into the water to rescue K.T. K.T. quickly regained consciousness once she was pulled from the water. As the group was attending to K.T., they realized M.E. was missing and a search was organized to look for her. They found her unconscious on the lake bottom in about five to ten feet of water. The group contacted the National Park Service. Park rangers and a medevac helicopter from Classic Helicopters in Page, Arizona, were dispatched to the scene. Paramedics from Classic Helicopters were the first on scene and began CPR on M.E. A second medevac helicopter arrived to assist in the response. Both girls were flown to the Page Hospital, where M.E. succumbed to drowning caused by carbon monoxide poisoning. Intense oxygen treatments at the Page Hospital were successful in treating K.T., who was later released and will make a full recovery. Both girls were from Flagstaff, Arizona. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is produced by all motors. Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can become trapped near the swim platform of some boats, or anywhere near the engine's exhaust. At the time of the accident, the wind was calm, which prevented the carbon monoxide from dispersing. People should never swim anywhere near a boat's exhaust. This is the first fatality related to carbon monoxide at the park since 2002. [Lindy Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Late on the evening of July 10th, rangers in the Uplake District received a report of several children aboard a houseboat having difficulty breathing, with CPR being conducted on one of them. Carbon monoxide poisoning was immediately suspected, and the rangers accordingly began gathering available medical oxygen kits. An air evacuation helicopter from Page was requested as rangers responded from Bullfrog and Halls Crossing marinas. As rangers were about to leave Bullfrog, they learned that a speedboat was en route to the marina carrying four children in need of medical attention. They accordingly remained at Bullfrog and left the response to the Halls Crossing rangers. On board the speedboat were six adults and four children, ranging in age from 19 months to three years old. The children were all crying, and the adults reported that they'd all been unresponsive 15 to 20 minutes previously. The adults were also exhibiting symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning - dizziness, nausea and headaches. All ten were put on oxygen and taken to the Bullfrog clinic. Meanwhile, Halls Crossing rangers arriving at the scene reported that there were about 26 more people aboard a houseboat who were displaying carbon monoxide poisoning symptoms. They were triaged, and rangers sent 24 of them by boat to the medical facility at Bullfrog. Of the 34 individuals transported to the clinic, 21 required oxygen therapy for carboxyhemoglobin levels above 10%. Fortunately, rangers had recently attended a mass casualty training session, and the park, anticipating this type of incident, was prepared with equipment for treating mass carbon monoxide poisonings. The people treated had all been aboard an older homemade houseboat that was equipped with a gasoline powered generator. The exhaust for the generator was vented underwater near the back deck of the boat. Investigators were told that the victims had been in the water swimming in the vicinity of the generator's exhaust outlet just prior to going inside the houseboat. In addition, a residential style central air conditioning system was installed aboard the houseboat and was found to have been a contributing factor. This incident occurred three days after another carbon monoxide poisoning on Lake Powell, where two children were poisoned and a seven-year-old girl drowned as a result. Human senses can not detect carbon monoxide, which is why there are more than 40,000 case of carbon monoxide poisoning annually and why carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common type of fatal poisoning in the United States. Prevention through public education remains the first line of defense. Do not confuse carbon monoxide poisoning with seasickness, intoxication or heat stress. If someone complains of irritated eyes, headache, nausea, weakness or dizziness, immediately suspect carbon monoxide poisoning. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a request for assistance at a structural fire in a gas station in Page on the afternoon of July 18th. Eight NPS firefighters responded with the park's Wahweap-based engine. When they arrived, they found heavy black smoke emanating from the back of the store. Page Fire Department was on scene and had begun its attack at the back of the store with positive pressure ventilation at the front door. Park fire captain Chris Cook established a unified command with Page FD. Rangers Jeff Rhame and Kean Mihata entered the front of the building and worked their way into the back, where they extinguished remaining flames. Other assisting firefighters were Laurie Axelsen, Shawn McNally, Scott Larson, Jared St. Clair and Heath Beard. The fire was completely extinguished by late afternoon. The cause is under investigation. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
While firefighters were dealing with a gas station blaze on the afternoon of July 18th, a park visitor reported finding a possible explosive device in Rock Creek Bay. Ranger Chad Hunter responded and confirmed the presence of 30 oil perforating charges, six blasting caps and approximately 50 feet of detonation cord connected to a power source. Hunter established a perimeter until officers from Kane County Sheriff's Office and an explosive ordnance disposal team from St. George arrived the following morning. The devices were determined to be unstable and were detonated on site with three controlled explosions. The investigation is on-going. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
Ranger Shawn McNally saw an RV being driven erratically on Lakeshore Drive late on the evening of July 23rd. The RV went off the established road and barely stopped short of hitting a cliff face. A disheveled and partially clothed woman ran screaming from the passenger side of the RV back to McNally's patrol vehicle. As she was attempting to get into his patrol car, a man, later identified as the woman's husband, came running from the driver's side of the RV, tackled her and knocked her to the ground, and began choking he with one arm while punching her in the head with the other. During the assault, the man continuously yelled death threats at the woman. McNally quickly moved into a position where he could use his taser on the man without endangering the woman. All his commands to the man to stop went unheeded, so he fired the taser, hitting the man in the lower back and freeing the woman. McNally had to activate the taser several times to get the man's full compliance. Ranger Jake Olson then arrived on scene and assisted with the arrest. After the arrest, the man repeatedly told McNally that he'd intended to drive the RV off the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge, killing them both. This was the second time that Glen Canyon rangers have saved visitors lives by employing tasers. The case has been transferred to the Coconino County Sheriff's Office. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch was notified of a serious motor vehicle accident with an unknown number of injuries a mile north of the Lone Rock access road off Highway 89 on August 11th. Rangers Eric Scott and Craig Janicki soon arrived on scene and found that a sport utility vehicle that had been towing a camping trailer had rolled over and was lying on its roof. Many visitor had stopped to assist, including two doctors, a registered nurse, an EMT, and three retired police officers. Three of the members of a family of four - two adults and their two-year-old and one-month-old children - had been injured in the accident. The father was trapped in the SUV and had to be extricated; the two-year-old had a fractured femur, jaw and other facial bones; and the mother suffered minor bruises. The baby, who was in a car seat, was not hurt. As the patients were being triaged and treated, two Classic Lifeguard helicopters and an engine and ambulance from Big Water, Utah, headed to the scene. Ranger Scott Larson, Arizona DPS officers and Coconino County deputies also responded. The two-year-old and father were flown to the trauma center in Flagstaff. The mother and infant were taken to Page Hospital, where they were treated and released. The father's right lung had collapsed due to fractures to his ribs and he also suffered from multiple fractures to his vertebrae and his ankles. Traces of methedrine and THC were found in his blood, though he had not been driving the vehicle. The accident occurred because the trailer's brakes had not been hooked up. The mother had been driving when the trailer started to swerve. As she sped up to straighten it out, the trailer pushed the SUV off the road. Ranger Eric Scott was IC. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of August 19th, park dispatch advised rangers that a man who'd been target shooting near the Marble Canyon water tanks had been shot in the head. Rangers Kerry and Deanne Haut from Glen Canyon and Paul Ehlert from Grand Canyon responded to the incident, which was outside the park's boundary. Efforts by the rangers and Classic Lifeguard helicopter medical personnel to resuscitate S.K. proved fruitless and he was declared dead at the scene. S.K. died of a single gunshot wound to his head form a .38 revolver. Preliminary investigation indicates that it was self-inflicted and that S.K.'s fiancé witnessed the shooting. The county sheriff's office is investigating. [Submitted by Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of Saturday, August 25th, a group of seven friends were returning to Bullfrog Marina from the Hansen Creek area aboard a 23-foot powerboat. The operator was apparently distracted and not paying attention, causing the boat to slam head-on into a rock wall at 30 to 40 mph. The eight responding rangers found that all of the boat's seven occupants had suffered major injuries, and that one of them - Danielle Sorensen, of Delta, Utah - was not breathing. They began CPR on her while they treated the other six victims. A flight nurse from Classic Lifeguard Helicopters later pronounced Sorenson dead. The other six victims, ranging in age from 20 to 25, were flown from the scene of the accident to regional medical centers in Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico. All are expected to recover. The Kane County Sheriff's Office and the National Park Service are investigating the accident. [Kevin Schneider, Management Assistant]
C.D., 20, of Emmett, Idaho, was wakeboarding in the remote San Juan arm of Lake Powell around 6:30 p.m. on Friday, August 24th. He had just completed a flip when the front part of the wakeboard went underwater, causing him to fall forward and strike his face on the water. C.D. soon began experiencing seizures. His friends got him to a nearby houseboat, which happened to have two nurses on board. They used a marine band radio to call for help and began resuscitation efforts on C.D.. Classic Lifeguard Helicopters flew to the scene and transported C.D. to the Flagstaff Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries. [Kevin Schneider, Management Assistant]
The information receptionist at park headquarters received an anonymous call on the afternoon of Friday, September 7th, reporting that drugs and between $4,000 and $5,000 worth of fireworks could be found in the hold of the houseboat Canyon Breeze, located at Antelope Point Marina. The houseboat was set to be leaving the marina the following day. Later on Friday, the park received another report, this one from a known person, reporting that a large number of industrial grade fireworks were being loaded onto the houseboat. Rangers, special agents, Coconino County deputies, and a dog and handler from the Kane County Sheriff's Department contacted the people on the houseboat the next day. Forty large cases containing assorted fireworks were confiscated along with 110 grams of high quality marijuana and methamphetamine paraphernalia. The fireworks have been valued at about $4,000. Two arrests were made for drug possession and a third person received two citations for possession of fireworks and drugs. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office is prosecuting the case. The fireworks will be destroyed in a controlled training setting by the county's explosive ordnance disposal team. The investigation was led by special agent Brian O'Dea, with assistance from rangers Eric Scott, Jared St. Clair, Jordan Barthold and Chad Hunter. [Linda Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
On September 12th, J.L., 64, was swimming with friends from a houseboat to a small island about 75 yards away when he began showing signs of distress. He slid underwater, but was immediately retrieved by two of his friends. They took him to the island, where CPR was begun. Another man in the group - D.M., 50 - also had difficulties while swimming. He was rescued by nearby boaters after sinking below the surface of the lake. He was breathing but unresponsive at first, then regained consciousness after being brought aboard the houseboat. Rangers Steve Luckesen, Bryan Yetter, Scott Ryan and Gordon Olson soon arrived on scene with a Kane County deputy, a Utah state park ranger, and a Classic Lifeguard helicopter. Rangers were assisted by an Air Force doctor who was in the area with his family. Resuscitation efforts on J.L. were unsuccessful after an hour's effort and he was declared dead at the scene. D.M. was flown to a hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. J.L. was with a group of friends who were vacationing at Lake Powell to celebrate the life of a friend who had just passed away from cancer. The fatality is under joint investigation by the National Park Service and Kane County Sheriff's Office. The lead investigator fro the park is ranger Scott Ryan. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
A visitor was killed on Friday, September 28th, when a rock slab fell on a boat at Lake Powell; another person is missing and presumed drowned. Park dispatch was contacted by visitors who reported finding a capsized vessel under a small sandstone alcove within Lake Canyon. They had reportedly passed the vessel in the same location approximately 20 minutes earlier and had waved to the two passengers on board. Rangers quickly arrived on the scene and soon recovered the body of a woman. The alcove under which the boat was located is approximately 20 feet wide by 20 feet high. It appears that the rock slab, approximately 250 square feet in size, fractured from the alcove wall and fell on the bow of the boat, causing it to capsize. The accident is still under investigation and the park's underwater recovery team is assisting in the search for the missing person. Water depths at the accident site are approximately 150 feet. Rangers are still working to identify the victims and to provide notification to next of kin. The IC is Greg Kouns. [Marianne Karraker]
On Friday, September 28th, a rock slab fell on a boat on Lake Powell, killing one person. The search continues for a second person who is missing and presumed drowned. Park dispatch was contacted by visitors who reported finding the capsized vessel within Lake Canyon. They had reportedly passed the vessel as it sat under a small sandstone alcove approximately 20 minutes earlier and had waved to the two passengers on board. The alcove under which the pontoon boat was located is approximately 20 feet wide by 20 feet high. It appears that the rock slab, approximately 250 cubic feet in size, fractured from the alcove wall and fell on the bow of the boat, causing it to capsize. Rangers Scott Sample and Jennifer VanDragt responded and soon recovered the body of M.S., 59, of Calhan, Colorado. CPR was performed, but was not successful. She was declared dead at the scene. The park's underwater recovery team, led by Pat Horning and Rick Moore, is still searching for D.S., 64, also from Calhan, Colorado. The search is being hampered by poor visibility, the presence of trees underwater, and the water depth, which is estimated at 150 feet. Family members have confirmed that the S.s were together on a two-week vacation to Lake Powell when the accident occurred. The incident commander is ranger Greg Kouns. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
The park received a cell phone call around 10 a.m. on October 2nd, reporting that a helicopter had crashed on a houseboat in the mouth of Last Chance Bay on Lake Powell. Rangers Jared St. Clair, Shawn McNally and Chad Hunter and firefighters Chris Cook and Heath Beard responded by boat. Pilot R.S. and his wife, V.S., were taking off from the beached 75-foot houseboat in their Robinson 44 helicopter when the tail rotor began malfunctioning. R.S. tried to compensate, but the helicopter slammed back onto the houseboat because he'd failed to remove the rear tie-down strap prior to takeoff. R.S. is an experienced pilot who frequently flies to and from his houseboat, which is equipped to handle landings and takeoffs. V.S. was flown by Classic Lifeguard Helicopter to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment of traumatic injuries. R.S. declined medical treatment. A significant amount of the helicopter's fuel leaked into the lake, and appropriate measures were taken to clean it up. A contractor removed the main rotors and tail rotor from the lake. The FAA is investigating. The IC was Jared St. Clair. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
On Monday, October 8th, rangers Jennifer VanDragt and Chris Valdez responded to a report of a missing three-year-old girl at the Bullfrog Subdistrict marina slips. The girl and her four-year-old brother had been chasing each other around the houseboat at the time of her disappearance. Neither was wearing a lifejacket. VanDragt and Valdez arrived within ten minutes of her estimated time of disappearance. Park staff, concession employees, and visitors all searched for the girl, but without success. Additional personnel were called in, including the park's dive team, two search dog units from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, a Utah State Parks ranger, and a county deputy. The park's underwater recovery team, led by Pat Horning, Kean Mihata and Jordan Barthold, was hampered by poor visibility in its first attempt to locate the child. The depth is estimated at 110 feet in the area where she disappeared. Both dogs made hits on the water surface area near the dock and the handlers believe that little girl is in the water at that location. The search continues. The IC is Chris Valdez. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
The body of three-year-old K.B. was found by divers early yesterday afternoon in Lake Powell just off Bullfrog Marina. She had been the subject of an extensive search since she disappeared while playing with her four-year-old brother at the marina on October 8th. A land search and investigation into K.B.'s disappearance was conducted to rule out a possible abduction while park divers focused on the area of the lake near the marina. The park's underwater recovery team, led by Pat Horning, Kean Mihata and Jordan Barthold, was hampered by poor visibility and deep water (about 110 feet) in its first attempt to find her. Both search dogs brought in to assist hit on the surface area near the dock where she was playing, suggesting she was in that location. On October 9th, additional divers were brought in, and the park's remotely-operated underwater search vessel (ROV) was employed. On October 11th, state and county dive teams joined the effort and a second ROV with a tripod sonar device was brought in. Binks' body was found with the latter. The IC's were Chris Valdez and Jeff Kracht. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
The park received a report of a recreational vehicle on fire along Highway 89 north of the Lone Rock access road on the afternoon of October 3rd. Rangers Shawn McNally and Jared St. Clair and firefighters Heath Beard and Chris Cook responded and found a 37-foot-long RV fully engulfed in flames. A tank attack with foam was begun and the fire was completely knocked down within three minutes of their arrival. The driver had been operating the RV on a flat tire prior to discovering smoke coming from the rear engine compartment. He pulled over and got out, along with his wife, before the vehicle became engulfed in fire. Neither was injured. Firefighters from the Greenhaven and Big Water volunteer fire departments provided additional support at the scene. Traffic control was provided by Arizona Department of Public Safety and Kane County Sheriff's Office. The IC was ranger Shawn McNally. [Lindy Mihata, Acting Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a call regarding a fire in progress at the Wahweap concession employee housing area at 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 6th. Responding firefighters arrived to find Dormitory #1 engulfed in flames. The building housed 21 occupants and 20 were soon accounted for. The missing person, who was unconscious inside the building, was quickly found and rescued by park and city of Page firefighters, taken to Page Hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation, then flown by helicopter to Flagstaff Medical Center. The concessioner, Aramark/Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas, has five dorm buildings at this location. Residents displaced by the fire have been accommodated in other dorms. Park firefighters were supported by the Page and Greenehaven fire departments. The fire has been contained. The cause is unknown and an investigation is being conducted. [Marianne Karraker]
Additional details have been received on the fire that destroyed the concession employee dorm at Wahweap on Sunday evening (see yesterday's edition for the original report). When responding firefighters arrived at the dorm, they found it filled with smoke with flames showing on the exterior. The 24-unit building was quickly searched without result and an exterior attack was begun. About 30 minutes into the fire, the concession risk manager reported that one of the residents could not be accounted for. A decision was made to send two teams of rescuers to check specific dorm rooms. Park firefighter Jeff Wilson and Page FD firefighter PJ Marlow made a forced entry into one of the rooms and found the missing person by using a thermal imaging device to penetrate the dense smoke. He was evacuated, taken by ambulance to Page Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation, then flown to Flagstaff Medical Center. He remains there in critical condition. Initial attack was made by NPS fire captains Shawn McNally, Heath Beard, Eric Scott and Chris Cook and firefighters Jared St. Clair and Jeff Wilson. Additional assistance was by provided by firefighters Laurie Axelsen, Kean Mihata, Scott Larson, Lance Mattson, Brent McGinn and Ben Davis. Three mutual aid engine crews provided critical support. Suppression operations lasted for over six hours. The concessioner, Aramark-Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas, has four other dorm buildings at this location, all of which were protected. The 21 residents displaced by the fire have been accommodated elsewhere. In addition to numerous NPS personnel, firefighters from Page Fire Department and Greenehaven Fire Department also responded. The cause is still unknown; an investigation is currently underway. The IC was Shawn McNally. [Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a report of missing plane in the Bullfrog area late on the evening of Sunday, April 6th. According to the FAA, the plane had taken off earlier in the day from Durango, Colorado, but failed to return as scheduled. Attempts to find it at known landing strips proved unsuccessful. On the morning of April 7th, the operator of a tour plane reported sighting the plane and pilot on a sandbar in Zahn Bay on the San Juan River. The uninjured pilot was picked up by Classic Helicopter, based in Page, Arizona. The pilot said that he'd made an emergency landing due to equipment failure. He at first attempted to walk out, then returned to the plane and manually activated its emergency locating transmitter. The park and county sheriff's officer are conducting a joint investigation. [Marianne Karraker, Permits Coordinator]
A private plane was damaged last Thursday morning when the pilot attempted to land it at a closed backcountry airstrip just north of Zahn Bay on the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell. The single engine 2008 Husky aircraft evidently ran off the closed runway, causing it to flip. The pilot sustained minor injuries in the accident. He was flown by another private aircraft to a hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. The passenger in the damaged aircraft was uninjured. The National Park Service, Federal Aviation Administration, National Transportation Safety Board, and the San Juan County Sheriff's Office are investigating the incident. [Kevin Schneider, Public Affairs Officer]
Park dispatch received a call routed through 911 from Kane County dispatch on May 31st regarding people stranded in the backcountry and needing medical attention. A Pennsylvania couple in their 60s had rented a two-wheel drive sedan and were vacationing in the Glen Canyon area. They planned to drive from Big Water to Escalante, both small towns in southern Utah, via a rugged four-wheel drive road. They later reported that the GPS unit in their vehicle advised that they could travel this route. About 45 miles from Big Water, though, the vehicle broke down after the oil pan was ripped out and the engine seized. The couple had several bottles of water and soda with them, but no food nor other means of survival. After being stranded for four days with daytime temperatures in the high 80s, they were able to flag down a visitor on a dirt bike who called 911 on his cell phone. Classic Lifeguard launched two helicopters from Page to fly the couple out. They were extremely dehydrated and were kept at the hospital overnight for observation. The couple never stopped at any of the various visitor centers to ask for information, nor did they did turn back when they came upon signs on this backcountry road which said that the road was impassable. If they hadn't encountered the person on the dirt bike, it's likely that they would have perished. Rangers are increasingly dealing with visitors who rely on navigation systems which may provide misleading information, often with tragic results. While navigation systems such as GPS units can be fine tools, nothing can replace up-to-date information from informed personnel as well as using common sense when out in remote areas. [Eric Scott, Acting District Ranger]
A 17-year-old boy drowned in Farley Canyon while swimming with family and friends on the afternoon of Sunday, June 15th. A group of family and friends were celebrating Father's Day in Farley Canyon, a remote location within the park, when the accident occurred. D.B. was swimming with a 14-year-old friend across the lake to the canyon's far shore, approximately 100 yards away, when he began to experience difficulty about 35 yards from shore. He began flailing in the water and yelling for help to the nearby friend. The friend tried to help him, but was being submerged in the water by D.B., who was trying to climb up onto him. The friend was able to break away and attempted to instruct D.B. to turn on his back without success. Meanwhile, other family members began swimming towards D.B., but he went under the water and did not resurface before they could reach him. According to family members, no one had ever seen D.B. swim before. He was not wearing a life jacket. Neither drugs nor alcohol nor foul play are suspected. Park divers Jordan Barthold and Pat Horning recovered D.B.'s body the next day at a depth of 19 feet. The incident commander was Brett Timm. [Linday Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Just before 3 a.m. yesterday morning, park dispatch received a distress call on marine band radio from a 75-foot Aramark rental houseboat moored in Rock Creek Bay. Eight people were on board - an extended family from Arizona - and all were apparently suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning. Glenn Howeth awoke during the night, found one of his grandsons passed out on the floor of the vessel, and recognized that something was wrong. He was able to rouse his grandson and together they started to evacuate others to the outside deck. During this process, Howeth, who had a significant cardiac history, suffered an apparent heart attack. Howeth's grandson, a paramedic, performed CPR on him, but to no avail. Ranger Chad Hunter responded with a Classic Lifeguard helicopter, while supervisory ranger Laurie Axelsen made a night run in a patrol boat from the Dangling Rope Ranger Station. The other seven family members were flown by helicopter to the hospital in Page. Six were transferred to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George, Utah, for treatment in a hyperbaric chamber. As of yesterday evening, they'd gone through two treatments, with a third scheduled for this morning. Two of them showed signs of decreased mental ability and will undergo additional testing before being released. The houseboat was secured on scene and an investigation was conducted by special agent Brian O'Dea and Uplake district ranger Steve Luckesen. Extensive testing was performed on scene. Aramark has 25 houseboats of this type on the lake, and is working to ensure that they are all safe. The investigation continues. [Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a report on the evening of June 25th that someone had drowned in the San Juan River near the Navajo Reservation. The location was identified as downstream of Piute Farms. B.S., 23, of Kayenta, Arizona, had been visiting with friends in the area. Preliminary reports indicate that he entered the river to assist others who were having difficulty swimming, then went under and did not resurface. It's not known if he was wearing a life jacket. The other four swimmers were able to return to shore and summon help. Personnel from several agencies, including the Navajo Police Department, San Juan County Sheriff's Office, Utah Highway Patrol, and area emergency medical and fire personnel, responded to assist NPS staff. B.S.'s body has not yet been recovered. [Marianne Karraker, Public Affairs Specialist]
On June 24th, the Coconino County Sheriff's Office contacted rangers and asked them to help find a possibly suicidal 58-year-old Michigan man who'd abandoned his car in the community of Greenhaven, an area of private property within park boundaries. Efforts to find him proved unavailing; subsequent efforts with dogs and a helicopter also proved fruitless. On the evening of June 26th, visitors walking down a rocky slope near the south end of Lone Rock Beach saw what appeared to be a body in the water near the shoreline and flagged down a passing boater, who investigated and confirmed their discovery. Rangers found the body of a man standing upright in about eight feet of water. There was an apparent gunshot wound under his chin. Investigation revealed that this was the man that Coconino County had been searching for. Since the beach is in Kane County, the sheriff for that county was notified and the body was retrieved. Divers from the park and Coconino County searched the area where the body had been found and recovered the handgun he'd used to shoot himself. The man was unemployed and had been living out of his vehicle. He'd contacted his family several times over the previous two years and threatened suicide. A check of the gun revealed that it had been stolen in 1991 in Texas. The two counties are investigating. [Eric Scott, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Between July 21st and July 30th, the NPS structural fire brigade at Wahweap responded to four incidents - a boat fire, a vehicle fire, and two near fires: On the evening of July 21st, a houseboat in Wahweap Marina caught fire while the family on board was cooking dinner. The fire spread quickly and involved the kitchen area of the boat. Concession employees were able to do some initial suppression on the fire and get the houseboat untied from the marina. The park brigade responded with a fire boat and pulled the houseboat away from the marina to avoid collateral damage to other vessels. Initial attack was conducted and the fire was contained to primarily the interior of the houseboat. A large 300 gallon gas tank and two propane tanks were on the roof of the houseboat. Firefighters cooled the gas tank immediately to reduce the risk of explosion. The ignition source was probably electrical in the kitchen area and ignited either propane fumes from the tanks directly above, or possibly from an overflow on the 300 gallon gas tank which vented gasoline during the high temperatures that day. The boat suffered extensive damage to its interior but was not destroyed. Captain Jared St. Clair was the IC. On the evening of July 26th, a fire started in a camper parked in one of the parking lots near the NPS fire station at Wahweap. The fire burned quickly and soon spread to two vehicles, one on either side of the camper. During the response from the NPS structural fire brigade, the propane tanks in the camper exploded, as did several other small camping propane cylinders. Fire captain Jared St. Clair was first on scene, followed by captains Shawn McNally, Eric Scott, Chris Cook and firefighter Scott Larson. Initial attack was made using two attack lines with foam and water. A fourth vehicle, a new Chevrolet 4x4, was damaged from the heat but was saved. The other brigade members involved in the suppression and mop-up activities were Grant Stolhand, Chad Hunter, Craig Janicki, Ben Davis, and Jeff Wilson. The Page Fire Department also responded with an engine. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the preliminary findings are that the fire may have been started by leaking propane in the camper. There were no injuries, but three vehicles were completely gutted by fire. The investigation is being jointly conducted by NPS rangers and the Coconino County Sheriff's Office. Jared St. Clair was the IC On July 29th, the Wahweap fire brigade responded to a report of a 32-foot vessel with fuel in the bilge. The NPS fire boat responded and the vessel was escorted to the Stateline launch ramp, where the fuel was pumped out of the bilge without incident. Vessels with fuel in the bilge often catch fire quickly if the persons on board do not recognize the problem immediately and shut off their engines and all electrical power. On the morning of July 30, the Wahweap fire brigade responded to a report of a trailer fire in the Wahweap trailer village. The fire had apparently been extinguished by the concession employee occupants with a garden hose when the NPS engine arrived on scene. The fire was on the bottom exterior of the trailer and had apparently been started by a cigarette butt thrown on the ground amongst some dead grass and debris. There were many other cigarette butts on the ground in this same location. [Eric Scott, Acting District Ranger]
In late November of 2006, Brian O'Dea, the NPS special agent at Glen Canyon, received a complaint of possible violations of park regulations associated with commercial use. Through a review of billing statements, emails, interviews, and a preliminary investigation, he determined that G.I., 42, of West Jordan, Utah, was conducting a business operation on Lake Powell involving the houseboat Desert Ruby without a permit. The investigation showed that a person was being paid $1800 per year and allowed to use the houseboat in return for managing it under a company called Desert Ruby LLC. During the investigation, O'Dea also learned that G.I. had managed three different houseboats on Lake Powell and had embezzled an estimated $65,000 from the three multiple-owner boats. Without the knowledge of the approximately 75 owners of the three boats, she obtained debit cards and bought personal items with them, then made up false documents when the owners asked to see them. Once the authentic bank records were obtained, it was apparent that she had forged and issued 23 checks totaling $230,815.71 from her then current employer, Interior Development of Midvale, Utah. The checks were laundered through Desert Ruby Inc. O'Dea took the case to the United States Attorney's Office, then, upon their direction, to the Utah Attorney General's Financial Crimes Unit. It was agreed that the prosecution would be handled by the state. The victims reported that G.I. spent $238,150.88 in unauthorized expenditures, with an additional $26,346.97 in unknown expenses. G.I. had made $188,340.04 in unauthorized deposits into the victim's bank account. The investigation also showed that G.I. had been convicted of stealing American Express travelers' checks from her employer, American Express, in 1998. The company lost $220,000 and she was sentenced to one to 15 years in prison, but ultimately didn't do any jail time and was placed on 36 months' probation. On August 26th, the Utah Attorney General's Office filed a 21-page criminal information against G.I. on eight counts of felony theft, 14 counts of felony forgery, three counts of felony money laundering, and one count of a "pattern of unlawful activity," also a felony. Second degree felonies in Utah carry a one to 15 year sentence and a penalty of up to $10,000 on each count. Third degree felonies carry a zero to five year sentence and up to a $5,000 penalty on each count. G.I. in this case had eight second degree felony counts and 18 third degree felony counts filed against her. The August 26th filing of the criminal information in Salt Lake City effectively released the case facts and charging document worldwide via the internet. The filing of the charges via information is the Utah state equivalent to a federal grand jury indictment. While this case is being prosecuted by the Utah Attorney General's Office, the investigation was led by the NPS Investigative Services Branch and by O'Dea, with critical assistance provided by NPS crime analyst Joan Yorkey and Utah Attorney General's Office special agent Steven Sperry. The case is pending arraignment and plea agreement or trial in Salt Lake City. [Brian S. Smith, IMR Special Agent in Charge]
Park dispatch received a report via cellular phone late on the morning of August 31st that CPR was in progress on a man on a boat at Oak Bay on Lake Powell. Several rangers responded from Dangling Rope Marina, approximately 10 miles away. Rangers Chad Hunter and Seth Palmer were first on scene. Hunter located the speedboat and found the man lying in the stern. Hunter immediately applied an AED and delivered one shock, restoring the 67-year-old man's pulse and breathing. A pediatric emergency room doctor on boat the boat had begun CPR about 20 minutes before the rangers arrived, bringing oxygen and a bag valve mask that enhanced the CPR efforts. The man was flown to Page Hospital, then taken to Flagstaff Medical Center. He was conscious and talking to staff in the ER in Page. [Linda Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Garfield County dispatch received a 911 call around 5 p.m. on September 10th reporting that a flashflood had swept through Egypt Three, a narrow slot canyon within Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which borders the park. The caller said that two canyoneers had been injured and that two others had been swept away. A Garfield County deputy and the county SAR team responded. They were assisted by Glen Canyon rangers Jeff Kracht, Lance Mattson, Grant Stolhand, Chad Hunter, Steve Luckesen and Gordon Olson and Bryce Canyon rangers Mark Hnat, Rayne Rohrbach and Tim Sveum. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter was dispatched to the scene and the crew located the bodies of K.C. and G.C., both 60, of Walnut Creek, California. They were found approximately a quarter mile downstream from the point where they'd been swept away. Their bodies were recovered the following day by a Utah Highway Patrol helicopter, personnel from the Garfield County Sheriff's Office, and a local canyoneering guide. The C.s were canyoneering with their son, daughter-in-law, daughter, and son-in-law when the flash flood occurred. Both the daughter-in-law and son-in-law were injured and had to be flown to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St George, Utah, where they were treated and released. Egypt Three is visited by canyoneers from all over the world. Flash floods are common this time of year. [Lindy Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
On the afternoon of Saturday, September 20th, dispatch received a report that a person on a boat near Face Canyon hit his head, fell overboard, and failed to resurface. Rangers Grant Stolhand and Eric Herndon responded along with a Utah State Park ranger. The rangers found that L.R., 19, of Seattle, Washington, had been standing on the bow seat of a rental runabout boat, holding onto the bow line for balance, while the boat was on plane. When the boat operator slowed down, L.R. was ejected. The operator and a passenger onboard heard a thud and stopped the boat. They couldn't find L.R., and, after circling the area for about five minutes, called for assistance on marine band radio. L.R. was visiting the lake with college friends from California. The park and Utah Highway Patrol dive team are conducting dive operations in an effort to find and recover the body. [Lindy Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
On the afternoon of September 21st, park dispatch received a report of an accident between a jet ski and a boat that had left a woman spitting up blood and slipping into shock. The incident occurred in the Gunsight Bay area on Lake Powell. Ranger/medic Laurie Axelsen and ranger/EMTs Chad Hunter and Ryan Gallagher responded. They found a young woman in the back of an open bow boat with a severely compromised airway due to facial fractures, missing teeth and a broken lower jaw who was also bleeding and vomiting blood and suffering from neck and back pain. The rangers maintained spinal protection, manually suctioned the blood, maintained her airway and provided ALS for over an hour until a Classic Lifeguard helicopter could reach the scene. Together, EMS personnel made a difficult intubation in the dark on shore prior to transferring the woman to the trauma center in Flagstaff. The accident is being investigated by a state park ranger. [Lindy Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist]
On Monday, September 22nd, park personnel and state and county dive teams were in the process of searching for a drowning victim (see report in yesterday's edition) when dispatch reported a vessel fire about ten miles up lake in Friendship Cove. An explosion had occurred on the 25-foot vessel which had two people onboard. When rangers got there, they found a red and white vessel onshore near a tent camp, fully engulfed in flames. All passengers and tent camp occupants were accounted for and okay. The park's aids to navigation vessel, which is equipped with a portable pump, soon arrived on scene. Rangers and dive team members extinguished the fire, using a single hose line drafting from the lake. Water was lobbed from the upwind side until the flames were knocked down. When the accident occurred, the boat's main engine was off and the trolling motor was in use. The operator heard an explosion behind him and the fire followed. Preliminary investigation suggests that a newly-installed battery may have caused the explosion. Laurie Axelsen was IC. [Lance Mattson, Emergency Services Manager]
The body of a missing 19-year-old man was recovered from Lake Powell near Gregory Butte on Thursday, October 9th. L.R. of Seattle, Washington, was standing on the bow seat of a runabout on Saturday, September 20th, when he fell overboard and disappeared. Divers, side-scan sonar and an underwater robot were employed in the effort to find his body. The search area spanned 183 acres and the search required the efforts of about 35 people from a number of agencies. Evident indicates that he suffered a fatal head injury when he was hit by the boat from which he had fallen. For a copy of the original report, click on the link below. [Max King, Public Affairs Specialist]
A fire that broke out at the Halls Crossing Marina on the night of Thursday, December 18th, destroyed up to 20 vessels, but firefighters were able to save another 130 boats. At least three vessels are known to have sunk. As of midday on Friday, no casualties had been reported, but fire investigators were still checking the burned area. Park dispatch received a 911 call reporting flames coming from covered slips at the marina just before midnight on Thursday. Rangers and concession employees quickly responded via both land and water. Because of the small number of employees present at this time of the year, additional park staff were flown in from other areas to help fight the blaze, including personnel from Natural Bridges NM and from park headquarters in Page. Fire personnel used the Park Service fire boat both to fight the fire and to tow burning vessels out of from their slips in the marina. Other burning vessels were cut loose and pushed away from the slips by firefighters on the docks. The fire was controlled by 3 a.m. "We are saddened by the loss of the boats and other facilities, but commend our NPS staff and everyone else who responded so quickly to this emergency for saving so many other vessels," said superintendent Stan Austin. "People don't realize the challenges our staff face in a remote area like Halls Crossing, which is a two-hour drive from Blanding, Utah, and nearly five hours from park headquarters in Page. Without the dedication and expertise of our fire responders, this fire would have been even more devastating." Although there was extensive damage to the marina facilities, no firefighters were injured. Park Service investigators, along with investigators from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Utah State Fire Marshal's office, are investigating. [Patrick O'Driscoll, Public Affairs Officer]
State and federal agencies investigating the December 18th fire at the Halls Crossing Marina have determined that fewer boats were destroyed than previously thought - 15 vessels rather than 20. Three of the 15 sank, at least one of them in water 200 feet deep. A total of 153 water craft were docked at the marina, about 95 river miles up Lake Powell from Glen Canyon Dam, when the fire broke out sometime after 11 p.m. on December 18th. The fire destroyed the marina's "F" dock, charring boat slips and melting part of the roof covering the dock. A few other boats sustained minor damage, but most were saved by the quick actions of those who first responded to the fire, including National Park Service and marina concessions staff and other volunteers. An initial assessment has placed the value of the loss of boats and facilities at between $3 million and $5 million. The remains of those boats and some of the others have been moved to a secure area for examination by investigators from the Utah State Fire Marshal's Office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF), which is assisting because the fire was at a federal facility. The remains of "F" dock, one of six sets of docks at the marina, are cordoned off and not open to boats or the public. The portion of "D" dock containing boat slips numbered 11 and higher also is off-limits, according to the marina concessioner, by order of the fire investigators. That prohibition includes all individuals, slip holders and insurance company representatives. Investigators have so far found no evidence that the fire was deliberately set. The Utah fire marshal continues to categorize the fire's cause as unknown. Investigators have left the scene for now but will return after the first of the year to continue their work, which will likely continue into February. The marina is in one of the more remote locales within the recreation area, which encompasses more than 1.25 million acres in southern Utah and northern Arizona along the course of the Colorado River. Scott Ryan, chief ranger at Natural Bridges NM, has begun to assess the site for any potential environmental damage so that appropriate clean-up measures can take place. Anyone with information about the fire or needing to contact investigators should do so through the Utah State Fire Marshal's Office. The phone number is 801-284-6350. [Max King, Public Affairs Officer]
On March 27th, the Kane County Sheriff's Office asked the park for assistance in dealing with a 23-year-old man armed with a sword. When rangers arrived on scene, they were advised that the man had been involved in a dispute with his father. The rangers could see him through an open front door and noted that he was holding what proved to be a three-and-a-half foot long katana-style sword (a curved, slender blade often referred to as a 'samurai sword'). The man threatened both the rangers and a Big Water marshal who was also on scene. The man was ordered to put the sword down, but refused to do so. The rangers and marshal negotiated with him and he eventually dropped the blade, then turned and began to walk away, ignoring commands from the rangers to stop. The man then reached toward an obvious bulge in his right front pocket. While one ranger provided cover with his rifle, a second employed his taser to incapacitate the man. He was then taken into custody. A search revealed that the bulge was a five-inch-long, fixed-blade hunting knife. Custody of the prisoner was transferred to the Kane County Sheriff's office. This use of a taser, or electronic control device (ECD), resulted in the third instance of a life saved in a potentially lethal confrontation in the past seven months by NPS rangers. Previously, rangers from Mammoth Cave used a taser against a knife-wielding man and a New River Gorge ranger used a taser to keep a woman from jumping off the New River Gorge Bridge. A "life saved" incident is any incident in which a taser is used to prevent someone from taking his/her own life or the life of another or when deadly force by an officer would otherwise be justified. The ECD program began in 2001, when rangers in several parks began carrying tasers as alternate intermediate weapons. These parks had great success with tasers, which immediately reduced the number of injuries to both protection rangers and those they were confronting. By 2006, about 20 parks were utilizing tasers. In September of that year, a national ECD policy was adopted following a Washington Office review to ensure consistency in policy throughout the NPS. Since that time, the number of parks with ECD programs has risen to 115, with about 1100 trained users. Information on ECD's can be found on InsideNPS at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/waso.cfm?lv=3&prg=801". Anyone with questions about ECDs should contact Sarah Davis-Reynolds, NPS lead ECD instructor, at 304-671-9083. [Lindy Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist Glen Canyon; Sarah Davis-Reynolds, WASO]
Park dispatch was notified of an overdue six-person boating party on Lake Powell late last Saturday afternoon. A ranger soon found and rescued two people - J.B. and H.B. of St. Pete Beach, Florida - from the shore at Padre Butte. The B.s reported that their boat sank after taking on water during a wind storm. They were treated for hypothermia. An intensive search by boat and air was begun for the other four members of the group. The bodies of two of them - K.P. of St. Petersburg, Florida, and M.A.T. of Prescott Valley, Arizona - have been found; the other two - T.T. of Prescott Valley and R.P. of St. Petersburg - are still missing. The search is being conducted with the assistance of Utah State Parks and the Kane County and San Juan County sheriff's departments. Investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. Weather is believed to have been a contributing factor. [Brian Sweatland]
A rental boat with six people on board swamped and sank on Saturday, April 25th. Winds were gusting to 55 mph at the time and waves on the lake were four-feet high. Nobody in the group was wearing a lifejacket. Two of the six made it to shore and the bodies of two others were found shortly thereafter. Search operations have continued ever since. On April 27th, the body of T.T. was recovered from Lake Powell, but efforts to find the sixth and final victim - R.P. - have so far been unsuccessful. Sidescan sonar has been employed and searchers have continued looking along the lake's shoreline. Based on information from the survivors and results of previous searches, it appears likely that the body will be found in the near future. The park will again employ its ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) to search a likely area today. [Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
M.D.C., 37, of Nederland, Colorado, was thrown from a raft and into Big Drop Two, a dangerous rapid, while passing through Cataract Canyon on a rafting trip on the afternoon of May 16th. He was able to hold onto the raft at first, but let go for unknown reasons. Without the raft's high flotation, he was pulled under the surface of the violent rapids and drowned. His body was recovered by a park concessioner and brought downriver, then transferred to the state medical examiner's office. [Bryan Yetter, Subdistrict Ranger]
Rangers made three nearly simultaneous rescues on Lake Powell on Memorial Day after an unusually powerful thunderstorm struck Bullfrog Bay area in late afternoon with wind speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour. At 4 p.m., Halls Crossing rangers Brian Yetter, Eric Herndon, and G. M. Yancey were notified of a woman with spinal injuries within the Halls Crossing buoy field. While responding to that call, they overheard a vessel with four women on board calling "Mayday" via marine band radio from buoy 101, reporting that they were out of gas and sinking. Yetter diverted the NPS vessel and responded immediately, During the ten minute trip to that buoy, the 25-foot Boston Whaler took large waves over its cabin. The sinking vessel was found within a 50-foot-wide cove bounded by 100-yard-high walls. Yetter was able to come alongside the 25-foot cabin boat while Herndon and Yancey secured the vessels and helped the women into the park boat as the two vessels continually crashed into each other. Following the rescue, the rangers determined that the park boat had taken on large amounts of water and decided to beach it at a safe location and wait out the storm. When the weather abated, a Coast Guard Auxiliary unit detailed to Lake Powell for holiday operations was able to pickup the women and transport them to Bullfrog Marina. While this rescue was underway, Bullfrog rangers Carmen Barnard and Moses Rinck launched a second park vessel to support Yetter and his crew. While responding to buoy 101, Barnard and Rinck spotted a partially sunken ski boat with two people aboard and rescued them just as the ski boat went under. One of the two people was later treated for hypothermia. Following the wind event, Yetter and Herndon returned to the woman with the possible spinal injury. Following a thorough evaluation, she was transferred to the park's fireboat, captained by supervisory ranger Steve Luckesen, a park medic, and transported to the Bullfrog clinic, where she was later evacuated by air. Patrols both up and down the lake revealed no additional storm victims. [Max King]
Park divers recovered the body of R.P. - the last of the victims of the boating accident that claimed four lives in April - late on the morning of Wednesday, June 3rd. His body was found at a depth of 442 feet using side scan sonar and recovered by divers and staff employing a remote operated vehicle. The April 25th accident occurred near Padre Butte on Lake Powell. The incident began when Glen Canyon dispatch received a call of an overdue boating party of six. A National Park Service ranger soon arrived on scene and rescued two survivors, who reported that their boat had swamped after taking on water in a wind storm. Two bodies were also recovered at that time. The park immediately launched an intensive interagency search and rescue operation for the two remaining missing boaters. The body of the fifth victim was located and recovered on April 27th. The search continued for R.P. and involved both the Kane and San Juan County Sheriff's' Offices, Utah State Parks, and the Utah Department of Public Safety. The search for the boat continues; the cause of the accident remains under investigation. [Brian Sweatland, Chief of Planning, Compliance and External Affairs]
Dangling Rope district ranger Laurie Axelsen and park ranger Jamey Brazell were returning from patrol just before midnight last Friday when they noticed flames from one of the boat docks at Wahweap Marina. The rangers immediately radioed park dispatch and went into action to isolate the fire by removing surrounding boats from the two boats that were ablaze. An NPS fire crew soon arrived on scene with a fire engine and a fire boat; they were supported by units from the Page Fire Department. The blaze was brought under control within approximately 30 minutes. Two privately-owned, 37-foot cabin cruisers were lost in the fire. The actions of the rangers and the quick response by firefighters prevented additional damage to the docks and other boats in the marina. Aramark is conducting the clean-up associated with the fire. Coconino County is leading the investigation into the cause of the fire. The incident commander was Shawn McNally. [Brian Sweatland, Public Affairs Officer; Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
On Friday, June 12th, rangers were on patrol at a large wakeboard competition being held on Lake Powell when they saw a helicopter approach and hover within 500 feet of six beached houseboats, 15 ski boats, several personal watercraft, 20 to 25 swimmers and approximately 100 persons on shore. Several passengers then jumped from the helicopter into the water, after which the helicopter landed atop a nearby houseboat. Ranger Jared St. Clair contacted the 33-year-old pilot, out of St. George, Utah, and subsequently arrested him for illegal air delivery of passengers and creating a hazardous condition. Since an initial warning in 2003, the pilot has received four citations concerning the operation of his helicopter in the park, including two last year. He was scheduled to appear in federal magistrate's court yesterday. [Brent McGinn, Chief Ranger]
On June 25th, park firefighters responded to reports that a ski boat was on fire at the Stateline launch ramp. The owner, a Los Angeles firefighter, had just launched his vessel after fueling at the Wahweap gas station. Prior to starting the inboard/outboard engine, he raised his engine cover to vent the engine compartment, and, even though he could smell gasoline fumes, started the engine, which immediately burst into flames. After unsuccessfully attempting to extinguish the fire, all three adults and three children onboard were forced to abandon ship into the lake, where they were picked up by nearby boaters. Within 11 minutes of the call, the NPS fire boat was on scene. Firefighters Kean Mihata, Joe Florko, Ben Davis, and vessel operator/captain Jared St.Clair found the vessel, a 21-foot 1987 Sea Ray, on a nearby shore fully engulfed in flames. Within four minutes, the flames had been knocked down enough for the fire boat to come alongside the burning boat and use a short attack line to suppress the remaining fire. The boat was towed back to the launch ramp and removed from the water. There were no visitor or employee injuries in the incident. Although the boat was saved from sinking, it is a total loss. [Max King]
A four-year-old boy has lost his life in a drowning incident on Lake Powell. On the evening of Monday, August 3rd, park dispatch received a 911 call from a houseboat in Warm Creek Bay on Lake Powell. The caller said that a four-year-old boy with the group had just been retrieved from shallow water and was unresponsive. A nurse on the houseboat immediately started CPR. Park rangers and a helicopter from Classic Lifeguard were on scene within 18 minutes of the 911 call and continued lifesaving efforts. The child was transported by helicopter to Page Hospital, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. The child had been playing on the beach with other children from the houseboat. He was not wearing a life jacket, and had been left unattended for only a few minutes. It is unclear how he ended up in the water. [Brian Sweatland, Public Affairs Officer]
A severe windstorm hit the lower areas of Lake Powell around 4:30 p.m. on the afternoon of August 22nd. A thick dust cloud was followed by very strong winds that gusted to over 50 miles per hour. Park dispatch received dozens of calls for assistance over marine band radio and by cell phone as six- to seven-foot-high waves struck both Wahweap and Padre Bays. Three NPS patrol boats and a Utah State Park boat responded to a total of 16 distress calls. Fourteen boats were either swamped, capsized or were badly damaged, and rescuers helped two others with seven people aboard get to Antelope Point Marina. A total of 19 people were transported off the lake back to Wahweap; others were able to salvage enough gear from their boats to campout for the night. Only one vessel, a private houseboat, leaked fuel into the water, as strong waves slammed it sideways into shore. Aramark, the park concessioner, responded and contained and cleaned up the fuel spill. They also salvaged the remaining boats. None of the vessels sank in deep water and all were recovered. There were no reported injuries due to the storm and all visitors who were rescued were wearing life jackets. While winds produced by thunderstorms are common at this time of year, severe winds involving search and rescue operations involving this many vessels at one time are not. Rangers Jared St. Clair, Shawn McNally, Joe Dallemolle, Laurie Axelsen, and Jamey Brazell were involved in the rescue operations. [Eric Scott, Wahweap District Ranger]
On the evening of Monday, September 7th, park dispatch received a cell phone call reporting that a visitor had sustained severe head injuries. Rangers and Classic Lifeguard Helicopter personnel responded immediately to a location on Lake Powell near the mouth of the San Juan River. When they arrived, rangers found a 42-year-old woman suffering from severe head injuries. She was treated and evacuated by helicopter to the Flagstaff Medical Center. A 17-year-old boy with her had also been injured and was transported by ranger patrol boat to Page Hospital. An on-site investigation revealed that the victims were a mother and her son, and that both had been injured in a parasailing accident. The boy was in the parasail and was attempting to takeoff from a ledge approximately 10 feet above the waterline. Several other people, including his mother, were on the ledge observing the parasailing. When the boat began to pull forward, the sail went sideways, entangling the woman and dragging her a short distance before she was dropped onto her head along the shore. The boy struck the ledge several times before being dragged into the water. Parasailing, which involves an individual attached to a parachute being pulled behind a boat, is prohibited without a permit by federal regulation in all National Park System areas. The activity can be extremely hazardous, particularly in an area such as Lake Powell, where high rock cliffs, high winds, and heavy boat traffic can endanger both the parasailor and the public. Glen Canyon does not issue permits for this type of activity because of the dangers involved and past accidents. A citation was issued to the boat operator. [Brian Sweatland, Public Affairs Officer]
Park dispatch received a call last Saturday reporting that a hiker in the Escalante arm of Lake Powell had fallen from a cliff to the water below. Two rangers responded by boat from Dangling Rope Marina. They contacted the person who'd made the call, then made a quick search of the area where the accident had occurred and found the body of 49-year-old R.H. of Missouri in the Escalante River about two miles upstream from the mouth of Explorer Canyon. R.H. was day hiking with a friend when he attempted to cross a talus slope at the edge of the cliff. He lost his footing, fell into shallow water and mud 70 feet below, and sustained a traumatic and fatal head injury. R.H. had been visiting the area with four friends and had gone on several day hikes during his trip. [Laurie Axelsen, Dangling Rope District Ranger]
Rangers on boat patrol in Iceberg Canyon on Lake Powell on Wednesday afternoon contacted two kayakers who were seeking assistance. They reported that four people in their party had become trapped on a cliff and needed rescue. The rangers immediately responded, and were soon joined by rangers in two more patrol boats and by technical climbing rangers who responded from Page via helicopter. When they arrived on scene, they found a teenage boy clinging to a sheer cliff face, struggling to maintain his footing on a four-inch-wide ledge 150 feet above the lake surface. Two other teenage boys were trapped in an alcove near the first boy. One boy's mother, who had attempted to rescue the three teenagers, had become trapped on another ledge 50 feet above them. Four rangers trained in technical rescue climbed to a position 200 feet above the lake surface, where they traversed a ledge to a position directly above the stranded boys. The rangers rappelled down to the teenagers, used climbing gear to secure each one - beginning with the boy on the narrow ledge - and then brought them one at a time up the cliff to a safe position. The rangers last secured the mother, who was in a relatively safe location nearby, and led all four to a location where they could rappel down to the bottom of the canyon. The rescue was completed by 6 p.m. The teenage boys were with a two-family party on a houseboat. The group had been camping in Iceberg Canyon when the three boys decided to go exploring. They were about 100 yards from the houseboat when they became stranded. The boys had climbed up and across a high ledge and then descended into an alcove, where they found that they could not climb back out. One boy, attempting to climb out of the alcove, became stuck on the nearby ledge. The mother then became stranded above the boys while attempting a rescue. None of the four individuals required medical attention, and all were able to remain with their houseboat group for the night. [Brian Sweatland, Public Affairs Officer]
A houseboat explosion and fire on Lake Powell on Friday resulted in burns and other injuries to six people. Park dispatch received numerous calls of a houseboat fire in Gunsight Canyon around 4 p.m. More calls came in soon thereafter reporting multiple victims with burns and other injuries. NPS firefighters Jared St. Clair, Kean Mihata, Scott Larson, Chad Hunter, Craig Janicki, Jeff Wilson and Eric Scott responded along with two helicopters from Classic Lifeguard. NPS and Utah State Parks units arrived on scene to find the houseboat engulfed in flames on the shoreline of Gunsight Butte. Six people were treated and transported by either Classic Lifeguard or boat. An eight-year-old boy and a 46-year-old man were flown separately to a burn center in Las Vegas. Park medic Laurie Axelsen and FTEP trainee Jason Montoya were first on scene to the burned boy, with ranger Jamey Brazell joining them shortly thereafter. They provided ALS to the boy until the helicopter flew him out. Ranger Greg Hester triaged the other four victims as they arrived by boat at the Wahweap launch ramp. They were taken by Page FD and NPS ambulances to Page Hospital. The privately-owned, 62-foot Skipperliner houseboat was a complete loss. There were several other people on the boat at the time, but they were uninjured and were taken to Wahweap Marina by other boaters. One of the injured persons said that the fire began when a line being used to siphon fuel between two containers leaked gasoline into the boat's generator compartment, causing an explosion and the fire that engulfed the entire houseboat. Ranger Eric Scott was IC. NOTE: The online story is accompanied by an image of the burned houseboat. [Eric Scott, Wahweap District Ranger]
Park dispatch received a distress call on marine band radio from a boater onboard a sinking vessel on the afternoon of Sunday, October 18th. The caller said that the boat was rapidly taking on water and starting to sink. Rangers responded from Dangling Rope Marina and from two other locations, with district ranger Laurie Axelsen arriving first. She found the boat near Face Canyon and immediately took two children and their two grandparents on board her vessel. Rangers Christopher Schreck and Jamey Brazell arrived shortly thereafter. Efforts were made to save the boat, but it sank about a half hour after the initial distress call was made. The family was transported back to Wahweap by rangers Chad Hunter and Jason Marsoobian. Investigation revealed that the boat had struck a submerged object, possibly a rock, outside the marked channel in the Padre Bay area. The operator continued upstream for about two miles before he realized that the boat had been damaged and was taking on water. Salvage efforts are underway to recover the cabin cruiser. [Max King, Public Affairs Officer]
In the first trial involving the park's mussel prevention regulations, a federal judge has ordered a Nevada man to pay a $2,500 fine for failing to have his boat inspected for mussels before launching it on Lake Powell. On Monday, October 19th, Nevada resident J.W. was found guilty of violating regulations requiring mandatory inspections for "at risk" boats entering Lake Powell. J.W. visited Glen Canyon on August 17th and was informed by park staff that he was required to have his boat inspected for zebra and quagga mussels before launching on Lake Powell. J.W. instead proceeded to Lone Rock Beach, where he launched in violation of Glen Canyon regulations. Park rangers contacted J.W. on Lone Rock Beach and issued him a mandatory citation to appear in court for violating mussel prevention regulations. J.W. elected to go to trial, and was found guilty of violating Glen Canyon's quagga mussel regulations. NPS staff testified in court in support of the prosecution. "We appreciate Judge Braithwaite's support for our mussel prevention efforts at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area," said Superintendent Stan Austin. "Our success in keeping Lake Powell mussel-free will only continue with the cooperation and support of all of our partners and visitors." Zebra and quagga mussels are aquatic invasive species that can lead to severe economic and environmental consequences for lakes and other waterways. A number of water bodies in the region are known to be infested with quagga mussels. Glen Canyon NRA has had an active mussel prevention program in place since 2000 for Lake Powell. All evidence to date indicates Lake Powell is zebra and quagga mussel free. [Max King, Public Affairs Officer]
Ranger Moses Rinck, Utah State Park rangers and San Juan County deputies were dispatched to a report of a suicidal man in the concessioner housing area at Halls Crossing, a marina located on Lake Powell, on the evening of January 11th. He reportedly had a firearm and intended to commit suicide. Rinck and the Utah State Park rangers responded by boat from Bullfrog while the San Juan County deputies responded by land. The rangers and officers coordinated the joint response while en route to Halls Crossing. Upon arriving at the concessioner residence, they located the man inside the house and a handgun outside on the front porch. After securing the handgun, they took him into protective custody without incident. He was highly intoxicated. [Lindy Mihata, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Park staff had a busy time last week responding to several medical emergencies and accidents: A serious boating accident occurred near Sand King Beach across from the Stateline boat ramp during the afternoon of June 24th. A 30-year-old man fell from a boat and was struck by the propeller. He sustained major injuries to his lower body and was flown by Classic Lifeguard to the Flagstaff Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition in their ICU. NPS and Utah State Park rangers responded to the accident scene and are conducting the investigation. Alcohol appears to have been a contributing factor in this incident. A man was killed in a single vehicle rollover accident on Warm Creek Road on the morning of June 23rd. National Park Service rangers and Kane County Sheriff's Office deputies responded. The initial investigation indicates that the diver was likely travelling at an excessive rate of speed and that alcohol was apparently a factor in the accident. On a much more positive note, NPS rangers also saved the life of a 44-year-old man who suffered from major heart complications at Lone Rock Beach on June 22nd, employing an AED to restore his heartbeat. He was transported to the Flagstaff Medical Center and admitted to the ICU for further treatment. [Scott Sticha, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers responded to three serious incidents within 48 hours in late June: A three-year-old boy from Cortez, Colorado, was discovered floating face down in the swimming pool at the Lake Powell Resort just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 29th. The child was unconscious, so his father and a vacationing off-duty firefighter immediately began CPR. When rangers arrived minutes later, the boy had regained consciousness and begun breathing on his own. They maintained his airway and monitored vital signs. The boy and his mother were flown by Classic Lifeguard to the Flagstaff Medical Center for further treatment. He was held overnight for observation and released the following morning. On Monday, June 28th, an 11-year-old boy from California was struck and injured by a jet ski on Lake Powell in Reflection Canyon. He was transported by private boat to Dangling Rope Marina and airlifted to Flagstaff Medical Center, where he remains in the intensive care unit. The jet ski was being driven by an underage operator at the time of the accident. On Monday evening, a 46-year-old woman from Idaho was severely injured when winds came up unexpectedly at their campsite in Bullfrog Bay. A houseboat was blown towards the shore, and crashed into a ski boat. The woman attempted to save the ski boat and became trapped between the two vessels. She suffered traumatic head injuries and was stabilized by NPS rangers at the Bullfrog Clinic before being flown to the Valley Medical Center in Orem, Utah, for further treatment. [Scott Sticha, Public Affairs Officer]
On the afternoon of July 7th, rangers were notified that a 23-year-old man who'd been camping on a houseboat with his family had not returned from a hike in a side canyon of Warm Creek Bay. Rangers and family members immediately began to search the area by ground and air. Within hours, the body of P.D. of Mesa, Arizona, was found at the base of a cliff. The initial investigation revealed that Dixon was properly prepared for a short hike, but had fallen approximately 70 feet and had sustained multiple fatal injuries. [Scott Sticha, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers responding to a report of a man falling from a cliff at the Horseshoe Bend Overlook last Saturday found the body of a 20-year-old man at the base of the cliff near the Colorado River. He was identified as a Greek national who had been traveling with a small tour group. He'd fallen about 600 feet. Rangers and county deputies recovered the body with the assistance of a helicopter and crew from Grand Canyon and transferred it to the county medical examiner. The Coconino County Sheriff's Office is conducting an investigation in coordination with the National Park Service. [Erin Frackleton]
On October 8th, Chief Ranger Brent McGinn and Dangling Rope District Ranger Laurie Axelsen took off from the Bryce Canyon Airport in a privately-owned Cessna 172 for a pleasure flight over Mount Dutton, continuing on to Page, Arizona. Both were off duty at the time and had flown to Bryce Canyon so that McGinn could meet friends and scout out hunting locations. Early on the morning of October 9th, Glen Canyon's dispatch center received a report that the plane was overdue. Shortly thereafter, a search was begun by Garfield and Kane Counties, the National Park Service and Classic Lifeguard, a local air medical evacuation service. Around 8 a.m., the crew of the latter spotted the plane in a rugged area known as Deep Creek on Mount Dutton in the Dixie National Forest. Both Axelsen and McGinn were killed in the crash. McGinn was 49 years old and had worked at Glen Canyon for almost three years. He was from Duluth, Minnesota, and started his National Park Service career in 1980 as a park technician at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Through the years, he had worked at several National Park Service units, including Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks and Canaveral National Seashore. He is survived by his parents and three siblings. Axelsen was 41 years old and had worked at Glen Canyon for over eight years. She was from Great Falls, Montana, and started with the National Park Service in 1989 as a park ranger at Mount Rainier National Park. Axelsen had previously worked at several national park units, including Olympic, Big Bend and Shenandoah National Parks. She is survived by her parents and a brother. Both are survived by their National Park Service family and friends across the nation. "As what often happens with a tragic event within the NPS family, employees from around the country have sent e-mails and made phone calls with offers of support -- both with thoughts and prayers and by sending staff to help," said Acting Superintendent Kym Hall. "Knowing we can continually turn to our park service brothers and sisters for support is a priceless gift we receive as being members of this organization. Our neighbors and friends throughout the area have demonstrated that same support through phone calls and sharing of resources as much as possible. For that, we are very appreciative. The staff at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is facing some tough days and weeks ahead as we gather ourselves up and find the strength to move forward and get back into our daily lives. There will be a tremendous hole in our organization with the loss of two such well-known and passionate people. It is a comfort to know they were doing something they loved when their lives ended." Additional details on services and where you can send condolences will appear as soon as they are available. [Shannan Marcak, Public Information Officer]
On October 8th, Chief Ranger Brent McGinn and Dangling Rope District Ranger Laurie Axelsen took off from the Bryce Canyon Airport in a privately-owned Cessna 172 for a pleasure flight over Mount Dutton, continuing on to Page, Arizona. Both were off duty at the time and had flown to Bryce Canyon so that McGinn could meet friends and scout out hunting locations. Early on the morning of October 9th, Glen Canyon's dispatch center received a report that the plane was overdue. Shortly thereafter, a search was begun by Garfield and Kane Counties, the National Park Service and Classic Lifeguard, a local air medical evacuation service. Around 8 a.m., the crew of the latter spotted the plane in a rugged area known as Deep Creek on Mount Dutton in the Dixie National Forest. Both Axelsen and McGinn were killed in the crash. McGinn was 49 years old and had worked at Glen Canyon for almost three years. He was from Duluth, Minnesota, and started his National Park Service career in 1980 as a park technician at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Through the years, he had worked at several National Park Service units, including Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks and Canaveral National Seashore. He is survived by his parents and three siblings. Axelsen was 41 years old and had worked at Glen Canyon for over eight years. She was from Great Falls, Montana, and started with the National Park Service in 1989 as a park ranger at Mount Rainier National Park. Axelsen had previously worked at several national park units, including Olympic, Big Bend and Shenandoah National Parks. She is survived by her parents and a brother. Both are survived by their National Park Service family and friends across the nation. The NPS Pacific West IMT (Denny Ziemann, IC) is currently on scene, providing assistance to park staff by helping to maintain park operations, providing CISM peer support for park employees, and helping facilitate the planned memorial event (see below). "As what often happens with a tragic event within the NPS family, employees from around the country have sent e-mails and made phone calls with offers of support -- both with thoughts and prayers and by sending staff to help," said Acting Superintendent Kym Hall. "Knowing we can continually turn to our park service brothers and sisters for support is a priceless gift we receive as being members of this organization. Our neighbors and friends throughout the area have demonstrated that same support through phone calls and sharing of resources as much as possible. For that, we are very appreciative. "The staff at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is facing some tough days and weeks ahead as we gather ourselves up and find the strength to move forward and get back into our daily lives. There will be a tremendous hole in our organization with the loss of two such well-known and passionate people. It is a comfort to know they were doing something they loved when their lives ended." A joint Celebration of Life event will be held in Page, Arizona, on Thursday, October 14th, at 1:00 p.m. MST. Please call the McGinn-Axelsen Memorial Hotline at 928-608-6256 (recorded message) for updates. Additional information, including an exact location, will be posted under events to the memorial sites below as soon as it is available. Please RSVP to McGinnAxelsenRSVP@gmail.com to help event planners anticipate attendance. Please provide your name, number of guests, affiliation and any special needs. Memorial websites have been established to honor the memories of Brent McGinn and Laurie Axelsen. Please share your condolences, photos, and stories online at: Brent McGinn Memorial Website - HYPERLINK "http://www.sympathytree.com/brentmcginnnps/" Laurie Axelsen Memorial Website - HYPERLINK "http://www.sympathytree.com/laurieaxelsennps/" Condolences and messages of support may be sent to the following addresses. They will be forwarded to the families: McGinn Family, c/o Management Assistant, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, PO Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040 Axelsen Family, c/o Management Assistant, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, PO Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040
A joint Celebration of Life will be held this Thursday for Chief Ranger Brent McGinn and Dangling Rope District Ranger Laurie Axelsen, who were killed in an off-duty plane crash in the Dixie National Forest last Friday. The event will be held at the Lake Powell Resort Pool Lawn at Wahweap at Glen Canyon at 1 p.m. MST (Arizona time). NPS uniforms may be worn whether on or off duty during the service. Summer dress uniforms are currently being worn at Glen Canyon. Lodging may be available in Page, Marble Canyon and Kanab, Utah. Campgrounds are located at Wahweap Marina, the Wahweap RV park, and the Page RV park. Please RSVP to McGinnAxelsenRSVP@gmail.com to help event planners anticipate attendance. Please provide your name, number of guests, affiliation and any special needs. Due to logistical challenges, please do not send flowers. Mail may be sent to the following addresses where it will be forwarded to the families: McGinn Family, c/o Management Assistant, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040 Axelsen Family, c/o Management Assistant, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, P.O. Box 1507, Page, AZ 86040 Memorial websites have been established to honor the memories of Brent McGinn and Laurie Axelsen. Event logistics are included on the calendar pages on these sites. Please share your condolences, photos, and stories online at: Brent McGinn Memorial Website - HYPERLINK "http://www.sympathytree.com/brentmcginnnps/" Laurie Axelsen Memorial Website - HYPERLINK "http://www.sympathytree.com/laurieaxelsennps/" [Michelle Fidler and Patti Wold]
Over 500 friends, family, and co-workers gathered together yesterday to celebrate the lives of Chief Ranger Brent McGinn and Dangling Rope District Ranger Laurie Axelsen. The two Glen Canyon NRA rangers lost their lives in a private plane crash in the Dixie National Forest on October 8th. The celebration took place at the Lake Powell Resort overlooking Lake Powell. Some of Brent and Laurie's favorite music played in the background while friends and family gathered in their honor. Cheto Olais, the Intermountain Region's law enforcement specialist, began the celebration with the Pledge of Allegiance as a tribute to Brent's tradition of beginning meetings and other events in the same way. Speakers recounted fond memories and stories of experiences shared with Brent and Laurie. The theme for the day seemed to be captured by several speakers who quoted the lyrics of a Jimmy Buffet song, "Breathe in, breathe out, move on". "It's been a difficult week for all of us and the reality of losing two wonderful people is just starting to sink in," said Acting Superintendent Kym Hall. "When today is done and we return to our lives and jobs and routines, the reality will be even starker. When each of us thinks about how our time on earth comes to an end, maybe we can hope that we are with friends or loved ones, that we are in the middle of doing something that truly brings us joy and that we are remembered for all the wonderful and lasting contributions we made to our families and to our jobs. That is how Brent and Laurie ended their time with us..." The families were then presented with their flat hats and a plaque with a glass law enforcement badge and arrowhead along with an American flag. The celebration ended with the "last call" from dispatch and a helicopter flyover. Friends and family gathered at the fire station to continue reminiscing. Members of the NPS family traveled from as far away as Alaska and Boston to participate in the celebration. Their impact on the local community was evidenced by the diverse representation of federal, state, and local agencies and members of the local community. Biographies and the celebration program are posted on their memorial websites. Please continue to share your condolences, photos, and stories online at: Brent McGinn Memorial Website - HYPERLINK "http://www.sympathytree.com/brentmcginnnps/" Laurie Axelsen Memorial Website - HYPERLINK "http://www.sympathytree.com/laurieaxelsennps/" In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted through Glen Canyon Natural History Association to establish a Seasonal Law Enforcement Ranger Academy scholarship. Please make checks out to Glen Canyon Natural History Association and note McGinn-Axelsen Scholarship on the memo line. Please mail checks to Glen Canyon Natural History Association, Attn: McGinn-Axelsen Scholarship, P.O. Box 1835, Page, AZ 86040 or call (credit card only): (877) GLEN-CYN. The Western Incident Management Team worked with Glen Canyon NRA staff on the celebration. [Michelle Fidler, Acting Management Assistant, and Patti Wold, Western IMT PIO]
A private 54-foot houseboat at Wahweap Marina caught fire early on the morning of October 20th. Park maintenance worker Scott Dolinar discovered and reported the fire just before 6 a.m. Chad Hunter was the first NPS responder to arrive and served as the incident commander. NPS firefighters responded with the park's fireboat and were joined by units from the Page Fire Department. The fire was declared out about 90 minutes later. The houseboat was unoccupied and no injuries were reported. The quick response time to the fire prevented damage to the dock and other boats in the marina. Park concessioner Aramark is assisting with cleanup. The cause of the fire is under investigation. [Michelle Fidler, Acting Management Assistant]
An NPS concession employee came upon recent damage to a rock art panel below Glen Canyon Dam last June and reported it to a park interpretive ranger. The damage consisted of the name "TRENT" scratched into the panel. The interpretive ranger had visited and photographed the rock art, known as the Descending Sheep panel, less than an hour prior to the report, and had also observed a guided fishing trip on the beach near the panel. This information was passed on to a law enforcement ranger working at Lee's Ferry, who found the fishing guide at the boat ramp and asked if he had anyone on his trip by the name of "Trent." After the guide pointed out his passengers, the ranger asked for Trent. T.G. of North Carolina responded and admitted to scratching his name into the rock. T.G. told the ranger he did it because he thought it would be "cool." On December 9th, T.G. pled guilty to one felony violation of the Archaeological Resource Protection Act in federal magistrate's court and agreed to pay $10,000 in restitution to repair the damage he caused to the panel. He is scheduled for sentencing in the district court in Phoenix on March 14th. The investigation was conducted by NPS rangers, Glen Canyon cultural resources staff, and Investigative Service Branch investigators. [Kevin Cochary, Acting Chief Ranger]
Firefighters battling a fire in the Wahweap Marina on the evening of March 2nd were able to save 40 vessels. Park dispatch received a call reporting the fire just after 4:30 p.m. Rangers and firefighters responded immediately in the HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=10068" park's new fireboat. By the time they got to the scene, four private houseboats moored at the "O" dock were engulfed in flames. The Page and Greenehaven fire departments also responded, and the fire was contained by 5 p.m. The fireboat was used to both fight the fire and to tow burning vessels out from their slips in the marina in order to prevent the blaze from spreading to other vessels. Four houseboats and one personal watercraft were completely destroyed, and a fifth suffered serious damage. Several fingers of the "O" dock sustained very heavy damage - a preliminary estimate by Aramark, the park concessioner, places the total damage to the dock and boats at about $1 million. The quick response to the fire prevented other boats from being damaged. The new fireboat was critical in containing the fire safely and efficiently. The burned vessels were moved to the Wahweap launch ramp, which is at present closed to the public. The Stateline launch ramp has been opened for public use. The NPS and Coconino County Sheriff's Officer are investigating the cause of the fire. [Veronica Lane]
On April 4th, T.G. was sentenced in federal court to 60 months supervised probation, $10,000 restitution, and 100 hours of community service for damaging petroglyphs on the canyon walls along the Colorado River. T.G., 29, of Carolina Beach, North Carolina, pleaded guilty last December to a charge of damaging an archeological resource, a Class E felony. T.G. was on a guided fishing trip on the Colorado River last June. When the group stopped at a beach below Glen Canyon Dam, T.G. hiked up a short distance to a famous petroglyph known as the "Descending Sheep Panel" and scratched "TRENT" into the petroglyph panel with a rock. His actions were discovered by rangers shortly after the group departed. They confronted him when the group disembarked at Lee's Ferry. T.G. immediately admitted his actions to the rangers, and upon learning the age and significance of the petroglyph panel, expressed remorse for his actions. He later agreed to be interviewed for an article which appeared in the Arizona Daily Sun in an effort to deter others from similar acts. At his sentencing, T.G. told the court that he was profoundly sorry for the damage that he had caused to the panel, which has great significance to Native Americans in Northern Arizona, and that he was sorry for the shame that he had brought upon himself and his family. The Descending Sheep Panel contains elements of rock art interpreted to represent three separate temporal and cultural periods dating in age from about 1,000 years ago to somewhere between 4,000 and 8,000 years ago. [Office of the United States Attorney, District of Arizona]
Park divers recovered the body of an apparent drowning victim near the Bullfrog Marina in Utah on the afternoon of April 28th. They found the 21-year-old in eleven feet of water, approximately 50 feet from shore. The victim was with a group of friends Wednesday night when the two non-motorized vessels they were in capsized. He was not wearing a life jacket. The investigation by the Kane County Sheriff's Office and the NPS is ongoing. [Max King, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers from Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon joined forces on Saturday, June 4th, to rescue an injured hiker from an unnamed canyon near Halls Crossing on Lake Powell. Rangers received a report of a hiker in a canyon near Halls Crossing with a possible broken leg around 9:30 p.m. on June 3rd. Glen Canyon ranger Tim Sveum responded by boat with staff from Utah State Parks and arrived on scene about 10:30 p.m. The injured hiker, a teenager from Buena Vista, Colorado, had taken a fall in a very narrow canyon and suffered a broken leg. Other members of the family had lowered one person into the canyon by rope to see if he could be extricated, but he found it impossible to get out of the canyon as well. Sveum determined that the patient was stable and that a technical rescue in the dark would be too dangerous. The group lowered food, water, and sleeping bags to the victim and his friend, and Sveum instructed the two individuals to bivouac for the night, adding that he would facilitate a rescue for them in the morning. There were no safe anchor points on the canyon rim for a technical rescue, so the decision was made to conduct a short-haul rescue by helicopter. Staff from Grand Canyon NP were contacted and arrangements were made for their helicopter to assist in the rescue the next day. The helicopter was on scene by 10:30 a.m. the next morning and lowered a rescuer into the canyon. He prepared the patient and his friend to be lifted out of the canyon. Once out of the canyon, the injured hiker was transported to Halls Crossing by Glen Canyon staff and then flown by Classic Lifeguard to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, for treatment. [Max King, Public Affairs Specialist]
A 15-year-old Boy Scout was killed in a boating accident on Lake Powell last Thursday night, and a second Boy Scout and an adult were injured. A group of scouts and adults were riding in a boat back to camp after dinner on Antelope Island. The boat, which was being operated in darkness, apparently struck a rock outcropping, throwing the boy out of the boat and fatally injuring him. The second Scout and the adult sustained injuries in the impact but were not thrown from the vessel. The Scout was flown out by Classic Lifeguard helicopter for medical attention. The adult was transported by ambulance to Page Hospital. The accident is under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the NPS. [Max King, Public Affairs Specialist]
Amber Bryan, district ranger for the Bullfrog District, received a call from park dispatch on the afternoon of July 28th advising that a woman had fallen about 60 feet from a cliff within the district and disappeared from view. Ranger Justin Kingston was first on scene and located the woman. He established incident command while ranger Cole Uphouse began treating the woman, whose injuries were serious but not life-threatening. A Classic Lifeguard helicopter was called in to evacuate the woman. Rangers Noel Rupel and James Boyle, also on scene in case a technical rescue carryout proved necessary, assisted with on scene operations. The woman was treated for approximately an hour before Classic arrived on scene. The pilot was able to land the helicopter in close proximity to the patient and she was subsequently airlifted to a trauma center. [Max King, Public Affairs Specialist]
Between September 23rd and 25th, more than 60 bands on eight stages played in the Page and Lake Powell Area during the second annual Powellapalooza Music Festival. One of the concert venues was situated at Antelope Point Marina, which lies within Glen Canyon NRA. This portion of the event was managed under a special use permit issued by the park. The event attracted an estimated 3,500 people, many of whom visited the park and utilized it for recreational boating purposes in conjunction with the music festival. The event was managed under ICS with a unified command that included the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, Navajo Nation Police Department, Arizona Game & Fish Department, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Page Fire Department, and the Big Water Fire Department. Staff from Organ Pipe Cactus - including a dog and handler - also assisted. A total of 45 officers and rangers were committed to the event, which resulted in 200 case incidents, including seven emergency medical calls, seven arrests, 17 drug cases, and 58 boating safety contacts. Lance Mattson, the park's operations supervisor, served as NPS IC; the ops chief for the event was ranger Joe Florko. [Max King, Public Affairs Specialist]
Park dispatch received a call reporting a boat fire at the Wahweap Marina just before 2 a.m. on October 7th. Park firefighters responded by boat and were supported by firefighters from Page Fire Department. The blaze was soon brought under control. The houseboat, though salvageable, suffered extensive damage. The fire had reached extremely high temperatures inside the boat before flames became visible. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the NPS. Ranger Shawn McNally was IC. [Max King, Public Affairs Specialist]
On December 22nd, a grand jury indictment was issued out of Coconino County for S.B.W. of Utah. The indictment included two class 5 felonies for theft and theft of a credit card and one class 4 felony for taking the identity of another. S.B.W. had been living with his girlfriend of a few weeks in the Wahweap District in July, 2010, when he disappeared with approximately $2,000 to $3,000 worth of her property, including her credit card, which he used to purchase snacks and fuel for his vehicle at gas stations, leaving a trail from Page, Arizona, up north into Utah. Ranger Scott Larson took the initial report for this case and worked with the NPS Investigative Services Branch to bring it to its conclusion. [Heidi Hall, Special Agent]
In October 2010, a California police department contacted special agents with the Service's Investigative Services Branch and relayed information to them regarding the sexual assault of a minor that occurred within the park on the Fourth of July weekend that year. The incident occurred during a family trip to the park and the perpetrator was known to the victim. ISB special agents in California and Arizona conducted the investigation. On February 2nd, the man was indicted by Coconino County for his actions and was charged with child molestation. Coconino County issued a nationwide extraditable arrest warrant and on March 8th the man was arrested in California. A conviction of child molestation carries a presumptive term of imprisonment of 17 years. [Investigative Services Branch]
A Utah man has pled guilty to aggravated assault (domestic violence), a third degree felony, for the abuse of his long-time girlfriend during a houseboat trip to Glen Canyon NRA in September of 2010. L.M.B. V had been arguing with his girlfriend for several hours when he grabbed her, pulled her off of the captain's chair, and started to choke her on the floor of the houseboat. He later took her suitcase, which contained approximately $1,500 worth of property, and threw it into Lake Powell. The Investigative Services Branch was contacted after the victim, with visible bruises, arrived at a Domestic Violence Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, to report the incident. [Christopher A. Smith, ASAC]
The body of 26-year-old C.R. was recovered from Lake Powell on June 20th by the park's underwater recovery unit. C.R. was located at a depth of over 260 feet using a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_operated_vehicle" remote operated vehicle equipped with sonar and video. The 26-day search covered approximately two square miles in Warm Creek Bay and was supported by the Utah Highway Patrol dive team, Kane County Sheriff's Office deputies, Ralston and Associates personnel, and HYPERLINK "http://www.greatbasink-9sar.org/home" Great Basin K9 Search and Rescue search dog teams. C.R. was reported missing on Friday, May 25th, after he and a friend decided to go for a swim while their houseboat drifted. The high winds pushed the boat away from the swimmers and one of them began to call for help. C.R. attempted to swim to the aid of his friend. The remaining three people on the boat were able to save the first swimmer, but C.R. slipped beneath the waves and could not be located. A joint investigation of the incident by Kane County Sheriff's Office and the National Park Service continues. [Denise M. Shultz, Public Affairs Officer]
Two members of a New Mexico family were killed when their HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_watercraft" personal watercraft collided in the San Juan arm of Lake Powell on Friday. They were enjoying the scenery and looking at Peekaboo Arch when one went off-plane and the other didn't, resulting in the collision. A girl on one of the PWC's was taken to a hospital and later released. The accident investigation is being conducted by Utah State Parks with assistance from San Juan County Sheriff's Office and the National Park Service. [Denise Shultz, Public Affairs Officer]
National Park Service rangers are searching for two missing persons in two separate incidents that occurred over the last several days. A swimmer was reported missing in Gunsight Bay on Friday morning, September 21st. The 35-year-old Salt Lake City man from jumped off a wakeboat and was swimming toward a houseboat when he began to call for help. Members of the group he was with attempted to assist, but were unable to find him after he slipped beneath the surface. Early Monday evening, September 24th, a 911 call was received reporting a missing person in Padre Bay. During a localized windstorm with high wind and waves, a houseboat was pushed off shore and began to drift. A 58-year old Scottsdale man used a jet ski to seek help from a nearby houseboat. He picked up another person to assist with the drifting boat. Neither person on the jet ski was wearing a lifejacket or the kill-switch lanyard. As they motored toward the distressed houseboat, the jet ski lanyard fell off and activated the engine kill switch. The 58-year-old man jumped into the water to retrieve the lanyard. In the meantime, the passenger was able to restart the jet ski and motor to the distressed houseboat. Members of the group attempted a rescue but were unable to locate the missing man.NPS rangers, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area dive team, Kane County Sheriff's Office and Utah State Highway Patrol dive team are assisting with both searches. The incidents are under investigation by Kane County Sheriff's Office with the assistance of the National Park Service. All of the seven drownings this year could have been prevented if the victims had been wearing life jackets. [Denise M. Schultz]
The body of a 40-year-old drowning victim was recovered from Lake Powell on October 3rd by the park's underwater recovery unit. He was found at a depth of over 100 feet using a HYPERLINK "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remotely_operated_underwater_vehicle" remote operated vehicle (ROV) equipped with sonar and video. The 13-day search covered approximately three-and-a-half square miles in Gunsight Bay and included assistance from a Utah Highway Patrol dive team, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Kane County Sheriff's Office. The victim was reported missing on Friday, September 21st, after he went for a swim. Members of his group attempted to assist when he began calling for help, but were unable to find him after he slipped beneath the surface. [Denise M. Shultz, Public Affairs Officer]
The body of 58-year-old drowning victim J.B. was recovered from Lake Powell on October 10th by the park's underwater recovery unit. His body was found at a depth of over 100 feet using a remote operated vehicle equipped with sonar and video. The 16-day search occurred in Padre Canyon and included assistance from the Utah Highway Patrol dive team, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the Kane County Sheriff's Office. On the evening of Monday, September 24th, the park received a report of a missing person in Padre Canyon. During a localized windstorm with high wind and waves, a houseboat was pushed off shore and began to drift. J.B. used a jet ski to seek help from a nearby houseboat, picking up another person to go to the assistance of the drifting boat. Neither person on the jet ski was wearing a lifejacket or the kill-switch lanyard. As they were motoring toward the distressed houseboat, the jet ski lanyard fell off and activated the engine kill switch. J.B. jumped into the water to retrieve the lanyard; in the meantime, the passenger was able to restart the jet ski and motored to the distressed houseboat. When members of the group were informed that there was still a person in the water, they attempted rescue but were unable to find J.B. [Denise Shultz, Public Affairs Officer]
Park dispatch received a call from a park maintenance employee early on the morning of October 25th reporting a fire in the Wahweap Marina. The park's dive team was first on scene and was able to remove adjacent boats from the dock, thus limiting the fire's spread. When NPS and Page FD firefighters arrived on the scene, though, they found that the houseboat Take A Message, moored on "N" dock, was engulfed in flames. Once the fire was suppressed, the boat, three-quarters of which had been destroyed, was moved to the Wahweap ramp to prevent it from sinking. A second vessel, Worth The Wake, having received partial damage to one side, was moved to the breakwater. There were no injuries. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff's Office. [Denise Shultz, Public Affairs Officer]
On November 13th, Utah resident S.B.W. pled guilty in an Arizona Superior Court to theft of a credit card, a class five felony offense, and was sentenced to 90 days in jail, three years' probation, and 50 hours of community restitution. In July of 2010, S.B.W. stole approximately $2,000 to $3,000 worth of property from his girlfriend's concession-managed apartment in the Wahweap District of Glen Canyon NRA. The stolen property included her credit card, which he used to make several purchases in Arizona and Utah (where charges are still pending). As an additional term of his probation, S.B.W. will have to obtain employment and pay restitution to his victim. Ranger Scott Larson took the original theft report before transferring the case to the Investigative Services Branch.
On February 25th, Utah resident W.A. pled guilty to the unauthorized removal of archeological resources from Glen Canyon NRA during a trip to the park in October of 2009. W.A. was initially believed to have removed a mummified infant from a Native American gravesite, but the object was later examined by several archeologists and found to be an unusually large mass clay substance believed to have been gathered by historic tribal residents of a nearby archeological site for the purpose of making pottery. The artifact, possibly dating no more recently than A.D. 1300, will be retained in the park's museum collection. In addition to being fined $1,000, W.A. was ordered to pay restitution to the Department of Interior Restoration Fund in the amount of $1,000. [Investigative Services Branch]
In October 2010, special agents with the Investigative Services Branch were contacted by a California police department regarding the sexual assault of a minor that occurred within Glen Canyon National Recreation Area on the weekend of July 4, 2010. The incident occurred during a family trip to the lake and the perpetrator was known to the victim. ISB special agents in California and Arizona conducted the subsequent investigation. On February 2, 2012, the man was indicted by Coconino County for his actions, charged with child molestation, and subsequently arrested. This past January, pursuant to a plea agreement, he pled guilty to indecent exposure, a felony. [Investigative Services Branch]
Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Rainbow Bridge National Monument staff responded to several serious incidents between June 20th and June 28th, including six fatalities: On June 20th, three women were killed when their northbound motorboat hit a houseboat and the motorboat overturned. Six children and four adults were rescued. All six children were wearing lifejackets. The body of a 57-year-old woman was retrieved immediately after the accident. Dive teams located the body of a 29-year-old woman on June 23rd and the body of a 22-year-old woman was retrieved on June 25th. While the search for victims from the first incident was ongoing, park dispatch received a report of a possible drowning in Warm Creek Bay. The body of a 61-year-old man was found and retrieved on June 26th. A 71-year-old man died of natural causes while camping at Iceberg Canyon. Rangers based in Bullfrog responded. On June 28th, a five-year-old boy was thrown from a motorboat and killed instantly after being struck by a propeller uplake from Bullfrog. Everyone on board was wearing a life jacket and no alcohol was involved. The critical incident stress management team from Grand Canyon National Park assisted park staff in dealing with the incidents. [Jeanne Roy, Downlake District Interpreter]
On the morning of April 5th, the park received a 911 phone call reporting that a man had fallen about 30 feet while solo climbing Gregory Butte and that he was hanging about 600 feet above Lake Powell. The climber's camming anchor saved him from falling further. Because of injuries sustained in the fall, he was unable to move from his location. A technical rescue was conducted by rangers Matt Werner and Kean Mihata, assisted by personnel from Kane County Search and Rescue, the Utah Highway Patrol, and Classic Lifeguard and Guardian Air helicopters. He was flown to Flagstaff Medical Center, where he is being treated for head injuries. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Ranger Chris Schreck was IC for the incident. [Denise Shultz, Public Affairs Officer]
Park staff dealt with several significant incidents over a four-day period in mid-June: June 19th - A 21-foot boat caught fire at the Bullfrog fuel dock. Three people were injured in the blaze. They transported themselves to the Bullfrog Clinic, where they were treated for second degree burns. June 20th - A 17-year-old boy suffered a serious head injury in West Canyon. CPR was required. The park dispatched Classic Air Medical to the scene and the boy was flown out to medical care in Utah. Later that day, Grand Canyon rangers assisted the park with the short-haul helicopter rescue of a 40-year-old woman who'd fallen and broken her ankle in Cathedral Wash near Lees Ferry. June 21st - NPS firefighters and emergency medical staff responded to a houseboat fire at the Wahweap fuel dock around 1 p.m. A boat management company authorized to do business within the park had fueled the boat and started the engines, which resulted in an explosion and engine compartment fire. The blaze was knocked down with fire extinguishers by the staff on board at the time. A 29-year-old woman who was thrown off the back of the boat by the explosion and suffered second degree burns was flown to a medical facility by Classic Air Medical. June 21st - The park received a report of a possible missing woman early in the afternoon. Following a two-day-long search, the body of the 41-year-old new Mexico woman was recovered near Lone Rock Beach. She'd evidently drowned. The park was assisted by a number of agencies in its response to these incidents, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Utah State Parks, the Utah Highway Patrol, Coconino County Sheriff's Office, Kane County Sheriff's Office, Wasatch County Sheriff's Office, ARAMARK, Bullfrog Clinic, Coast Guard Auxiliary, Classic Air Medical and Encompass Health Services. [Denise M. Shultz, Public Information Officer]
A 12-year-old girl visiting from Israel was struck by a boat propeller and seriously injured on July 23rd. The injury occurred when she was ejected from the back of a moving powerboat while holding onto an inflatable inner tube. She sustained a severe lower leg injury when hit by the boat's propeller. Coconino County Sheriff's Office deputies and Classic Aviation responded to the Wahweap main launch ramp. The girl was flown from there to Flagstaff Medical Center. The incident is currently under investigation by the sheriff's office. [Katie Wood, Park Ranger]
Park dispatch received a 911 call reporting a missing swimmer near Bullfrog Marina around mid-afternoon on Thursday, August 14th. Rangers immediately began a boat and air search of the area, continuing until it became dark. They resumed their efforts the next morning, joined by a park dive team. The body of the 19-year-old, a Mexican national living in the Salt Lake City area, was recovered late that morning. He is presumed to have drowned. The incident was jointly investigated by the National Park Service and Kane County Sheriff's Office. [Public Affairs]
A multi-year investigation into the activities of a former Glen Canyon National History Association employee concluded last month with the conviction of W.G. on two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, a dangerous crime against children offense. W.G. was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment followed by lifetime probation and lifetime sex offender status. The investigation was begun by the Investigative Services Branch in 2012 and worked jointly by the ISB and Homeland Security Investigations. [Investigative Services Branch]
On the morning of July 25th, park dispatch received a report of a three year-old found face down in approximately seven feet of water at the rear of a houseboat in Halls Creek Bay. The reporting party said that the child might have been in the water from five to ten minutes and was not breathing or conscious. The three-year-old was not wearing a life jacket on the houseboat when the incident occurred. Responding rangers were on scene within 20 minutes and found that CPR was already in progress. Rangers took over patient care and transported the child to Bullfrog Marina to meet a park medic to receive advanced life support care. After initial ALS care, the child started to improve. The three-year-old was flown by Classic Lifeguard to a hospital and has since been released. The extended CPR (over 45 minutes), breathing therapy, and advanced life support measures that were performed by park rangers along with Classic Lifeguard personnel saved the child's life. NPS responders included Jesse Benskin, Karol Jones, Noel Rupel, Sean McCaffrey, Valerie Reynolds and Zach Nelson. [Katie Wood, Education Coordinator]
On July 27th, B.P. of Taylorsville, Utah, was sentenced to thirty months in prison when he pled guilty to one felony count of sexual abuse of a juvenile within the park. An investigation was begun after victim reports were received in 2010, and it was revealed that B.P. had sexually abused his guardian niece and had illegal sexual contact with his nephew while out on a boat at Lake Powell in the summer of 2002. "Today's outcome is a testament to the dedicated work of the National Park Service in diligently investigating a pattern of misconduct that had occurred many years earlier," said U.S. Attorney John S. Leonardo. "The conviction and sentence should help bring some measure of justice to the victims." An extensive investigation by the Investigative Services Branch had revealed B.P. began sexually abusing his guardian niece shortly after her fifteenth birthday and continued to do so until she vacated his home as an adult. B.P., who was also court-ordered to attend counseling, will be required to register as a sexual offender when he is released from prison. [Submitted by Investigative Services Branch]
Early on the morning of June 2nd, the park received a report of two bodies found near the Wahweap swimming beach parking area. Rangers responded along with deputies from the Coconino and Kane County sheriffs' offices. They found the bodies of M.F., 37, and R.B., 25, both of whom had evidently died of gunshot wounds. Both were from nearby Page, Arizona. Their deaths are being investigated as a possible homicide-suicide. Due to the close proximity of the Utah/Arizona state line, this incident is being investigated through coordinated efforts of the Coconino County Sheriff's Office, Kane County Sheriff's Office, Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office, and the National Park Service. Source: Press Release, Mary Plumb, Glen Canyon NRA.
An explosion occurred on a privately owned houseboat that was anchored on shore in Crystal Springs Canyon around 10 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12th. Crystal Springs Canyon is located two canyons north of Halls Crossing. K.M., 52, of Castle Rock, Colorado, was killed in the blast; four other people sustained critical injuries — burns, broken bones and facial injuries — and were flown to hospitals in Salt Lake City and Grand Junction. A juvenile who received minor injuries was taken by boat to the Bullfrog Clinic, where he was treated and released. Twenty other people were associated with this boating group. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. It was reported that the explosion occurred as efforts were being made to start a generator on the houseboat. Assisting at the scene of the accident were National Park Service personnel from Bullfrog and Halls Crossing, personnel from the San Juan County Sheriff's Office, and the San Juan County Sheriff's Office medical examiner. The latter is investigating the death; an autopsy will be conducted. The San Juan County Sheriff's Office is working with the National Park Service in the investigation of the explosion. Source: News release, Glen Canyon NRA.
A Phoenix man fell about 800 feet to his death at Horseshoe Bend Overlook on Sunday, May 6th. The body of 33-year-old Z.W. was later found by deputies and was transported to the Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office. Rangers and sheriff's deputies reached the body from the side of Colorado River, while a state Department of Public Safety helicopter was used to take Z.W. out of the canyon. Z.W.'s brother told rangers that he saw his brother slip over the edge at about 3:30 p.m. Deputies said no foul play is suspected. Source/full story: Arizona Central.
An Arizona woman died on May 22nd after falling off a Chains area cliff into Lake Powell. M.L., 36, of Lechee, Arizona, was pulled out of the water by visitors in a nearby boat. Park rangers and officers from the Page Police Department responded to a 911 call about 12:10 p.m. When they arrived, they transferred M.L. to a National Park Service vessel and performed life-saving measures on her as they transported her to the Wahweap dock. The Page Fire Department continued life-saving measures until the patient was taken by helicopter to Banner Page Hospital. The circumstances surrounding the death are under investigation. Source: Deseret News.
A 47-year-old man disappeared in Warm Creek Canyon on the morning of July 25th while attempting to retrieve a boat anchor in about 10 feet of water approximately 30 feet from the shore. Family members dove into the water but their attempts to save him were unsuccessful. Rangers responded from Wahweap Marina and retrieved the anchor line. They found that the man was entangled in it. Resuscitation efforts began immediately and continued as the man was transported to a hospital in Page, Arizona, where he was declared dead. Source: Fox 13 Salt Lake City.
On August 27th, park dispatch received a 911 call reporting a vessel coming into the Wahweap Marina with a male drowning victim on board. Rangers and a Coconino County Sheriff's Office deputy responded and found that the scope of the incident was larger than they had originally thought. They discovered a man and woman with propeller cuts to their legs, three near-drowning victims, and one distraught person. The Page Fire Department and Classic Air Medical were called to help with the situation. Investigation revealed that about 30 young-adult foreign nationals rented three pontoon boats from Wahweap, then headed out on Wahweap Bay near the Castle Rock Cut. Many of the party jumped into the water to swim, none of them wearing life jackets. When the winds picked up, several of the swimmers began having difficulty. Boat operators in the group were able to pick many of the swimmers out of the water, some of whom were near total exhaustion; others were able to make it to shore. A.K., 20, of Russia, was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman with propeller cut was airlifted to Dixie Regional Hospital in St. George. The man with the propeller cut and the distraught victim were transported to a hospital in Page. Three near-drowning victims refused medical transport. Source: News4Utah.
A three-year-old Utah boy drowned near Willow Creek Canyon at Lake Powell on September 28th after falling off the upper deck of a houseboat into the water. The child was transported to the Halls Crossing launch ramp, where it was met by responding rangers. Investigation revealed that the child was asleep on the upper deck of the houseboat and fell off into five feet of water during the night. He was not wearing a life jacket. The Kane County Sheriff's Office is investigating the incident with the assistance of the NPS and San Juan County Sheriff's Office. Source: St. George News.
A 14-year-old California girl fell 700 feet to her death from the overlook on December 24th. The girl's family reported her missing on Christmas Eve and her body was spotted later that day by an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter. Her body was retrieved on Christmas Day. It's believed that the girl accidentally fell from the scenic overlook, which offers view of the Colorado River flowing below red cliffs near the Arizona-Utah border. The area is only accessible by foot and there are no barriers. Source: New York Post.
J.H., 18, was killed on June 14th when the boat she was riding in struck a rock and ejected her from the vessel. Park dispatch received a report of the accident in mid-afternoon. Rangers from Halls Crossing and Bullfrog responded. They found that J.H. had already expired from her injuries, but that the other seven passengers in the boat had suffered only minor and non-life-threatening injuries. They were all taken to the Bullfrog Medical Clinic for further evaluation and later released. According to the initial report, 21-year-old T.H. was driving the boat when it struck a rock and landed on the beach, ejecting J.H. T.H. was arrested for driving under the influence, automobile homicide and criminal negligence, along with failure to maintain proper lookout on a boat. Deputies said that T.H. failed to obey navigation buoys, traveled on the wrong side of the lake, and failed to keep a safe distance from another boat that was towing a tube. They also reported that they could smell alcohol on his person and that his eyes were glossy and bloodshot. Several field tests also indicated that he was intoxicated at the time of the accident. Source: Hunter Geisel, KUTV News.
An Arizona man camped out in a remote area of the park on the might of May 13th fell about 70 feet to his death. I.B., 26, and a friend had gone out to Alstrom Point, west of Gunsight Bay, to spend Wednesday night. The point is a popular location for photographers wanting to take pictures of Lake Powell. It's located in a remote area of Kane County that overlooks Gunsight Bay and Padre Bay. The Kane County Sheriff's Office received a call reporting the death the next morning. The caller said that the two had had camped on the point on May 13th. The caller had gone to bed after midnight, while I.B. stayed up to watch the stars. When the caller woke the morning of the 14th, he was unable to locate I.B. He eventually looked over to the edge of the cliff and noticed some belongings. Ian's body was then located about 70 feet below. Rope rescue personnel from Kane County Sheriff's Search and Rescue and the National Park Service worked together to raise the man's body to the top of the cliff. The death appears to have been accidental. Source: National Parks Traveler.
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: Glen Canyon NRA — A 46-year-old man drowned on Lake Powell while boating with a group of friends. He was trying to help a friend who was struggling in the water after high winds picked up while they were swimming in Wahweap Bay. The boat that they were on drifted away from them while they struggled to swim and couldn't be restarted quickly enough due to mechanical issues. Another passenger on the boat tried to throw a flotation device to the victim, but he couldn't reach it. When the boat finally made it back to them, another passenger jumped in and saved the first swimmer by putting him in a life jacket. He then grabbed Shannon, who was now underwater. CPR was begun while they headed south to the Stateline Launch Ramp, where off-duty firefighters and rangers continued it and also employed an AED. Neither was successful. 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.
R.H., 46, was killed in a boating accident on Lake Powell early on the morning of Wednesday, July 29th. His body was recovered several hours later by the park's dive team. R.H. was with a group of people camping at a houseboat at the lake shoreline in the Warm Creek area. A member of the group called in a report of a boating crash and a missing person at about 1:20 a.m. R.H. had taken a wave boat out on the lake and had hit a rock, causing it to flip (a wave boat transforms a jet ski into a power boat). Rangers began a search for him at sunrise. R.H.'s body was recovered by the park's dive team in 12 feet of water. The Kane County Sheriff's Office, National Park Service, Utah State Parks, and Utah State Medical Examiner's Office are working together to investigate the crash. Source: Carter Williams, KSL News.
A 25-year-old man fell to his death while taking pictures near a park overlook. O.S.-A., 25, was on top of the rim overlooking the Colorado River on the morning of October 4th when he fell about 100 feet and then slid another 150 feet. A sheriff's deputy rappelled to his location. The deputy reached him around 30 minutes after the fall and confirmed that he'd died. Investigators believe that O.S.-A. had climbed up some rocks to get a better view. When he tried to climb back out, he evidently lost his footing. Source: Phil Helsel, NBC News.
The owner of a houseboat management company is accused of mismanaging money intended for maintenance and storage fees, causing the owners and shareholders of 34 houseboats on Lake Powell to nearly lose their boats. J.B.S., 41, was charged in Third District Court with nine counts of unlawful dealing of property by a fiduciary and engaging in a pattern of unlawful activity, both second-degree felonies. The Utah Attorney General's Office began investigating L.P.M. LLC, a houseboat management company, in January 2019. Several groups that share ownership in houseboats based in Page, Arizona, at the Antelope Point Marina on Lake Powell were affected. Investigators identified a total of 34 legal entities that suffered a substantial risk of loss or detriment due to J.B.S.'s unlawful conduct. These entities are each comprised of approximately nine to 18 members or shareholders who are fractional owners in one of the 34 houseboats. J.B.S. was hired to manage the care, maintenance and expenses of the houseboats, including annual dues, repair fees, general maintenance and storage fees, according to the charges. As time passed, houseboat owners discovered that their houseboats had accrued substantial debts while under J.B.S.'s care. Many of the houseboats owed thousands of dollars to the marina in delinquent slip fees. Marine insurance coverage had lapsed on some of the houseboats for failure to pay premiums. Some houseboats had expired vessel registrations. When owners tried to regain control of the management of their houseboat accounts, they found that in many cases the entity bank accounts had balances of zero or negative balances. Overdraft fees had been accruing and many accounts had been closed by the bank. Houseboat entities were forced to negotiate settlements with the marina and other vendors. According to prosecutors, J.B.S. used L.P.M.'s general business account to pay for business and personal expenses. He would then transfer funds from one houseboat entity's account to pay the expenses of another houseboat. By the end of 2018, the general manager for Antelope Point Marina threatened to pull 20 houseboats under J.B.S.'s care out of the water because they were behind $800,000 total in fees and storage costs. Source: Pat Reavy, Deseret News.
On August 7 at Wahweap Marina, Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes was issued a misdemeanor citation for operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol. Sheriff Rhodes has stated publicly that he deeply regrets his actions and has learned from his mistake. Source: AZ Central
Due to continued drops in water levels on Lake Powell, on December 17, the park announced that the Stanton Creek Primitive boat launch ramp is no longer usable. The Bullfrog Main Spur Ramp also closed to houseboats on December 20. The park anticipates that the Bullfrog Main Spur Ramp will remain viable until January 3 and will likely close to all motorized vehicles at that time. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On January 24, the park announced that Dangling Rope Marina will remain closed throughout 2022 due to lowering lake levels. Dangling Rope has been the only place to obtain boat fuel between the northern and southern ends of Lake Powell, and the park is working with the concessioner Aramark to consider other mid-lake fuel service options. With the lake continuing to drop in level, the park has not yet come up with an infrastructure option that will be safe and sustainable. While the marina is closed, the park will retire several components that were damaged or beyond their lifecycle. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On February 14, a 29-year old visitor went outside the safety railing at Horseshoe Bend Overlook and fell off a 1,000 foot cliff. The victim's body was found and recovered by a helicopter crew and transported to Flagstaff. The incident is under investigation by Coconino County and the NPS. Source: KNAU August 24, 2022 On August 15, an airplane tour carrying a pilot and seven passengers crashed into Lake Powell near Face Canyon. The pilot had reported an engine issue just before the plane went down. The pilot and several witnesses were able to rescue four passengers via boat. Of the five patients (including the pilot), three were transported with serious injuries to St. George Regional Hospital via Classic Aviation helicopters, and two were transported by boat to Antelope Marina and then via vehicle to Page Hospital. The Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation was able to utilize an underwater remotely operated vehicle to access the plane, which was 120 feet below the surface, and the camera confirmed the other two passengers were still inside and deceased. The Utah Department of Public Safety and the Kane County Sheriffs Office will retrieve the bodies of the two victims, and the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the plane crash. Source: KSL TV
On November 21, the park closed the Bullfrog North Boat Ramp to houseboats and larger vessels due to record-low lake levels. It remains operable for smaller vessels until the lake declines 4 more feet, at which point it will be closed to all vessels. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area December 14, 2022 On December 2, the park announced that the Carl Hayden Visitor Center would be temporarily closed until further notice due to an issue with the building's water system. The Bureau of Reclamation and City of Page worked quickly to resolve the issue. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On January 5, a 46-year-old NPS staff member of Glen Canyon traveled to Las Vegas on personal time. The individual sent "concerning texts" to several people, and then failed to show up for work. The individual was last seen staying Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada and their phone last registered in Glendale, Nevada. NPS staff, the Bureau of Land Management, local county sheriffs departments, and the highway patrol from Nevada, Utah, and Arizona have conducted searches on all the routes from Las Vegas to Lees Ferry "by road and by air." Law enforcement are asking for any information the public may have. Source: LocalToday
The park was able to reopen Bullfrog North Boat Ramp to houseboats and larger vessels for the first time since November 2022 due to rising lake levels. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On June 2, a vessel moored at Wahweap Marina on B dock near the Latitutde 37 Restaurant was reported to be on fire. It spread to "more than half a dozen" other house boats. An owner of a house boat management company utilized a garden hose to douse flames and NPS personnel responded shortly thereafter. Other responders included the Big Water Fire Department, Page Fire Department, Coconino County Sheriff's Office, Kane County Emergency Medical Services, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and Arizona Department of Public Safety.. At least one boat on fire was pulled off the dock to create a fuel gap; it was stopped by the breakwater, which then caught fire. The fires were extinguished and contained by that evening. At least one boat was said to have been "destroyed." Two individuals were evaluated for smoke inhalation by emergency crews and then released. Some sections of the dock remain closed for public access due to the damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the NPS and officials are looking for any information the public may have.. Source: ABC News, KUTV, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On June 9, the NPS finished its investigation of the June 2 Wahweap Marina fire that damaged several house boats (see 6/7/23 Coalition Report). The report found "the source of the fire was undetermined and accidental in nature." Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Due to rising lake levels, a wild horse and its foal were trapped in an area with little food. Though typically a horse would be able to make the quarter-mile swim to other areas with food resources, it is suspected that the mother stayed with its newborn until they were both too weak to make the trip. Starting on June 7, NPS staff began monitoring and feeding the horses, which were able to drink water from the lake. Due to the popularity of the beach for camping and boating, the horses posed a safety concern for visitors. A team of NPS staff, members of the Navajo Nation, and horse specialists from nearby Best Friends Animal Society were able to sedate and move the animals into a horse trailer on an NPS boat. The two were brought to Best Friends in Kanab, Utah, and are being rehabilitated. Once the foal is weaned off its mother's milk, the two will be evaluated for adoption. If they are unable to be adopted out, they will be kept at the Best Friends facility. Source: The Salt Lake Tribune
On July 20, a 36-year-old was observed jumping off a 50-foot cliff into Lake Powell, about one-quarter mile south of Buoy 89 (89 miles from Glen Canyon Dam). The individual failed to resurface, and emergency personnel were contacted. Staff from the NPS, Utah Department of Natural Resources, and Kane County Sheriff's Office conducted a search. The following day, the Utah Department of Public Safety Dive Team used a side scan sonar to locate the victim in about 30 feet of water, and divers completed the recovery. The individual's body was transported by DNR staff to Bullfrog, Utah, then transferred to the custody of the Utah State Medical Examiner in Salt Lake City for an autopsy. The incident is under investigation by the Kane County Sheriff's Office, Utah State Medical Examiner's Office, and the NPS. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On October 8, a party of four people camped near the Dangling Rope Marina were approached by a 46-year-old on a motorized dingy. After talking for a bit, they asked him to leave since they were starting dinner. Upon being asked to leave, the individual became agitated and threatened to "slit their throats." The individual left and later returned, firing "approximately 50 gunshots" at the group. The gunshots struck the rocks near them and a cooler that belonged to the group. The campers ran nearby to find cover and the individual was said to start circling camp, boating back and forth, occasionally pointing a light at one of them and shooting in their direction. Upon arrival, officers found a 46-year-old not wearing pants, with a handgun and several expended 9mm bullet casings on the ground near by. They later found matching casings in the individual's boat that matched the gun on the ground. The individual was also observed to have recently been "trying to sell methamphetamine." On October 11, the suspect was charged in federal court with three counts of aggravated assault, illegal discharge of a firearm, drug possession, carrying a weapon while under the influence of alcohol, possession of drug paraphernalia, and intoxication. Source: KSL
On October 26, a number of houseboats caught fire at Bullfrog Marina. Five boats "were completely destroyed" and another "suffered heavy damage." The dock also "suffered extreme devastation." Several people were on scene and made efforts to isolate the original burning boat, but their efforts led to the fire spreading to several other boats. Several people on scene were treated for smoke inhalation, with one person airlifted to a nearby hospital. The incident is currently under investigation. Source: KMYU, The Salt Lake Tribune
On February 9, the NPS announced that they have completed a review of the Bullfrog Marina fire that occurred on October 26, 2023 (see 11/1/23 Coalition Report). The investigation was able to identify the point of origin (undisclosed). The source of the fire was undetermined and was deemed accidental in nature. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On April 21, the truck of a 58-year-old was found "abandoned" at Lee's Ferry. It is believed that the individual may have attempted to float the Colorado River into the Grand Canyon on a self-made wooden raft with their dog. The park is looking for any information the public may have. Source: Grand Canyon National Park
The Bureau of Reclamation recently discovered damage in the penstocks that allow water to pass out of Lake Powell. Damage includes sediment, thinning of the pipes, and cavitation (formation and collapse of air bubbles in flowing water that can pit and tear metal). To reduce additional damage, the BOR is requiring that flows be reduced in the event of low reservoir levels. The BOR is working with its engineers to come up with a solution, including utilizing scale models in a laboratory. It is unclear how long the repairs will take. Source: Los Angeles Times
On May 10, a deceased individual was found near mile 6 on the Colorado River. It is believed to be the 58-year-old who went missing in late April, who was thought to have attempted to run the river on a homemade wooden raft with a dog (see 5/1/24 Coalition Report). The Coconino County (AZ) Medical Examiner's Office will confirm positive identification and work with the NPS on an investigation of the incident. Source: Grand Canyon National Park
On July 17 at about 12:45 AM, a privately-owned houseboat reported a possible carbon monoxide poisoning incident while moored in Face Canyon, near buoy 24. NPS staff responded and provided medical support on scene. A total of 21 patients were identified. Classic Air Medical dispatched three medical helicopters and Intermountain Life Flight dispatched two medical helicopters. Three adults and two children were flown to the St. George Regional Hospital for further treatment. The remaining 16 patients were treated and released on scene. The NPS and Coconino County (AZ) Sheriff's Office are investigating the incident. It is the third carbon monoxide-related incident that NPS staff have responded to this month. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On July 26, a 25-foot pontoon vessel with 11 passengers onboard was being towed by another boater when waves made the towed boat capsize near buoy 12 at the mouth of Navajo Canyon. Several passengers became trapped underneath the overturned vessel. Nearby boaters assisted individuals out of the water. Personnel from the NPS and Page Fire Department responded; when they arrived, several individuals were still unaccounted for. Everyone was extracted from the water and emergency medical treatment was administered. Two patients were transported by Classic Air Medical helicopter and the Page Fire Department ambulance. Two four-year-olds and one 72-year-old did not survive the incident. Kane County (UT) Sheriff's Office and Coconino County (AZ) Sheriff's Office also supported the incident. It is under investigation by the NPS, Coconino County Sheriff's Office, and Coconino County Medical Examiner's Office. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
A popular arch in Rock Creek Bay known as Double Arch (as well as "Toilet Bowl," "Crescent Pool," and "Hole in the Roof") collapsed on August 8. No injuries were reported from the collapse. The feature eroded, likely hastened by changing water levels and erosion from wave action. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On August 12, lightning struck a 22-year-old and 23-year-old standing near the rim of Horseshoe Bend. Personnel from the NPS, Classic Air Medical, and the City of Page (AZ) Fire Department responded. Both individuals "sustained injuries." They both were flown to St. George Regional Hospital in Utah by Classic Air. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On August 25 at about 3 AM, a 41-year-old fell over 20 feet from the upper level of a privately owned houseboat in Wetherill Canyon. Personnel from the NPS, San Juan County (UT) Sheriff's Office, Classic Air Medical, and the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation responded to the incident. Around 12:36 PM that day, the park's dive team located and recovered the individual's body. They were pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is under investigation by the NPS, San Juan County Sheriff's Office, and San Juan County Medical Examiner's Office. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On October 10, the park put out a press release warning visitors about algal blooms "scattered around Glen Canyon National Recreation Area." They have advised visitors to be aware and avoid recreating or taking pets to areas with "scummy waters." Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On January 5, an anonymous tip was submitted to the NPS about an instance of vandalism at Horseshoe Bend. The tipster had viewed a livestream video of an influencer in which the individual threw rocks on the trail, then used a rock to scratch their website into "a portion of sandstone." The NPS reviewed the footage, noting the individual had also livestreamed their lodging. The NPS coordinated with local police in Page, Arizona, and tracked the individual down at their lodging. The NPS then conducted an interview with the suspect. The suspect also livestreamed the interview, in which they admitted to the vandalism. The individual was issued a misdemeanor citation for vandalism, and they were due to appear in court on April 25. Source: The Independent [Editor note: The article mistakenly identifies Horseshoe Bend as part of Grand Canyon National Park.]
On May 3, the Kane County (UT) Sheriff's Office sent an alert for "potentially dangerous suspect" traveling on Highway 89. NPS law enforcement officers attempted to stop the vehicle near the Lone Rock Beach Campground road junction. The subject drove their vehicle into a patrol vehicle at the junction. The officers fired shots in response, and the driver was taken into custody. The suspect was treated for "noncritical injuries" at the Page (AZ) Hospital. No officers sustained serious injuries. The incident is being investigated by Kane County, the NPS, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Source: KSL, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On May 22, the NPS released bodycam footage from the officer-involved shooting on May 3 (see 5/14/25 Coalition Report). The incident is still under investigation by the Iron Garfield Beaver Kane Critical Incident Task Force, Utah Department of Public Safety State Bureau of Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the NPS Investigative Services Branch. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On June 8, a 40-year-old was swept away by river currents downstream of Paiute Farms Wash on the San Juan River. The Navajo Nation Police Department performed a search and found the individual deceased, likely due to drowning. Other agencies involved in the recovery included the NPS, San Juan County (UT) Sheriff's Office, Bureau of Land Management Canyon Country District - Monticello Field Office, Intermountain Health/Classic Air Medical, and the Utah Department of Public Safety. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On June 13, the Bridge Creek Fire started outside the park on Navajo Nation land, along the slopes of Navajo Mountain. On June 18, the park put out a press release advising boaters on Lake Powell to remain toward the south wall between Dangling Rope and Rainbow Bridge, and to avoid Oak Bay, as firefighting aircraft are using the lake to refill buckets and tanks for the fire. Park staff are supporting the aviation operation with vessel support on the lake. As of June 24, the fire was estimated at 2,278 acres and 0% contained. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Watch Duty (app)
On July 2, the park reported the presence of cyanotoxins "at the high end of safe exposure levels" in the mouth of Antelope Canyon on Lake Powell. They recommend boaters use caution and avoid unnecessary exposure to the lake in this area, as well as caution throughout the lake. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On June 13, the Bridge Creek Fire started outside the park on Navajo Nation land, along the slopes of Navajo Mountain. On June 18, the park put out a press release advising boaters on Lake Powell to remain toward the south wall between Dangling Rope and Rainbow Bridge, and to avoid Oak Bay, as firefighting aircraft are using the lake to refill buckets and tanks for the fire. Park staff are supporting the aviation operation with vessel support on the lake. As of July 6, the fire was estimated at 2,588 acres and 0% contained, with "minimal fire activity." Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Watch Duty (app)
On July 18, the NPS announced that fixed-wing fire suppression aircraft would be drawing water from Lake Powell between buoys 43 and 49 to support "nearby wildfires." Boaters are advised to avoid or limit transit only on Lake Powell between Dangling Rope and Rainbow Bridge. A temporary flight restriction is also in place. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
On July 23, the park announced that seasonal water level changes are predicted by the Bureau of Reclamation to affect all boat launch ramps. Halls Crossing Launch Ramp may be inoperable as soon as early August. Water levels are 29 feet lower than this time last year.
On August 7, the park announced the closure of the north side of the Wahweap Main Launch Ramp due to "recent damage" (unspecified). This limited access to only vessels shorter than 30-feet. On August 18, the park will close Wahweap Main Launch Ramp due to low water. On August 25, the park will move the Rainbow Bridge dock to deeper water, making it difficult to access the trail to Rainbow Bridge National Monument. Source: Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (8/7, 8/14) | |