Natchez Trace |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-current. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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September 9, 1987 Location: Milepost #227 A county deputy discovered an accident which had occurred on the parkway. Evidence indicates that the driver was operating his vehicle in the northbound lane when he may have fallen asleep. The vehicle crossed the center line of the parkway and struck a bridge abutment. The driver was thrown from the vehicle. Both the driver and the vehicle fell off the bridge and onto the gravel road below, leaving little evidence of the accident on the parkway. The driver was identified, next of kin have been notified. No evidence of alcohol or drugs was found.
Location: North of Jackson, MS M.J.B., while traveling at a high rate of speed, crossed the median and on coming lanes before striking a bridge abutment. Employed at a local restaurant and lounge, he was apparently returning home after his late night shift. As there is no evidence of alcohol involvement, it appears that M.J.B. fell asleep while driving.
Location: North of Grindstone Ford C.A.M., 22 of Jackson, Mississippi, apparently fell asleep while driving, left the roadway and rolled his vehicle. The vehicle came to rest out of view from the roadway. C.A.M. attempted to exit the vehicle but was unable to due to injuries sustained in the accident. S.C., 18, also of Jackson, Mississippi, a passenger in the vehicle, was able to crawl to the roadway where she was picked up by a passing motorist at 4:30 am on the 26th. S.C. was taken to the Rocky Springs Ranger Station where she reported the accident. Rangers responded and found C.A.M. pulseless at 5 am. The Claiborne County Coroner responded and pronounced him dead at the scene. S.C. was transported to the hospital and admitted with broken ribs and other injuries. Statements made by S.C. and evidence at the scene indicate that C.A.M. had been drinking prior to the accident.
On January 6th, park rangers were instrumental in the capture and arrest of a married couple charged with the shooting death of the chief of police of Verona, Mississippi, which is near the parkway. (Southeast Regional Office).
Late on the morning of January 15th, rangers found 34-year-old R.G. of Ridgeland, Mississippi, shot in the chest with a 20 gauge shotgun at Ross Barnett Reservoir Overlook. A note was found near R.G. which contained his relatives' telephone numbers and other information suggesting that he'd attempted suicide. Further investigation revealed that R.G. had a number of business failures, was heavily in debt and had a history of previous suicide attempts using drugs; he also tested positive for the AID'S virus. Rangers at the scene of the incident had taken the precaution of using latex gloves while investigating the death and were not infected. R.G. died yesterday morning of injuries received from the shotgun blast.
A.Q., 76, and P.Q., 80, both of Elwood, Illinois, were killed on February 6th when their car hit ice at a high rate of speed just south of the Meriwether Lewis Site, then slammed broadside into a tree. Both victims died at the scene of multiple injuries. (Pat Reed, CR, NATR, via SERO).
On the morning of March 10th, K.A.B., 25, of Jackson, Mississippi, lost control of her car and hit a tree broadside near milepost 338 in Tennessee. She died of her injuries that afternoon. Investigators believe that she fell asleep at the wheel of her car. (Pat Reed, CR, NATR, via Bill Sturgeon, RAD/SERO).
Early on the morning of July 7th, G.I., 22, of Corinth, Mississippi, and T.T., 22, of Hazlehurst, Mississippi, were heading north from Jackson State University on the Natchez Trace. Their vehicle became airborne after it entered an area closed for construction near Highway 32, then hit some trees in the median, caught fire and burned. Both G.I. and T.T. were killed. Indications are that neither was wearing a seatbelt. All "Road Closed Ahead" signs warning signs were in place, and all warning lights were operating in the construction area. (Gene Phillips, Deputy CR, NATR, via CompuServe message to RAD/SERO and RAD/WASO).
On the afternoon of the 27th, a vehicle traveling northbound on the parkway crossed the centerline and struck another car head-on. The latter was driven by T.B., 32, of Meridian, Mississippi, who was killed instantly. The driver and passenger of the first vehicle are in guarded condition in a local hospital. Park rangers are investigating the incident. (Gene Phillips, CR, NATR, via CompuServe report from Bill Sturgeon, RAD/SERO).
On the afternoon of October 27th, a vehicle driven by J.W., 61, of Jackson, Mississippi, crossed the centerline of the parkway and struck an oncoming car head-on. The driver of the second vehicle, T.B., was killed. J.W. has since died from injuries incurred in the accident. (Gene Phillips, CR, NATR, via CompuServe report from RAD/SERO).
On the afternoon of the 22nd, L.D., 40, of Canton, Mississippi, was driving on the parkway near Milepost 114 when an on-coming vehicle attempted to pass in a no passing zone and struck his vehicle head-on. L.D. was killed; the driver of the other vehicle survived the accident. (Telephone report from Bill Springer, RAD/SERO).
Around 8 a.m. on the morning of the 31st, a car carrying five members of a family left the road near milepost 194 in Mississippi, hit a bridge railing and fell approximately 20 feet to the road below. C.R., 19, of Armory, Mississippi, was killed in the accident; the extent of injuries to the other four people in the car is unknown at this time. Park rangers are investigating the accident. (Telephone report from Steve Smith, RAD/SERO, 4/3/90).
On April 25th, J.B., 36, of Verona, Mississippi, was killed when the vehicle she was driving left the road near Mile Post 252 and struck a tree. Three passengers in the vehicle were hospitalized. Preliminary investigation indicates that alcohol may have been a cause of the accident. (Pat Reed, CR, NATR, via telephone report from Capt. Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 11 a.m., 4/26/90).
On the morning of May 2nd, B.M., 37, of Winfield, Louisiana, was driving southbound on a state highway when he lost control of his tractor trailer on a sharp curve, went off the road, and overturned several times. The truck was hauling heavy duty drilling pipe. Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating. (Telephone report from Steve Smith, RAD/SERO, noon EDT, 5/3/90).
On the afternoon of May 19th, 35-year-old D.D. of Jackson, Mississippi, was heading south on the parkway near Milepost 224 when he apparently swerved to avoid a buzzard on the highway, ran off the road and hit a tree. D.D., who was the only person in the car, was killed in the accident. (Gene Phillips, NATR, via telefax from Capt. Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 10 a.m. EDT, 5/23/90).
At about 1 p.m. on the 14th, S.M., 32, of Jackson, Mississippi, shot and killed herself at Cypress Swamp. Investigation revealed that S.M. had purchased a .38 revolver and box of ammunition earlier that morning. A suicide note was found in her purse. (Pat Reed, CR, NATR, via telefax from Capt. Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 8/15).
At 11 p.m. on the 13th, ranger Jack Lewis arrested B.W. of Verona, Mississippi, for driving under the influence, possession of an open container of alcohol and driving an unregistered vehicle. B.W. was taken to the Verona police department for a test to determine his level of intoxication, and it was found that he had a blood alcohol level of .189 - well over the legal limit. After the test, B.W. became belligerent; as he was being placed in a cell, he grabbed Lewis by the hair, gouged him in his left eye, struck him on the face, and bit his right hand and index finger, causing a deep laceration. After B.W. was subdued, Lewis was taken to a medical center, where he was treated and released. On the 15th, B.W. appeared before a U.S. magistrate and was charged with assault on a federal officer under 18 USC Sections 111 and 1114. The magistrate placed B.W. under a $10,000 secured bond, and he is scheduled to appear before a grand jury on the 25th. A court order has been obtained to draw a blood sample from B.W. to test for any communicable diseases. Misdemeanor charges will be filed separately. (CompuServe message from Pat Reed, CR, NATR, 10/17).
On October 18th, ranger Johnny Murphy and an FBI special agent arrested J.W.P., 37, of Pontotoc, Mississippi, and charged him under 18 USC Sections 1201, 2242 and 2243 for kidnapping, sexual abuse and sexual abuse of a minor. J.W.P. is alleged to have kidnapped a 15-year-old female on September 21st, then taken her to the Chickasaw village site on the parkway and sexually abused her. The arrest follows a two-week-long investigation by Murphy and the FBI. A detention hearing is set for the 23rd, and J.W.P. is scheduled to go before a federal grand jury on the 25th. (CompuServe message from Pat Reed, CR, NATR, 10/20).
Just before 3 a.m. on December 22nd, H.C., 26, of French Camp, Mississippi, was killed in a one-car motor vehicle accident at milepost 174.5 on the parkway. H.C. was heading northbound when he crossed the center line, ran off the roadway and collided head-on with a tree. Initial investigative reports from park rangers indicate that H.C. may have fallen asleep at the wheel. The vehicle had no other occupants. (CompuServe message from Pat Reed, CR, NATR, 12/22).
Early on the afternoon of January 8th, district ranger Hollis Morris discovered the body of R.C., 43, of Madison, Mississippi, in his 1981 Ford LTD at the West Boundary Turnout north of Jackson. R.C. apparently shot himself with a 30/30 rifle. A tape recording found in the vehicle confirmed that R.C. had committed suicide. [Pat Reed, CR, NATR, via telefax from Capt. Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 1/9].
The body of R.C., 59, of Clinton, Mississippi, was found near an old family cemetery near Dean's Stand on the morning of January 26th. Investigators have determined that R.C. purchased a handgun, drove to the area, then walked to the cemetery and shot himself in the temple. He had been depressed and left suicide notes at home and in his car. [Pat Reed, CR, NATR, via telefax from Capt. Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 1/27]
Ranger Robert Perryman found the body of A.M., 36, of Clinton, Mississippi in the woods near the Lower Choctaw Boundary turnout just after 6:00 p.m. on May 7th. A.M. had apparently left a suicide note at home, driven to the site, walked into the wooded area, and shot herself. A.M. had been very depressed and was being treated for alcoholrelated problems. An investigation is underway. [CompuServe message from Pat Reed, CR, NATR, 5/8]
A portion of the parkway in northern Mississippi known as Brown's Bottom was closed due to flooding on the evening of the 26th. A wet spring combined with ten inches of rain in a 24hour period raised flood waters to a record three feet over the parkway. Old Trace Drive, an interpretive drive in Tennessee, and Colbert Park, a recreation area along the parkway in northwest Alabama, were also closed. The areas reopened on the morning of the 27th when waters receded. Although the Brown's Bottom portion of the parkway was designed to withstand 50year floods, this is the second time that it has been flooded in the past six years. Only minor damage was inflicted on the roadway shoulder and pavement. Water levels remain high, but the parkway is open. [Telefax from Len Weems, ACR, NATR, 5/28]
On May 31st, J.W.P. of Pontotoc, Mississippi, was sentenced in connection with a kidnapping and sexual abuse incident which occurred in the park last September. J.W.P. received 32 years for kidnapping, 20 years for sexual assault, and five years for sexual assault of a minor. All sentences are to be served concurrently. J.W.P. also has eight years to serve for a similar sexual abuse case in Tennessee. [CompuServe message from Pat Reed, CR, NATR, 6/4]
During the height of morning commuter traffic on July 9th, a private tank truck released an undetermined quantity of petroleum product onto five miles of one lane of the parkway near Tupelo, Mississippi. Most of the spilled liquid evaporated or soaked into the roadway before park personnel could respond. A number of private vehicles were sprayed as traffic tracked through the liquid. The spill was limited to the asphalt road surface; no surface waters have apparently been affected. The spill was reported to federal and state authorities and is being investigated by parkway and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality personnel. [Telefax from Gary Mason, RMS, NATR, 7/10]
At about 5:00 p.m. on August 24th, C.P. of Columbia, Tennessee, and a juvenile female companion were climbing on a rock bluff adjacent to Jackson Falls. C.P. attempted to jump to a tree limb and swing down, but missed and fell approximately 30 feet, fracturing a vertebra in his lower back. Ranger Tim Morgan and member of a local rescue unit stabilized C.P. and carried him out to a point where he could be airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. C.P.'s companion was too frightened to climb down from the bluff, so was lowered by rope to the trail below. Later that evening, Morgan discovered that C.P.'s 1978 Ford Mustang had been stolen from the Jackson Falls parking area. A BOLO was issued and the stolen vehicle was entered in NCIC. The vehicle had been locked and left for a relative to pick up at C.P.'s request. [Telefax from Len Weems, Acting CR, NATR, 8/26]
T.G., 27, and her three-year-old daughter J.G. were killed on the evening of the 23rd when their southbound Chevy sedan crossed the northbound lane, struck a bridge abutment, flipped, landed on its roof at the bottom of an embankment, and caught fire. Local residents responded, but were unable to reach the family. Local fire and rescue units suppressed the blaze and removed the bodies with the assistance of rangers. An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway. [Len Weems, Acting CR, NATR, via telefax from Steve Alscher, LES, RAD/SERO, 9/23]
On the afternoon of April 15th, two Air Force aircraft collided above the parkway near mile post 238. All four personnel in the two planes ejected prior to the crash and received only minor injuries. One plane crashed on park land; the other went down on nearby Forest Service land. The downed aircraft ignited two wildfires which were controlled by firefighters from the park and other agencies after burning about six acres. The aircraft crews were returned to Columbus AFB. Air Force investigators arrived on scene yesterday morning. [Telefax from Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 4/16]
On May 19th, ranger Robert Winkles made a routine vehicle stop near Tupelo on a car carrying a push mower and a garden tiller in its trunk. During the stop, Winkles observed a .30 caliber carbine with three magazines lying in the back seat of the vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of 15 pounds of marijuana and a .25 caliber automatic, which was found under the front seat. A subsequent investigation conducted with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics lead to the arrest of four people and the seizure of three vehicles and over $34,000 in cash. [Telefax from Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 5/28]
On the afternoon of May 27th, 12-year-old G.K., who lives just east of the park's Naval Live Oaks area, failed to return home after a visit to a local convenience store. Her family went out looking for her and found her abandoned bicycle on a road bordering the park. The park and local authorities were notified, and hasty searches were conducted by volunteers and local dog units along trails and other areas adjacent to the park. They proved fruitless. After further unproductive searches yesterday morning, the case evolved into a possible abduction. Aerial searches were conducted by Navy helicopters and an extensive grid search was conducted in the eastern quarter of the Naval Live Oaks area and elsewhere during the afternoon by about 200 volunteers and personnel from the Pensacola Naval Air Station. The focus now is on a search for possible evidence related to J.T.'s disappearance. The Santa Rosa sheriff's office has taken over the search, and will regroup this morning to determine what actions to take next. Seven rangers participated in the search; ranger Daryl Rhodes is representing Gulf Islands on the IC team. [Telefax from Gene Phillips, CR, GUIS, 5/28]
The search for twelve-year-old G.K. concluded around noon on Saturday, May 30th, when she was released by her alleged abductor, G.S.P., 28. She was unharmed and in good shape. G.S.P. was arrested by the FBI at a motel west of Mobile, Alabama, early on Sunday morning. G.K. was abducted at gunpoint from the road bordering the eastern boundary of Naval Live Oaks on May 27th. Hundreds of volunteers participated in the search of the entire 1,300 acres of Naval Live Oaks, and the search was in the process of moving eastward when Genny was found. G.K. said that her abductor let her go because of the massive response to the kidnapping and the associated publicity, which made her too recognizable. The story of her abduction was carried on "America's Most Wanted" on the night of May 29th. Subsequent to her release, G.K., who is a friend of the chief ranger's daughter, said that she wanted to become a junior ranger because she likes the park and park rangers. [CompuServe message from Gene Phillips, CR, GUIS, 6/1]
K.M., 20, was struck and killed by a motor vehicle near milepost 166 at about 3:30 a.m. on the morning of July 19th. He was pronounced dead at the scene and taken to Jackson, Mississippi, for an autopsy and blood test. No physical evidence was found at the scene. The incident is being treated as a felony hit-and-run accident at this time. An investigation is being conducted in cooperation with the local county sheriff's office. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 7/20]
Reports have now been received from all Gulf Coast areas affected by the hurricane, and few have suffered any serious problems: * Natchez Trace - All three southern districts are without power. Several trees fell across the parkway; they are being cleared, and the parkway remains open. Although several tornados were spotted in the area, none hit any park buildings. There were many motor vehicle accidents on the parkway during the storm. Operations continue to be "severely hampered" by lack of phones and radios; at present, the ARM team and employees from all three parks are communicating over only one radio channel. The BIFC radio net should be up today, however, and a satellite dish telephone system which was set up yesterday should also be fully operational. Big Cypress has sent two 28-foot travel trailers to Pine Island. Catering and shower units have been ordered, and additional law enforcement personnel have been requested to provide security. There are more than two dozen law enforcement rangers in the park at present; they've been assigned to island and mainland facilities at Biscayne and to Flamingo and the main entrance at Everglades. Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) teams were due in last night. An incident information officer has also arrived. Many NPS employees and friends of the Service have called to ask what they can do to help people in the park. - Personnel - Incident commander Rick Gale has expressly asked that the many people who've offered to help hold on until the basic groundwork for recovery operations has been laid. Although these efforts to help are very much appreciated, there is no infrastructure to support additional employees or volunteers, much less existing staff. Additional help will be summoned as soon as possible. Until that time, please stand by. - Financial Aid - SERO has set up a relief fund to receive monetary contributions for employees in Biscayne and Everglades. The regional director has asked ENP&MA to set up a reserve account to meet these employees' immediate needs. Eastern has set up an "Andrew Relief" fund and has already donated funds to it. Individual employee contributions and non-ENP&MA park donations may be sent to ENP&MA, Attention: George Minnucci, 446 North Lane, Conshohocken, PA 19428. ENP&MA parks that want to make a contribution from this year's percentage donation or an advance from next year's donation must notify George Minnucci by memo or fax (215-832-0242) of the year and amount. These funds will be made available to employees by wire transfer immediately upon receipt. Questions regarding these procedures should be directed to Pat Stanek in SERO (404-331-3527) or Richard Jamgochian at ENP&MA (215-832-0555). - Notes of Support - As noted yesterday, you can send either general messages of support to the park staff or personal notes to employees via the park office in Everglades City. The mailing address: Everglades NP, PO Box 120, Everglades City, FL 33929. - Goods and Supplies - We are working with the ARM team and park to identify supplies (clothing, equipment, etc.) which are needed by park employees. That list and a UPS mailing address will be available through the morning report on Monday. [Rick Gale, Bill Gabbert, and Jan Patrick, ARM Team, EVER/BISC; Darlene Koontz, EVER; Bill Springer and Steve Smith, RAD/SERO; Bonnie Winslow, RAD/SWRO; 8/27]
At about 6:45 a.m. on September 3rd, a motorist flagged down a ranger on the parkway and reported a body lying behind the Pharr Mounds exhibit shelter and comfort station approximately 20 miles north of Tupelo, Mississippi. A ranger who was working a motor vehicle accident in the area responded and found a man lying face down at the indicated location. The victim had suffered massive trauma to his face and the back of his head. Blood and hair were found near a bench under the shelter, and blood marks were found where the victim had been hit and dragged behind the shelter. The victim was subsequently identified as T.A.B., 30, of Iuka, Mississippi. A joint investigation is being conducted with the FBI and Prentiss County sheriff's office. At the time of the report, there were no clear motives or suspects. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 9/4]
On September 6th, police in Baldwyn, Mississippi, arrested D.L.C. and G.D. for an area burglary. During questioning, D.L.C. told police investigators that G.D. knew who had killed T.B. at Pharr Mounds on the parkway on September 2nd. G.D. was interviewed by a park ranger and an FBI agent, and admitted to being with a friend named D.G. at about 7 p.m. on the 2nd when D.G. killed T.B. With G.D.'s approval, investigators monitored a phone conversation between G.D. and D.G., during which the latter made several incriminating statements and offered to meet G.D. at a local motel. When he arrived for the meeting, he was arrested, and subsequently confessed to striking T.B. on the head with a pipe after a dispute at the parkway exhibit shelter. D.G. and G.D. were both drinking at the time. G.D. took T.B.'s wallet and drove his vehicle north along the parkway to dispose of it, but ran it off the roadway six miles north of the scene, where it was found by rangers the following day. D.G. and G.D. have been charged with first degree murder in federal court and are being held without bond. No trial date has yet been set. [Len Weems, Acting CR, NATR, 9/18]
I.G., 85, of Carthage, Mississippi, was killed in a motor vehicle accident on the parkway on the afternoon of October 6th. I.G., her husband, and her sister, D.M., were heading east when I.G. ran a stop sign at an intersection with the parkway and struck a northbound vehicle. Although the vehicles were traveling at relatively slow speeds at the time of the collision, witnesses stated that I.G. apparently panicked and hit the accelerator instead of the brake pedal. The vehicle went off the road shoulder, spun around twice, traveled another 500 feet up the shoulder, and hit a large tree head on. Merchant has lost a leg and is in serious condition; I.G.'s husband and the driver of the other vehicle had only minor injuries. None of the three people in the I.G. vehicle were wearing seatbelts. I.G.'s husband said that they had not driven their vehicle in two years. [Leonard Weems, Acting CR, NATR, 10/7]
H.J., 53, of Jackson, Mississippi, was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound in a parkway pullout on October 13th. H.J. had last been seen alive just before 1 p.m. At that time, he was sitting against a tree and waved to the patrol ranger in a friendly manner. When the ranger returned to the pullout a half hour later, he found H.J.'s body in the nearby woods. H.J. had a bullet wound in his chest and a rifle was lying beside him. The county sheriff's office is leading the investigation. Autopsy results are pending. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 10/14]
On March 29th, a Lauderdale County dispatcher advised district ranger Henry Tunks to be on the lookout for a man driving a purple-colored vehicle who was wanted for questioning in connection with the discovery of a woman's body near a county highway. Tunks later sighted the described vehicle on the parkway, stopped it, and advised county authorities. Two investigators arrived and took the driver to Lauderdale for questioning. The man confessed to the woman's murder and is now in custody in the county jail. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 4/1]
T.G., 33, of Ashland, Mississippi, was fatally injured on April 11th when the vehicle he was operating left the parkway near mile post 235 and struck a tree. The passenger, R.R., was admitted to a local hospital and is in critical condition. The accident is under investigation. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 4/13]
On May 5th, rangers Henry Tunks and David Langley investigated the cutting of two Royal Paulownia trees in the park and charged two men with theft of timber. Alabama Department of Forestry officials have estimated the value of the trees at $1,000. Paulownia is extremely valuable in Japan, where it is used in furniture production. Its theft and/or sale through misrepresentation is a growing problem throughout its range. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 5/10]
On May 29th, a car driven by 78-year-old M.S. of Greenwood, Mississippi, failed to negotiate a curve on the campground road at Meriwether Lewis and struck a large oak tree at a high rate of speed. Evidence at the scene indicated that M.S. neither braked nor swerved her car before impact. The Lewis County coroner has ordered an autopsy to determine if M.S. may have lost control of her car because of the onset of a sudden illness. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 6/1]
On the morning of September 3, 1992, rangers found the body of T.A.B., 30, of Iuka, Mississippi, behind the facility at Pharr Mounds. G.D. and D.M. were arrested for T.A.B.'s murder shortly thereafter. On July 27th, D.M., who was earlier found guilty of second degree murder without premeditation for his participation in the killing, was sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison and five years probation. On July 28th, a jury found G.D. guilty of murder. He will be sentenced on September 1st. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 8/5]
M.C., 17, was southbound on the parkway just after midnight on August 31st when he struck a pickup being driven by 35-year-old Rick Pearson. Both were thrown from their vehicles, which were soon engulfed in flames. Rangers and other officers pulled the two men out of danger. Pearson died two hours after being admitted to a local hospital; M.C. is in serious condition. The accident is under investigation. [Gordon Wissinger, NATR, 9/1]
An unidentified person or persons pried open the storage room door at the Witchdance restroom and set the building on fire late on the evening of September 21st. A local fire department responded, but the building was totally consumed. The valuation of the building has been placed at $30,000. An investigation is underway. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 9/22]
Four people were killed and two others injured in a two-car accident on the parkway just before midnight on October 2nd. Killed were P.S.M., 39, W.M., 36, J.S., 18, and M.T., 29; injured were W.M., 17, and S.R., 18. M.T. was driving a 1988 Audi 5000S; all the others were in a 1985 Chevrolet Blazer. The Blazer turned over after the accident and caught fire. Because of the tragic nature of the incident, a critical incident stress debriefing was conducted for all involved NPS personnel. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 10/4]
W.F., 36, of Natchez, Mississippi, was traveling north on the parkway at 8:30 p.m. on October 28th when his vehicle left the west side of the roadway, overturned, and slid into a tree. W.F. was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner. The accident is still under investigation. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 10/29]
D.W. was robbed at the Pharr Mounds rest area around 1 p.m. on November 27th. As D.W. walked to the restroom, he was approached by a bearded male who displayed the butt of what D.W. believed to be a pistol. The man demanded D.W.'s wallet, watch and checkbook. After receiving these items, he fled in a blue Ford truck bearing Alabama plates. The total value of the cash and valuables stolen amounted to less than $200. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 11/29]
J.D., 48, of Wellsville, New York, was found dead at the Holly Hills picnic area on Saturday, December 11th. J.D. apparently died from a self- inflicted gunshot wound. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 12/13]
On December 13th, M.D., 23, of Clinton, Mississippi, was driving northbound on the parkway near the Holly Hills picnic area when his vehicle left the roadway and struck three trees. M.D. died in the accident. The vehicle was consumed by fire. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 12/13]
Clean-up from the ice storm which hit the park on February 10th continues throughout northern Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. Electrical power was restored to the headquarters building and the park residential area in Tupelo on the 21st; until that date, the park's radio repeaters were operated by emergency generators. Large amounts of damaged vegetation exist along 150 miles of parkway, including downed trees and hanging, broken limbs. The latter present a safety hazard in a number of developed areas. All facilities are now open, but all hiking and horse trails along the northern portion of the parkway will likely remain closed for another two to three months. The park is currently focusing its efforts on clearing developed areas and assessing the overall impacts of the storm and expected clean-up costs. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 2/23]
A two-car motor vehicle accident occurred at mile post 300 on the parkway at 7:30 a.m. on February 25th. T.C., 41, of Tupelo, Mississippi, was driving north on the parkway when his vehicle struck a southbound vehicle being driven by M.Y., 74, of Iuka, Mississippi. Both were taken to Iuka Hospital. T.C. was pronounced dead on arrival; M.Y. was admitted for observation. The accident is still under investigation. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 3/1]
Around noon on March 5th, rangers at the Natchez ranger station received an anonymous call reporting that several thousand gallons of crude oil had been spilled into Cole Creek upstream from the parkway and that the oil was moving toward park waters. The spill, which originated at a National Gasoline Company well in the Natchez oil and gas field about 15 miles upstream from the park, apparently occurred when crude oil overflowed from two filled 220-barrel holding tanks at the well site. An illegal drain pipe through the containment dike surrounding the holding tanks allowed the oil to discharge into the headwaters of an unnamed tributary to the south fork of Cole Creek. A preliminary estimate placed the amount of oil spilled at about 200 barrels. Prompt action by Ashland Oil Company, which has no affiliation with the well involved in the spill, and American Environmental, Inc., led to the containment of most of the oil upstream from park waters. Park personnel have been working with EPA, the Coast Guard, Mississippi DEQ and other agencies in the spill response and clean-up, which should be completed by mid-week. Clean-up of about 20 miles of affected streams is currently in progress using freshwater flushing. Containment booms and vacuum trucks are operating about eight miles upstream from the park. A biological survey will be conducted to assess damage to park aquatic resource. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 4/7]
J.M., 27, of Starkville, Mississippi, was driving north on the parkway around 10:30 p.m. on March 6th when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. No skid marks were observed at the accident scene. J.M. was killed upon impact even though he was wearing a seatbelt and the airbag on his 1993 Ford Probe deployed. It appears that he may have fallen asleep while driving. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 4/7]
Around 9 a.m. on March 26th, M.H., 58, was driving a Ford pickup southbound on the parkway when, according to witnesses, she began weaving in the roadway, drifted across the northbound lane, then went off the roadway and struck several trees. Her husband, H.T.H., 64, who was riding in a camper trailer behind the pickup, was killed in the accident. Two of H.'s grandchildren were also riding in the camper and were injured. M.H. apparently fell asleep while driving. This is the twelfth fatality on the parkway in the past 14 months. All have resulted from operators "drifting" off the roadway. Three of the fatalities were alcohol related. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 3/28]
J.C., 22, was driving north on the parkway around 2:30 a.m. on April 24th when he crossed over the centerline and struck a southbound vehicle occupied by A.M., 18, and his passenger T.T., also 18. J.C. sustained only minor injuries; A.M. suffered a broken femur, but T.T. was killed when the car caught fire and burned. A.M. and T.T. were on a prom date. J.C. has been charged with death resulting from driving under the influence, a recently passed Mississippi state law which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years. J.C. had been arrested twice in the past two weeks for DUI and public intoxication by local authorities, but had not gone to court. A critical incident stress debriefing will be held for all involved park and local personnel. [Len Weems, Deputy CR, NATR, 4/25]
On the evening of August 14th, a vehicle driven by D.E.L., 41, of Natchez, Mississippi, was southbound on the parkway when it left the roadway at milepost 86 and struck a tree. D.E.L. was transported to Methodist Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was pronounced dead. He was the only occupant of the vehicle. The cause of the accident is under investigation. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 8/16]
During the week of August 8th, over 8,000 marijuana plants between five and 15 feet tall were seized from 24 plots in and around the park by rangers, Tennessee National Guard soldiers, and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Wayne County officers. Over 1,000 of the plants came from within the park. Two arrests were made along with the seizures. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 8/17]
On the morning of October 1st, S.L.W., 19, an escapee from the city jail in Greenwood, Mississippi, lost control of the stolen vehicle he was driving and hit a tree at milepost 120. S.L.W., the only occupant of the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 10/7]
On the morning of November 12th, a 17-year-old male was assaulted on the parkway. The victim suffered over ten slash and stab wounds which required over 300 stitches. Two men, M.W., 54, and L.Y., 43, both of Florence, Alabama, were charged with public intoxication pending investigation of the incident and are being held in Lauderdale county jail. Based on victim and witness statements, they were subsequently charged with assault with deadly weapons. On November 16th, a bond hearing was held in magistrate's court in Huntsville. Bail was denied based on community ties and prior histories of the alleged assailants. L.Y. has been arrested for driving under the influence over 20 times since the 1960s, and also has convictions for drug use and assault; M.W. has a record of over 20 criminal charges and seven DUI convictions over the past ten years. A grand jury hearing will be held on November 29th, at which time the assistant U.S. attorney will ask for indictments for attempted murder. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 11/16]
On the afternoon of December 25th, a vehicle being driven by J.R., 79, of Jackson, Mississippi, went off the west side of the parkway, descended a slope, and struck three trees. J.R. was killed, and his wife was injured and subsequently hospitalized. Observations, a witness statement and physical evidence suggest that the driver fell asleep. Contact damage to the vehicle indicated that this was a very high speed crash. [Gary Mason, Acting CR, NATR, 12/27]
C.J., 29, of Clinton, Mississippi, was heading northbound on the parkway on December 28th when his vehicle crossed over the southbound lane, went off the road, and hit a tree. C.J. was transported to the University Medical Center in Jackson, where he later died of his injuries. The cause of the accident is unknown, but it is possible that C.J. was fatigued and fell asleep. [Tim Francis, Acting CR, NATR, 12/29]
On February 3rd, M.O., 56, of Brandon, Mississippi, was driving north on the parkway when her vehicle struck a tree top that had fallen across the road, causing it to sideswipe a vehicle parked on the opposite side of the road. Her car was then struck by another northbound vehicle. M.O. later died of injuries sustained in the accident. [CR, NATR, 2/8]
W.E., 44, of Van Fleet, Mississippi, was attempting to turn onto the parkway near mile marker 226.5 on April 2nd when he collided with a southbound vehicle and was killed instantly. W.E. was traveling with another motorcyclist at the time and his vision may have been obstructed by his companion. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 4/3]
Rangers were notified on May 6th of a shooting that had occurred at the McGlamery Stand parking area. Brandon Ray and Jeremy Keeton had chased M.P. 21, onto the parkway after a verbal dispute, and either Ray or Keeton subsequently fired a 20 gauge shotgun at M.P. Although hit in his left side, M.P.'s injuries were not critical due to the distance from which the shot was fired. Ray and Keeton turned themselves in to the county sheriff the following day, and were released on $40,000 signature bonds. They will be tried on state charges; federal charges are not likely. The incident is believed to have been drug related. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 5/9]
T.C., 18, of Houston, Mississippi, robbed a Pak-A-Pok convenience store in that town on May 6th, then headed north on the parkway. Rangers, county deputies and local police officers pursued T.C. on the parkway at speeds up to 105 mph. During the chase, T.C. forced one of the rangers off the road. A road block was set up on the parkway, and T.C. was subsequently stopped and taken into custody. T.C. was under house arrest from Parchman Correctional Facility at the time, and is now being held for armed robbery and escape. Other charges are pending. The money taken from the robbery was recovered. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 5/9]
On May 25th, park visitors came upon D.H., 31, of Jackson, at the Dean Stand parking area. D.H. had shot himself in the chest. They took him to a hospital in Jackson, then notified the park. D.H. underwent surgery and is reportedly in stable condition. He told investigators that he'd lost his job after 15 years, that he'd been depressed, and that he was under psychiatric care. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 5/31]
On June 11th, E.W., 37, of Florence, Alabama, was heading south on the parkway when his vehicle left the road for no apparent reason and struck a bridge retaining wall. E.W. was ejected from his vehicle, landed on a road below the parkway, and was killed. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 6/11]
On June 23rd, J.K. and M.K. of Weir, Mississippi, were traveling north on the parkway when their vehicle was struck by a passing vehicle, causing it to leave the roadway and travel 80 feet airborne to the opposite bank of a nearby creek. Both were extricated from the vehicle and taken to a nearby hospital. J.K., 61, died there four days later; his wife remains in intensive care. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 7/3]
On July 4th, a 38-year-old woman from Tupelo, Mississippi, was forcibly abducted, driven to Old Town overlook, and raped. She reported the incident to Tupelo police the next day; they in turn notified the park and the FBI. One suspect is in custody, and another may be implicated in the attack. The woman said that her assailant threatened to kill her if she did not cooperate. The incident appears to be drug related, and is being investigated by rangers, FBI agents, and Tupelo detectives. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
Two people were killed in a two vehicle accident near milepost 249 on July 20th. K.E., 30, of Tupelo, Mississippi, was northbound on the parkway when she collided head on with a southbound vehicle. K.E. and S.N., 62, of Houston, Mississippi, a passenger in the second vehicle, were fatally injured. The driver and another passenger in the S.N. vehicle were taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries. Neither of the victims was wearing a seatbelt; the driver of the S.N. vehicle wore one and survived. There were no witnesses, but it appears that K.E. had crossed the center line. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
Sandra Blumenschine, who worked as a telecommunications operator in the park until two weeks ago, died following a long bout with cancer. Sandy also worked at White Sands, Saint Croix, and Petersburg. No further information is currently available. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR]
Sandra Blumenschine, who died of cancer earlier this week, began working for the Service as a ranger at White Sands. She then worked at St. Croix and Petersburg before taking a position as telecommunications operator at Natchez Trace this past March. She is survived by her parents, Janet and Joe Turning, of Alamagordo, New Mexico, and by two sisters and a brother. Services were held in Tupelo, Mississippi, on August 21st. She will be interred in Alamagordo. Condolences and contributions in her name may be sent to the park for forwarding to the family. [Tim Francis, Assistant CR, NATR]
During the month of August, rangers assisted local law enforcement agencies and National Guard units in the removal and destruction of about 111,000 marijuana plants - 1,000 of them in the park and another 25,000 just outside the park's boundary. Booby traps were encountered in some of the plots, ranging from fish hooks around the plots to "punji boards" consisting of buried sections of plyboard with nails driven through them. One county officer was injured when he encountered one of these devices. Some of the plants reached heights of 17 feet. Three arrests were made. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
The equipment storage building in the Ridgeland District maintenance compound was found fully engulfed in flame in the early morning hours of September 13th. Local fire units responded, but were unable to save much of the building. A dump truck, winch truck and wildland fire engine were destroyed. Other losses included a tractor and bushhog and a low-boy trailer. The cause of the fire is unknown, and the investigation is continuing. The damage has been estimated at $500,000. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
On October 2nd, ranger Robert Perryman came upon an abandoned motor home which had apparently been involved in a motor vehicle accident. A search around the area led to the discovery of a package which was wrapped in a manner consistent with wrapping methods employed by drug smugglers. Perryman contacted the county sheriff and requested a canine unit. A search of the motor home and surrounding area yielded 28 packages of marijuana sealed in duct tape; together, they weighed almost 500 pounds and had an estimated street value of between $500,000 and $1,000,000. The driver, G.P., 60, was subsequently located and arrested. A joint investigation of the incident is underway. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
E.N., 35, of Houston, Mississippi, was sitting on bales of hay on a hay trailer traveling on the parkway on September 28th when the load shifted and he fell to the pavement. E.N. sustained head injuries in the accident, and died at the North Mississippi Medical Center on October 5th. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
C.M., 23, of Jackson, Mississippi, was found dead of a shotgun wound along the parkway on October 20th. A note left at the scene indicated that he had personal problems. C.M. had also been under medical care and was taking medication for schizophrenia. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
During the early morning hours of November 5th, W.D., 33, of Brandon, Mississippi, was killed when his vehicle left the road, traveled about 190 feet along the shoulder, then hit a tree. Alcohol may have been a contributing factor. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
On July 4, 1995, a 38-year-old woman from Tupelo was forcibly abducted, driven to Old Town overlook, and raped. Two men - D.B., 35, and R.O., 21 - were subsequently indicted on charges of kidnapping and rape. On January 18th, R.O. pled guilty to aiding and abetting in the woman's kidnapping; on January 23rd, D.B. was found guilty of kidnapping and rape. Sentencing will occur at a later date. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
The severe winter storm which struck Mississippi and adjoining states on Thursday, February 1st, caused problems at two NPS areas: * Natchez Trace - Snow, sleet and freezing rain caused icing on several hundred miles of roadway in Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. Over 500 trees fell across the parkway, which was closed between Tupelo and Natchez until noon on Saturday. Four radio repeater sites lost power and are operating on emergency generators. A tree also fell on the rear of a patrol car, heavily damaging it. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR; Bill Justice, CR, NATC]
On March 19th, four people were found guilty of poaching in the park in two recent incidents, the first on December 7th, the second on January 7th. D.P. and B.V. were found guilty in the first incident; they were each fined $500, placed on probation for a year and forfeited their rifles. L.C. and A.H. were found guilty in the second. Rangers found the pair loading a buck deer into the back of a truck, but they claimed that someone in a four-wheeler had shot it. Thorough investigation of the area by rangers led to the discovery of a weapon, footprints, blood and drag marks in the snow - but no trace of any four-wheel-drive vehicle tracks. The rangers were also able to backtrack to the spot where the animal was shot. L.C. pled guilty to hunting and weapons charges; he was fined $100, sentenced to a year's probation, and ordered to forfeit his weapon and pay $1,000 in restitution for the deer. A.H. pled guilty to interfering with an agency function and was fined $200. Both were convicted of state violations stemming from this case on an earlier date and fined $1,100. The defense attorney to exception to this fact, but the magistrate ruled that state proceedings did not apply to federal court. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
Two significant drug arrests which occurred in the Tupelo District in the past few months have resulted in several additional drug-related arrests by local authorities. Cleveland Oliver was arrested on November 24th for possession of marijuana and Valium pills. He expressed his willingness to cooperate and supply information on the source of the drugs. This information and the subsequent joint investigation by rangers and the county's narcotics task force led to the arrest of two people and the seizure of considerable amounts of drugs (marijuana, methamphetamine and Valium pills), paraphernalia, $8,000 in cash, eight weapons, and a Chevy Blazer. On February 23rd, two people were arrested in the park for possession of marijuana. They also offered to cooperate and provide information on their source. Rangers and deputies executed a search warrant the next day and arrested an individual for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and for receiving stolen property. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
In the early hours of Friday, April 5th, a 1988 GMC driven by R.R., 25, drifted off the northbound lane, rolled five times and came to rest 800 feet from the parkway. Both R.R. and his passenger, 30-year-old G.G. of Verona, Mississippi, were ejected from the vehicle. G.G. was pronounced dead at the scene; R.R., who sustained a fractured rib, lacerations, and contusions, was treated and released. R.R. has been charged with driving while his license was suspended. An investigation is underway into the cause of the accident. [Anthony Steward, Chief of Communications, NATR]
On April 26th, visitors Donald and M.L. of Appleton, Wisconsin, were robbed at gunpoint while walking along a trail at the Choctaw Boundary parking area. The L. reported that the man ran up the trail towards them, asked for the time, then produced a sawed-off shotgun and demanded everything they had. They surrendered a Panasonic camcorder and $30 in cash. The man then returned to the parking area and departed in a 1987-88 tan Chevrolet four-door vehicle. The L. reported that there were two other men in the vehicle, but that the car left the area too quickly for them to get a license plate number. Rangers and other local law enforcement officers swept the area in hopes of apprehending the trio, but were unsuccessful. The investigation is continuing. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
Last July, a 38-year-old woman from Tupelo was forcibly abducted and driven to Old Town overlook, where she was raped. Rangers, FBI agents and Tupelo detectives investigated the incident and arrested two Tupelo men. On April 16th, R. "C.D." O. was sentenced to 80 months in prison with five years' probation for aiding and abetting in the kidnapping. On May 17th, D.B., 35, was sentenced to life for kidnapping and rape. D.B. used a baseball bat to break into a Tupelo residence to demand payment for crack cocaine. He then abducted the woman. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
A ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally open the northern end of the parkway took place at the northern terminus of the Trace on June 22nd. Vice president Al Gore participated and cut the ribbon which opened the last five- mile section of the parkway in Tennessee; other guests included Congressmen Bob Clement and Bart Gordon. An estimated 600 people attended that ceremony. After the ceremony, a motorcade of antique cars representing every year of the parkway's existence drove along the new section of the highway and across a special attraction of the parkway, the double-arch bridge at Highway 96. Events at that location throughout the day included a Civil War encampment, a Native American story-teller, longhunters, boatmen, cooking demonstrations, and several exhibits. The day culminated with a concert by Amy Grant, music by the 101st Airborne military band, and a fireworks display. Approximately 4,000 people participated in the Highway 96 events. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
Ranger Charles Cuvelier was patrolling within the Ridgeland District when he came upon a set of tire tracks leading off the paved road. Investigation led to the discovery of the body of E.W., of Brandon, Mississippi, who was killed by a gunshot to the head. No suspects or motive have been determined. E.W.'s vehicle had been found in Vicksburg the previous evening, and blood had been discovered in it. Rangers, county deputies and FBI agents are investigating. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
An estimated 60 to 70 barrels of crude oil and 350 to 1,000 barrels of salt water were released from a producing oil well into the south fork of Coles Creek upstream from park waters on the night of August 9th. Park staff responded along with personnel from state and private organizations and placed containment booms at two locations within the park. Recovery of the oil began on August 11th and was still underway yesterday. A primary natural resource concern is the impact of the salt water on park aquatic wildlife. The spill occurred during minimum flow conditions, with fish mortality already evident upstream from the park. The park is also coordinating its efforts with Fish and Wildlife concerning the Natchez stonefly (Alloperla natchez), which has been a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act. The presence of this stonefly within the park was confirmed during the biological assessment following a 1994 oil spill into the same creek. [Gary Mason, RMS, NATR]
During the early morning hours of September 22nd, the driver of a Jeep Cherokee heading northbound on the parkway lost control of his vehicle, which left the road and struck a bridge abutment. The Jeep was consumed by flames before the driver could exit the vehicle. It's believed that driver fatigue caused the accident. The name of the victim is being withheld until positive identification can be made. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
D.B. of Cherokee, Alabama, was northbound on the parkway on December 26th when he experienced mechanical problems with his vehicle and pulled over to the road's shoulder. While working on his vehicle, two people in a dark-colored Nissan pick-up pulled over in front of him and asked if they could offer assistance. They said they were going back to their truck to get tools, but returned with either a rifle or a shotgun and told D.B. to give them everything he had in his pockets. D.B. surrendered his wallet, which contained just over $1,700. The two men then fled. D.B. was able to provide a fairly good description of them and their vehicle. The investigation is continuing with the assistance of the local sheriff's department. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
On June 8th, ranger Joe Mangino stopped a northbound gray Ford Thunderbird for careless driving. The driver was very nervous; he and the passenger gave conflicting stories on where they were coming from and were they were heading. A consent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 23 pounds of marijuana in the trunk. Twelve pounds were located in plain sight, packaged in one- and three-pound bricks and wrapped in cellophane. Arrested were K.S., 26, and J.H., 27. The street value of the marijuana has been placed at around $42,000. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR]
F.T., Jr., of Lorman, Mississippi, was killed in a motor vehicle accident on the parkway early on the morning of June 30th. F.T., 27, was southbound when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree. It appears that F.T. may have fallen asleep at the wheel, but alcohol also was a contributing factor. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 6/30]
L.M., 54, of Shannon, Mississippi, was killed in a late night accident on the parkway on September 17th. L.M. was heading north on the parkway when his vehicle left the road, flipped, and ejected both L.M. and passenger K.C., 46, of Tupelo, Mississippi. Carnathan died of his injuries on September 21st. The investigation continues. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 9/23]
On November 16th, M.H., 49, of Canton, Mississippi, was killed in an accident on the parkway. M.H. was traveling northbound when her vehicle left the road, went down an embankment, and struck a tree. She was not wearing a seatbelt and sustained multiple injuries. It appears that driver fatigue was a contributing factor in the accident. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 11/17]
The body of B.W., 35, of Port Gibson, Mississippi, was found in her vehicle near the parkway's Port Gibson access on November 24th. B.W. evidently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A letter with instructions to her parents was found in the vehicle. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 11/24]
The body of T.L., 39, of Myrtle, Mississippi, was found by visitors along the side of the road next to a wayside exhibit in the Tupelo District on January 12th. His body was covered by a blanket. The autopsy revealed that he'd been beaten and possibly strangled. Rangers and FBI agents are investigating. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 1/13]
On June 29, 1996, ranger Charles Cuvelier was patrolling the West Florida Boundary parking area when he discovered the body of E.W., 32, of Brandon, Mississippi. E.W. had died from a gunshot wound to the head. Investigation led to the arrest of H.C., also of Brandon, who pled guilty to manslaughter last October and has since received a 20-year prison sentence. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 1/21]
The investigation continues into the murder of T.L., 39, whose body was found by visitors along the side of the road next to a wayside exhibit in the Tupelo District on January 12th. The coroner's report indicated that the cause of death was strangulation, and that T.L. had been involved in a fight. Ranger Robert Winkles and an FBI agent are leading the investigation, which is making good progress. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 2/3]
D.S., 46, of San Antonio, Texas, was killed when his airplane crashed in the Ridgeland District on Sunday, February 22nd. D.S. had just taken off from a local airport. The exact cause of the accident is not known. The FAA is investigating. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 2/23]
A tornado struck downtown Natchez, Mississippi, around 10 a.m. yesterday morning. Many of the historic structures in the downtown area of the city were damaged, including "Rosalie," an antebellum mansion adjacent to the park's Fort Rosalie property. The extent of the damage to park structures was not fully known at the time of the report yesterday afternoon, but was believed to be limited to slight damage to the William Johnson and McCallum houses. Neither property was open to the public or occupied at the time. The area of the city affected by the tornado has been closed to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. [Bill Justice, CR, NATC, 2/26]
V.D. was driving north on the parkway on March 8th when she lost control of her vehicle near mile post 210 and struck a tree. Passenger Mary Woodward was killed in the accident; the other passengers in the car suffered non-critical injuries. Woodward was the only person in the car who was not wearing a seatbelt. V.D. is deaf, and investigation indicates that she may have lost control of the car while signing to other occupants of the vehicle. [Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 3/10]
On March 14th, the body of S.B., 46, of Summertown, Tennessee, was found in her vehicle at a wayside exhibit in the Leipers Fork District. She evidently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. S.B.'s husband notified authorities to be on the lookout for her when he found a note that she'd left behind. The investigation continues. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 3/16]
T.R., 38, of Fulton, Mississippi, died in an accident on the parkway on March 27th. T.R. was traveling east on an intersecting county road when he crossed the parkway at a high rate of speed and struck a tree. The cause of death is still under investigation. [J.D. Lee, Acting CR, NATR, 3/30]
F.T., 17, of McCondy, Mississippi, was killed in a motor vehicle accident on the parkway on May 31st. F.T. was a passenger in a vehicle that left the road, collided with a culvert, and flipped over. Three other individuals in the car were taken to a hospital. The apparent cause of the accident was driver fatigue. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 6/2]
E.B., 70, of Kosciusko, Mississippi, was killed in an accident on the parkway on June 8th. E.B. had left his home five minutes prior to the accident. His vehicle left the road and struck a tree. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 6/9]
On July 10th, a maintenance worker saw a man lying near the highway, waving for assistance. The employee found that the man had an apparent gunshot wound to his head and immediately called for assistance. Rangers and others responded and had the man taken to a hospital. A small caliber weapon was recovered. Investigation revealed that he'd been involved in several burglaries prior to the incident. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 7/12]
On September 25th, Florence, Alabama, police attempted to arrest B.S., 35, on an outstanding warrant. B.S. assaulted one officer, then fled. The pursuit eventually ended on the parkway near the Alabama - Tennessee state line when B.S. stopped his car and fled on foot. A chase ensued and B.S. was taken into custody after fighting with officers and being sprayed with mace. B.S. began complaining of shortness of breath and an ambulance was dispatched to the scene. Officers began CPR, but were unsuccessful. B.S. was pronounced dead at the scene. Rangers were asked to respond, but were not involved in the chase and arrived after the incident occurred. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 9/28]
On January 25th, D.C., 25, of Cloverdale, Alabama, was traveling along the parkway when a vehicle approached from behind. As it came closer, the driver began flashing the vehicle's lights and turned on its emergency flashers. D.C. accordingly pulled over. The driver approached D.C. and told him to stay away from a woman they both were seeing. A fight ensued, during which the driver of the other vehicle pulled out a firearm which discharged and struck D.C. in his left arm. The driver then got back in his car and drove off. D.C. was able to drive home and call for assistance. The investigation continues. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 1/27]
On February 12th, T.B., 17, was driving north on the parkway when her two front seat passengers attempted to change seat positions. One of them came into contact with the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to go off the parkway and strike a tree. One passenger, S.M., 15, of Ethel, Mississippi, was pronounced dead at the scene; the other, S.H., 20, of McCool, Mississippi, was taken to a hospital and is in critical condition. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 2/15]
The body of T.L., 39, of Myrtle, Mississippi, was found by visitors along the side of the road next to a wayside exhibit in the Tupelo District on January 12, 1998. His body was covered by a blanket. The autopsy revealed that he'd been beaten and possibly strangled. A joint investigation was conducted by rangers, FBI agents and county detectives which led this month to the filing of murder charges against Tommy Mayo, 44, and his son, Adam Mayo, 17. Investigation revealed early on that the two were connected by the murder; additional information gathered over the past year led to confessions by the Mayos. According to the Mayos, T.L. was killed in self defense. They allege that a fight broke out between Adam Mayo and T.L., and that Tommy Mayo intervened because he was afraid that T.L. would stab his son. Although the Mayos claim self defense, investigators note some actions that seem inconsistent with this claim - that they waited over a year to make statements, that they first denied any knowledge of the offense, that they dumped the body a day and a half after the fight, and that they went to great lengths to clean up the evidence, including a thorough washing of the bed of their truck and swapping out the truck's tires. The actual offense occurred outside the park, but is being pursued through federal court because the crime was brought onto federal property. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 3/10]
On March 5th, J.H., 19, of Kosciusko, Mississippi, was killed when the vehicle he was driving left the road and hit a tree. J.H. apparently fell asleep at the wheel. Alcohol and narcotics may also have been contributing factors. A passenger remains in critical condition. Neither was wearing a seatbelt. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 3/10]
A number of fires were set along the parkway between French Camp and Dancy during the afternoon and early evening of Sunday, April 11th. The fires made the local television news stations; later that evening, four more were set in the Cherokee District in Alabama. The latter are believed to have been copycat fires, not set by the same person as the first fires. The investigation is continuing. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 4/14]
On April 14th, R.M., 30, of Laurel, Mississippi, was killed in a motor vehicle accident while traveling south along the parkway. R.M. lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line, and collided with another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle and another passing motorist attempted to remove R.M. from his car, which was on fire. They were unable to release his seatbelt, however, and were driven back by the intensity of the fire. Weather was a contributing factor. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 4/16]
G.B., 31, of Collinwood, Tennessee, was killed in an accident on the parkway on May 19th. G.B.'s vehicle collided with a log truck that went through an intersection after its brakes reportedly failed. G.B. hit the truck broadside; his vehicle slid under the trailer and pierced the truck's fuel tank, causing a fire. The driver and passersby were able to pull G.B. from his vehicle before it ignited, but he had already died from injuries sustained in the initial impact. The investigation continues. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 5/20]
On May 19th, W.L., 41, died in the park of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. W.L. left a note at his residence, which was found by his son, who eventually ended up at the scene during the investigation. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 5/20]
On June 17th, a 60-year-old male from Jackson, Mississippi, was killed in a motor vehicle accident while traveling north along the parkway. The vehicle left the road and hit a tree, and it appears that he fell asleep at the wheel. The name is being withheld until the next of kin is notified. An autopsy is being performed to determine the exact cause of death. There were no other occupants in the vehicle. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 6/17]
A 30-year-old man from Mantee, Mississippi, was killed in an accident on the parkway on June 21st. His vehicle went off the road for a reason not yet determined and struck a tree. Speed and alcohol may be contributing factors. There was nobody else in the vehicle. The investigation continues. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 6/22]
G.B., 79, of Ackerman, Mississippi, was killed on June 27th when she pulled out onto the parkway in front of a northbound vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries, as did the three passengers in G.B.'s vehicle. The cause of the accident appears to be failure to yield. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 6/28]
D.S. and her doctor husband were en route to the hospital on July 10th when they had to make an abrupt stop at the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center. They were just able to make it to the restroom and request an ambulance before she delivered an 8 pound, 11 ounce baby girl. Rangers Linda Tynsley, Andy Atkins and Jennifer Flynn assisted Dr. S. with the delivery, although mom did most of the work. The ambulance arrived three minutes after the call and transported mother and daughter to the hospital. The Shinns and baby Annette are all doing well. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 7/12]
On July 20th, 37-year-old D.G. of Hohenwald, Tennessee, was killed in a one-vehicle accident at milepost 388. The driver of the vehicle, 16- year-old J.M., also of Hohenwald, died the following evening from injuries suffered in the accident. J.M. was driving a 1991 GMC truck at 70 miles per hour when an animal ran into the truck's path. He swerved to miss it and lost control; the truck rolled four times, and both D.g. and J.M. were ejected. Neither was wearing a seatbelt. A third occupant - Robert Robbins, also of Hohenwald - had his seatbelt on and survived. [Robert Winkles, Acting CR, NATR, 7/22]
On August 31st, M.G. of Madison, Mississippi, was hit in the back of the head by an unknown assailant while he was fishing along Ross Barnett Reservoir. M.G. said that a man had approached him and asked about the fishing there, and that someone else had struck him from behind. When he came to, he found that they'd taken $360 in cash and the two fish that he'd caught. The investigation continues. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 9/3]
On August 3rd, the maintenance facility in the Cherokee District was broken into and about $10,000 in equipment and tools were stolen. Rangers and county officers recovered evidence at the scene, including fingerprints, that led to the identification of a suspect. During the investigation, several similar burglaries occurred in the area and at a TVA site in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. On October 9th, a warrant was served on S.H., 29, of Tuscumbia, Alabama, by rangers, county officers, and TVA officers. S.H. was interviewed by ranger Dave Henry and confessed to the burglaries. He has been linked to ten felony burglaries, one of which occurred nearly a year ago. S.H. led officers to his residence, where some of the stolen items were recovered. S.H. has been released on a $50,000 bond. [Tim Francis, Deputy CR, NATR, 10/18]
On November 12th, C.J. of McCool, Mississippi, reported that he and his wife had been shot by two men while parked at a wayside exhibit on the parkway. T.J., 31, had been fatally shot in the head; C.J. had suffered a gunshot wound in one of his hands. C.J. said that he and his wife had pulled into the Hurricane Creek parking area when two men in a white Chevrolet Malibu pulled in behind them, assaulted them, then drove off. Rangers, FBI agents and Mississippi Highway Patrol criminal investigators found discrepancies in C.J.'s story while investigating the case. C.J. subsequently admitted to shooting his wife while arguing with her. [Tim Francis, Deputy CR, NATR, 11/15]
On November 12th, W.B., seven, of Memphis, Tennessee, was killed in an accident on the parkway. The vehicle his father was driving left the roadway and hit a bridge. The father sustained internal injuries and two broken legs and was taken to Memphis for further treatment. The investigation is continuing. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 11/15]
On December 20th, T.W., 92, of Ashland, Kentucky, was killed in an accident while traveling south on the parkway. Her son-in-law, R.N., was driving the vehicle when he fell asleep at the wheel, woke suddenly, and over-corrected. The car went out of control and rolled over. R.N.'s wife, N.N., was also injured and flown to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. The three were on their way to Tupelo to visit relatives for the holidays. Walters was not wearing a seatbelt. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 12/20]
An unoccupied van was found along the parkway near Ridgeland, Mississippi last July 2nd. The owner, R.D., 47, of Jackson, Mississippi, had been reported missing by his wife. An extensive search of the area for R.D. was conducted, but no sign of him was found. On February 15th, an FBI violent crime task force unit found his remains in an area that had previously been searched. An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death. The investigation continues. [Tim Francis, Deputy CR, NATR, 2/16]
A 53-year-old man from Nashville attempted suicide by cutting his wrists while parked near the northern end of the parkway on February 26th. A passerby found him outside his vehicle and called 911. Rangers found a note and items in his vehicle that indicated he was having personal problems. He was taken to a local hospital, then to a mental health facility. Alcohol may have been a contributing factor. [Tim Francis, ACR, NATR, 2/28]
Visitor M.C. was robbed at knife point while exiting a comfort station along the parkway on March 22nd. The robber demanded his money, saying that he would kill M.C. if he didn't comply. M.C. gave him his wallet and the man ran back to his vehicle and sped away. Since it was dark, M.C. could not get either a good description or the license number of the vehicle. M.C.'s wallet was subsequently found, and he determined that $318 had been taken. Rangers and Williamson County Sheriff Department officers are investigating. [Tim Francis, Deputy CR, NATR, 3/23]
J.B., 50, of Tupelo, Mississippi was heading south on the parkway on March 29th when his vehicle left the road for unknown reasons, reentered, then collided with a northbound vehicle. J.B. and passengers for the second vehicle were taken to the hospital. J.B. sustained multiple traumatic injuries and was placed on life support; he succumbed to those injuries on April 4th. The occupants of the second vehicle were treated and released. J.B. was not wearing a seatbelt, and it appears that alcohol was a contributing factor. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 4/5]
M.G., 48, of Iuka, Mississippi, was killed in an accident on the parkway on April 17th. M.G. was heading north when he collided head on with a southbound vehicle. The driver of the latter was flown to a local medical facility. M.G.'s family said that he was working nights and was on his way home from work when the accident occurred. Fatigue may have been a contributing factor. The investigation continues. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 4/17]
J.S., 76, of Sedona, Arizona, was killed in an accident on the parkway on April 20th. J.S. was heading southbound when he drifted across the northbound lane and struck a bridge abutment. J.S.'s wife was the only other passenger in the vehicle; she was taken to a local medical facility, where she remains in critical condition. Fatigue may have been a contributing factor. The investigation continues. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 4/21]
M.A., 51, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, was heading south on the parkway on April 28th when she swerved to miss a northbound vehicle that had drifted into her lane, left the road, and hit a tree. M.A., who was not wearing a seatbelt, sustained head and internal injuries and was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where she remained on life support until succumbing to her injuries on May 16th. During the investigation, rangers determined that the other driver had fallen asleep at the wheel. The other vehicle also hit a tree, but the two occupants were wearing seatbelts and sustained only minor injuries. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 5/17]
The body of a 36-year-old man from Ridgeland, Mississippi, was found next to his vehicle in a pullout near the Ridgeland District Office on May 25th. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his chest. Ranger Ron Jackson notified his wife and learned that her husband had been feeling depressed. He'd also left a note. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 5/26]
On May 31st, a visitor pulling into the West Florida Boundary pullout saw a body next to a parked car and notified local police, who then notified rangers. They found the body of a 46-year-old man from Jackson with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. Two notes - one for his wife, one for his daughter - were found in the vehicle. This was the second suicide in this district in one week; the other occurred just four miles south of this location. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 5/31]
A.H., 24, of Houston, Mississippi, was killed in an accident on the parkway on May 31st. A.H. was a passenger in a vehicle heading southbound that left the road for unknown reasons and struck a tree. The driver was flown to a local medical facility and is in critical condition. Fatigue may have been a contributing factor. The investigation continues. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 6/1]
In January, rangers Ron Jackson and Curtis Oman received a report that two people were digging at a location along the parkway. R.S. of Flora, Mississippi, and an accomplice were found to be excavating and removing objects from the site. R.S. pled guilty to excavating archeological resources (16 USC 470ee) in April and has since been sentenced to a year's probation, banned from all NPS areas for a year, and ordered to pay $500 in restitution to the park. The other suspect will appear in court in July. R.S. has also been contacted at Vicksburg NMP for similar offenses. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 6/6]
On May 27th, rangers in the Ridgeland District responded to several reports of a wildfire near milepost 121. Upon arrival, they found an automobile fully engulfed in flame with a body inside. Dental records were employed to identify the victim, D.K., 32, of Ridgeland, Mississippi. Foul play is suspected. Rangers and an FBI crime response team are investigating. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 6/3]
The body of a 58-year old Tallulah, Louisiana, man was found at a picnic table in the Owens Creek pullout on July 2nd. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. Statements from his family indicated that he'd been depressed lately due to recent events at work. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 7/3]
The body of a 27-year-old man from Lorman, Mississippi, was found by a park maintenance employee at the Sunken Trace parking area in the Port Gibson District on August 16th. He died from a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound from a 9mm rifle. He was reportedly despondent over a number of personal issues. All employees involved in the incident were offered CISD services. [Kim Korthuis, Acting DCR, NATR, 8/18]
On Monday, August 21st, T.C. requested assistance from the park in locating his brother, Tr.C., missing since late on the evening of August 20th. Rangers and officers from Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office (Alabama) began a search of the area. On Friday, August 25th, Tr.C.'s body was found in the Tennessee River. Investigators determined that Tr.C.'s body was thrown from the parkway's John Coffee Memorial Bridge, a mile-long span over the river. Rangers provided crime scene security and traffic control while state officials collected evidence on the bridge. Investigators from the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation continue their search for the person or persons responsible for Tr.C.'s death. (Kim Korthuis, Acting DCR, NATR, 8/28)
On the morning of August 28th, a 75-year-old woman was abducted from the parkway near mile 435 and subsequently raped. The woman was driving on the parkway when a white male in his mid-30s, driving a small white car, tricked her into believing she had flames coming from beneath her vehicle. The woman stopped at a pullout and accepted his offer to drive her to get assistance. She was taken to a field in the county where she was raped, robbed, and left without her clothes. She walked along the roadway until she found a house and reported the attack. The assailant appears to be a serial rapist who targets older women; he's a suspect in eight other rapes. A multi-agency investigation was begun, involving the park, FBI, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, a violent crimes task force, and the county sheriff's office. A suspect was taken into custody at 2 a.m. on August 31st. He has confessed to the crime. The investigation continues. [Kim Korthuis, Acting DCR, NATR, 8/31]
On Monday, August 21st, To.C. requested assistance from the park in locating his brother, Tr.C., missing since late on the evening of August 20th. Rangers and officers from Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office (Alabama) began a search of the area. On Friday, August 25th, Tr.C.'s body was found in the Tennessee River. C.'s body was wrapped in a tarp and weighed down by buckets filled with cement on his feet. The body had been thrown into the river from the parkway's Tennessee River Bridge. Rangers from Cherokee District assisted local authorities with the investigation. Ronnie Young, 66, a suspect in the case, was stopped by Florence Police Department officers on September 21st. They heard a single gunshot emanate from the car's interior and found that Young had died from a self-inflicted gunshot to his chest. On September 23rd, T.K., 37, the ex-husband of Tr.K., Tr.C.'s girlfriend, turned himself in to authorities and confessed to the murder. T.K. and Young had pretended to be stranded motorists near the parkway; they overpowered Tr.C. when he stopped to help and beat him to death. [Kim Korthuis, Acting DCR, NATR, 10/2]
On May 21st, J.M. and M.H., both 34, were contacted for commercial fisheries violations at the Colbert Ferry boat ramp in the Cherokee District. Subsequent investigation led to the discovery of four separate caches containing a total of 105 prehistoric projectile points that the pair had sorted and graded by condition and value. J.M. and M.H. appeared in federal magistrate's court on September 21st and pled guilty to misdemeanor ARPA violations. Each was fined $500. [Kim Korthuis, Acting DCR, NATR, 10/2]
Park dispatch received a report of a woman hanging from the Highway 96 bridge just before 7 a.m. on September 28th. A Williamson County deputy arrived on scene within minutes and saw a 75-year-old woman lying on the outer edge of the bridge parapet, holding on to the railing. Before he could contact her, she let go and rolled off the bridge, falling 155 feet to the roadway below. She was pronounced dead at the scene. [Kim Korthuis, Acting DCR, NATR, 10/2]
On the morning of August 28, 2000, a 75-year-old woman was abducted from the parkway near mile 435 and subsequently raped. Evidence indicated that the assailant was a serial rapist who targeted older woman. A multi-agency investigation was begun, culminating in the arrest of M.C. three days later. He confessed to the crime. On February 6th, M.C. pled guilty to aggravated rape and aggravated kidnapping in county court. The plea sentence was for 30 years with no possibility of parole - 18 years for rape and 12 more for kidnapping. M.C. has yet to appear in court for four other sexual assaults in Maury County. Leipers Fork DR Tim Morgan coordinated the NPS response during the investigation. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 2/12]
Last November 9th, rangers received a report of people spotlighting deer on the parkway. Rangers Cody Murphy and Larry Brown and state conservation officers responded. Murphy found the suspect vehicle. The occupants - A.D. III and A.d. IV - had a loaded .308 rifle and a loaded .22 semi-automatic rifle with them. The D.s admitted to "headlighting" deer, but denied firing either weapon. There were arrested on state charges of headlighting, hunting from a vehicle, hunting on a public road, and unlawful shot size. On February 15th, the D.s were found guilty on all charges; each was fined $2,458, lost his hunting privileges for three years, and forfeited his rifle. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 2/20]
On the evening of February 18th, two 17-year old foreign-exchange students were southbound on the parkway in a 1992 Geo Tracker. The driver reported that he swerved to avoid an animal in the road, hit the shoulder, lost control of the vehicle, crossed both lanes of traffic, then became airborne and hit a large tree. The driver sustained minor injuries; the passenger was flown to North Mississippi Medical Center, where he died of his injuries on February 21st. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 2/22]
G.B., 31, of Collinwood, Tennessee, was killed in an accident on the parkway on May 19, 1999. G.B.'s vehicle collided with a log truck that went through an intersection after its brakes reportedly failed. G.B. hit the truck broadside; his vehicle slid under the trailer and pierced the truck's fuel tank, causing a fire. The driver and passersby were able to pull G.B. from his vehicle before it ignited, but he had already died from injuries sustained in the initial impact. On March 5th, the driver of the log truck, J.S., pled guilty to reckless homicide. He received a six-year suspended sentence and is on probation for six years. J.S. also lost his commercial driver's license for the period. Rangers Irv Brock and Johnny Sims investigated the accident and were prepared to testify in state court when a plea agreement was reached shortly before the trial. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 3/9]
A 32-year old woman from Franklin, Tennessee, jumped from the Highway 96-Natchez Trace bridge on the afternoon of March 25th. A truck driver flagged down and notified a Tennessee state trooper; the state then informed the park. Rangers Bruce Gagnon and Kelly Roche investigated. The woman's vehicle, parked near the bridge, was searched, but no suicide note was found. A passing motorist saw her leap from the bridge's railing and reported this to the rangers. The investigation continues. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 3/27]
Ranger Tim Morgan came upon a 1998 Acura with fresh damage to its rear in the Garrison Creek lot early on the morning of March 14th. A disheveled man came out of the nearby restroom, got in, and headed north on the parkway. Morgan followed and conducted a warrant check on the moving vehicle. The check confirmed that the vehicle was stolen. Morgan made a felony stop and arrested J.M. of Nashville, Tennessee. Further checks revealed that there were three felony warrants out against him in that city, one each for vehicle theft, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and burglary. The detective in charge of the case said that J.M. had previously pinned the arm of an officer trying to arrest him against a car window and had dragged him for some distance. NPS charges against J.M. include possession of stolen property, operating on a suspended license, and DUI. Several car stereo components and a slim-jim were found in the car and are being treated as stolen property. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 3/28]
Ridgeland DR Charles Cuvelier came upon a man slumped over the wheel of a parked vehicle at the Reservoir Overlook just past 6:30 p.m. on April 11th. Cuvelier checked and found that the man was dead. There was no weapon in the vehicle and the man had no wounds, but Cuvelier found a bottle of pills and a suicide note. The cause of death remains under investigation. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 4/13]
Late on the evening of July 12th, Lee County SO officers advised rangers that a woman had been seen sitting on the Highway 96 bridge. The 49-year-old woman threatened to jump off the 155-foot bridge if anyone approached her. Rangers Bruce Gagnon, Mark Cyr and Tim Morgan, a county deputy and a county negotiator talked with the woman for two hours, during which time she periodically stood up on the rail and threatened to jump. The negotiations concluded successfully when her husband met her at the center of the bridge. She was then taken to a county medical center for evaluation. According to the husband, she had been drinking earlier in the day and had stopped by his motel and left a note saying that she loved him and would see him at the hospital later. [Jackie Henman, NATR, 7/16]
On September 14th, ranger intake trainee Derek Anderson and his field training officer, ranger Joe Mangino, were on an orientation patrol when they encountered a serious motor vehicle accident at milepost 34. They witnessed the collision of the vehicle with a tree and the subsequent fire to the engine compartment. Mangino directed Anderson's actions and removed the occupants from the vehicle, which had caught fire. First aid was provided to the two victims, twin sisters Krystal Wilson and Kristen Wilson. Both were wearing only shoulder restraints. Driver Kry.W. suffered a fractured ankle; passenger Kri.W. sustained fractures to both femurs, internal injuries, and possible broken ribs. The fire was knocked down and contained to the engine compartment using a fire extinguisher from the patrol car. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 9/18]
On the evening of September 21st, Leipers Fork ranger Mark Cyr checked a vehicle parked near the Highway 96 bridge and found a note prominently displayed inside it that prompted Cyr to investigate the area around and underneath the 155-foot-high bridge. He quickly discovered the body of a 42-year-old man from Nashville, Tennessee, on the ground beneath the bridge. There was a suicide note in a sealed baggie inside his clothing. This was the third suicide from the bridge in the past year. A woman was successfully talked down from her threatened suicidal perch on the bridge's railing on July 12th following a two-hour-long negotiation. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 9/24]
On the evening of October 12th, 18-year-old L.V.K. of Saltillo, Mississippi, was fatally injured in a single-vehicle accident at milepost 165 on the parkway. According to a witness, L.V.K. was travelling southbound but had veered into the northbound lane. He apparently overcorrected upon seeing an oncoming vehicle and began skidding sideways on the wet road. His vehicle left the pavement, went down an embankment, and struck a tree. A witness reported that the interior dome light was on in L.V.K.'s vehicle. Ranger Larry Brown is the primary investigating ranger; ranger Mark Mageles is assisting. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 10/15]
On October 24th, park dispatch received a report of a possible suicide at Boyd Indian Mounds within the Ridgeland District. Rangers David Linville and Charles Cuvelier were on scene within four minutes of the report and found the body of a man who had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 10/25]
Ranger Marc Cyr responded to a report of shots fired near milepost 19 just after 3 a.m. on December 8, 2000. Cyr came upon a parked vehicle with fresh blood and deer hair on its trunk and a spotlight and shotgun rounds inside. A search of the adjacent woods for the driver was conducted that night by rangers and state wildlife officials, but was unsuccessful. The owner of the vehicle - W.M. of Jackson, Mississippi - was located, detained and arrested the next morning at a local gas station by Mississippi fish and wildlife officers. W.M. admitted to shooting at least three large white tail bucks in the park during the two weeks prior to his arrest. A second man, John Buford, was also arrested when he arrived to pick up W.M. at the gas station. Buford and W.M. were both found to be in possession of crystal methamphetamine at the time of the arrests, and Buford was also charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. State narcotic officers were called in to work the drug case. The men were subsequently convicted; sentencing occurred late last month. Buford was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison, a $2,000 fine, and three years supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm. W.M. was fined $2,000 in state court on hunting violations; he was convicted on a Lacey Act charge in federal court and fined $500, and was also sentenced to 37 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release after being convicted on two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 10/30]
A Clinton, Mississippi, police officer came upon an object which appeared to be an explosive device lying against one of the support pillars of a parkway bridge near milepost 87 early on the afternoon of November 2nd. Rangers joined officers and agents from the FBI, ATF, Mississippi DPS, Clinton PD and FD, the Hinds County Sheriff's Office and Jackson PD bomb squad at the scene. The area was closed to traffic for three hours while bomb technicians examined the object. The device was disabled and ultimately determined to have been a hoax. The investigation is being led by the FBI. Ridgeland DR Charles Cuvelier directed the NPS response. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 11/5]
On November 27th, park dispatch received a report of an attempted suicide in progress at Reservoir Overlook. A Madison County deputy, a reservoir patrol officer, and ranger David Linville responded. They found a woman there who had to be roused from an apparent drug-induced stupor. She was transported to the hospital for treatment and evaluation. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 12/3]
During the opening weekend of deer rifle season on November 17th and 18th, the park's special resources protection team conducted an enforcement detail in conjunction with Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Service officers. The operation consisted of monitoring illegal hunting stands, poaching enforcement on the parkway, safety checkpoints, and closed area violations. Numerous citations were written for illegal hunting, weapons violations, spotlighting, entering a closed area, and traffic violations. Twenty-two weapons were seized and two arrests were made. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 12/3]
M.H., 53, of Portland, Tennessee, was fatally injured in a two-vehicle accident near milepost 349 on the afternoon of December 8th. A Mercury sedan driven by Allan Linson failed to stop at the Piney Road intersection on the west side of the parkway; tire marks show that his vehicle skidded through the stop sign and collided with a van heading north on the parkway. The van, driven by Wanda Sparks, then suffered a secondary impact as it spun around and struck a stone retaining wall. M.H. was seated in the right rear seat of the Mercury. Two of the vehicle occupants had to be extricated, and seven of the other motorists who were subsequently involved in the accident sustained multiple injuries and were taken to various area hospitals. Foggy conditions and wet roads were contributing factors. Rangers Anthony Franks, Tim Morgan, and Kelly Roche responded. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 12/12]
Rangers investigated a report of a gunshot victim at Pharr Mounds in the park's Tupelo District in the early morning hours of January 9th and found the body of a 19-year-old male who had evidently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. They learned that his parents had notified family friends when he failed to return home the previous evening, and that his body had been found by some of those friends while in the process of checking places he liked to visit. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 1/10]
On the Morning of January 14th, C.H., 58, was killed in a single vehicle accident near mile marker 132. C.H. was heading north on the parkway when his vehicle left the road, traveled 300 feet, then hit a tree. The cause of the accident is under investigation. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 1/14]
Shortly before midnight on January 25th, Port Gibson ranger Tim Lacy was asked to help local officials locate D.M. of Utica, Mississippi, who had fled into the woods in the park following a vehicle pursuit. D.M. had successfully eluded officers the previous evening during a separate pursuit. When Utica officers spotted D.M.'s vehicle again on the 25th, the chase resumed, ending when the car broke down on a road near the park boundary. D.M. jumped out and exchanged gunfire with a Utica officer before running into the woods. At the time, D.M. had an adult passenger and four young children in his vehicle. Police and a SAR dog searched the area, but without finding him. D.M., who is wanted on outstanding warrants, has not been located and is probably no longer on park land. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 1/29]
A motorist reported passing a woman in the middle of the John Coffee Memorial Bridge in the early evening hours of April 3rd. The mile-long parkway bridge spans the Tennessee River in Colbert County, Alabama. The motorist continued across the bridge, but turned around at the first opportunity (less than a mile further down the road) and returned to check on the woman. The motorist did not see her on the second trip across the bridge and alerted county law enforcement officials of a possible suicide jumper. Federal, state, and county emergency rescue agencies searched the area during the evening of April 3rd and during the daylight hours of April 4th. The investigation has not uncovered any physical evidence, and, to date, no missing person report has been filed with local agencies that matches the description of the woman as provided by the motorist. The active search of the Tennessee River has been suspended pending additional information. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 4/5]
E.C., 51, of Carthage, Mississippi, was northbound on the parkway near milepost 115 shortly before midnight on April 9th when his vehicle hit a tree on the roadway. A three-foot diameter pine tree was apparently in the process of falling when E.C. hit it. The roof of his car was sheered off on impact, evidently killing him instantly. The vehicle continued down the road another 450 feet before coming to rest. A second vehicle traveling southbound on the parkway also hit the fallen tree moments later; it sustained serious damage, but no injuries were reported. A front had moved through the area earlier that evening, causing heavy rain and high winds. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 4/9]
On the afternoon of April 21st, Ridgeland ranger Joe Mangino stopped a vehicle that was southbound on the parkway for a traffic-related offense. While talking with the driver, Mangino caught the scent of an unusual odor emanating from the vehicle and saw both a syringe and pills inside. A search of the vehicle was conducted with the assistance of rangers Regina Klein and David Linville. Numerous ingredients associated with methamphetamine production were found in both the trunk and passenger compartment, including two anhydrous ammonia tanks, sulfuric and muratic acids, ether, salt, tubing, vacuum pumps, and methamphetamine oil. The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics' CLANLAB cleanup team was summoned and the chemicals were removed. Subsequent interviews with the vehicle's occupants led to the identification of between ten and fifteen methamphetamine drug labs in Mississippi and Louisiana. Search warrants are being issued. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 4/24]
J.D., 35, of Tupelo, Mississippi, was struck and killed by a vehicle on the parkway near MM 259 just before 11 p.m. on Thursday, May 2nd. A witness who was traveling north on the parkway saw J.D. in the middle of the southbound lane. He said that he drove up to J.D. and was talking with him when a second vehicle heading south on the parkway hit J.D., killing him instantly. The driver of the second vehicle called 911 on his cell phone and Tupelo PD officers and park rangers responded. After emergency crews arrived on scene, the driver who struck J.D. suffered a heart attack and was taken to a local hospital. Heavy rains were passing through the area at the time of the accident. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 5/6]
Shortly before midnight on April 26th, ranger David Linville picked up radio traffic from the county sheriff's office regarding the discovery of a methamphetamine lab at the park's horse trail parking lot at Highway 43 off Yandell Road. Linville responded along with a state drug lab cleanup team. Subsequent investigation revealed that the people operating the lab had come down the parkway from central Mississippi to manufacture the drugs there. The county sheriff's office is leading the investigation. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 5/2]
On the evening of May 27th, a local Tupelo resident called park dispatch to report that a man had been stabbed and that an ambulance was needed. The victim, T.L.B. of Tupelo, was transported to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery. T.L.B. reported that he and his girlfriend S.E. were driving on the Natchez Trace Parkway near milepost 259 in Tupelo when an argument broke out and she stabbed him. Alcohol was involved. S.E. left the scene. A joint investigation is underway with the Tupelo Police Department. Ranger David Atkins is the case agent. [Mike Anderson, CR, NATR, 5/31]
A 47-year-old female stopped to use the restroom at the Colbert Ferry Contact Station at milepost 327 in the Cherokee District on the morning of May 28th. She was subsequently assaulted in the restroom by a 30- to 40-yeard old man who brandished a knife during the attack. After the attack, he left the restroom and she returned to her car and drove home to Tennessee, where she then sought medical treatment. Late that afternoon, park dispatch received a third party phone report from the victim's son. Several hours later, the victim was located and interviewed at her home in Tennessee. A joint investigation with the Colbert County Sheriff's Office (Alabama) is underway. Ranger David Henry is the case agent. [Mike Anderson, CR, NATR, 5/31]
On the evening of June 3rd, ranger Joe Mangino stopped J.L. of New Site, Mississippi, for driving recklessly and carelessly on the parkway near mile post 125 in the Ridgeland District. When Mangino contacted J.L., he saw a marijuana seed on the driver's seat, which led to an interview, a search of the vehicle, and the discover of over $1,800 in cash and 28 pounds of marijuana in the form of two bricks wrapped in a black trash bag. A joint investigation with the county sheriff's office is underway; the case will be prosecuted locally. [Mike Anderson, CR, NATR, 6/6]
During the early morning hours of July 8th, a motorist noticed something unusual under the Highway 96 bridge. When he returned to take a closer look, he realized it was a body and notified local police. Leipers Fork rangers Bruce Gagnon and Terry Kelly investigated. The 30-year-old Nashville man was pronounced dead at the scene. He evidently committed suicide by jumping off the 155-foot-high Natchez Trace parkway bridge. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR, 7/9]
In early March, Mississippi Highway Patrol investigators provided the park with a videotape that they'd recovered as part of a felony weapons investigation. The tape depicts a night-time felony car stop enactment that was staged on the parkway by 18-year-old D.A. of Vicksburg, Mississippi. D.A., who was dressed in a "deputy sheriff" tee shirt and BDU trousers with a duty belt, staged a scenario in which he portrayed a deputy sheriff. The videotape shows D.A. using blue lights and a siren installed on his pickup truck to make a felony stop of another role player's vehicle. When D.A. contacts the "violator", an "assault" and "escape" occur, and D.A. subsequently fires a revolver containing blanks at the fleeing "violator." D.A. and his compatriots then staged a high-speed vehicle chase on the parkway, with speeds exceeding 85 mph. When the "violator" pulled over and surrendered, D.A. made an arrest. All of this took place within 300 feet of a residential area and with other motorists traveling the parkway. Rangers investigated and determined the identity of three juveniles and an adult - 21-year-old Greg Collins - who assisted D.A. in the acting and filming of the scenarios. They cooperated fully and advised that D.A. had presented himself as a reserve Hinds County Sheriff's Department deputy. They consequently believed his assertion that the film was related to a criminal justice class he supposedly was taking. On July 15th, D.A. pled guilty to possession of a weapon, use of a weapon that endangers, disorderly conduct, and unlawful use of blue lights. He was fined $1,250 and banned from the parkway for one year. Collins and a male juvenile were cited for careless driving violations. During an interview, D.A. said that he had two passions - law enforcement and the Civil War. The investigating ranger was Kosciusko District DR Regina Klein, with assistance from Vicksburg NMP rangers. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR]
On the afternoon of August 10th, Ridgeland ranger Joe Mangino stopped a vehicle on the parkway near milepost 125 for traffic violations. Mangino noticed the odor of raw marijuana when he approached the vehicle. A consent search led to the discovery of a one-pound brick of marijuana under the driver's seat. The driver, subsequently identified as Victor Dozier of Canton, Mississippi, initially provided a false name. Further investigation revealed Dozier's true identity and that he had a warrant out for his arrest for possession of cocaine while in possession of a firearm. The Madison County Sheriff's Office served the warrant; state charges are pending. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR]
On the evening of August 24th, park dispatch received a report of an MVA with injuries and possible fatalities near the Ratliff Ferry intersection at milepost 123.8 on the parkway. Rangers Joe Mangino and Barbara Mauller responded along with officials from surrounding agencies and assisted with triaging the seven occupants of the two vehicles. The driver and sole occupant of a 1997 Nissan sedan, David Lawrence of Canton, Mississippi, had been ejected from his vehicle and was transported to University Medical Center with a serious head injury. The driver of the second vehicle, L.M. of Jackson, Mississippi, was transported with unknown injuries. The remaining five occupants of the second vehicle, all children between the ages of 7 and 11, were killed in the accident. Two of the deceased were L.M.'s children and three were the children of a family friend. A preliminary investigation indicates that Lawrence evidently went through a stop sign at the intersection and struck the passenger side of L.M.'s vehicle, which was northbound on the parkway. The force of the collision pushed L.M.'s Chrysler sedan off the road and pinned it against a tree along the west shoulder. Alcohol appears to be a contributing factor to the accident. A multi-agency investigation is currently underway. [Jackie Henman, ACR, NATR]
On the morning of September 19, an interpretive ranger at the Colbert Ferry VC reported that there was a woman in the parking lot who was threatening to shoot herself. Rangers, local officers, EMS personnel and FBI agents responded and negotiated with the woman for two hours. Two county deputies were able to disarm and handcuff the woman when she attempted to enter the visitor center restroom. An evaluation for psychological competency is underway. The same woman had attempted suicide by overdose at Colbert Ferry three weeks previously. She'd undergone treatment, but had been released. She's been charged with possession of a weapon in the park, possession of a loaded weapon, and disorderly conduct. [Submitted by Jackie Henman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Two separate arson cases, both involving molotov cocktails, occurred in the park in the early morning hours during the week of October 20. The incendiary devices were placed south of the Tupelo Visitor Center in the vicinity of the McCullough Boulevard exit. In both cases, the ignited molotov cocktails were concealed between logs or branches and left burning in the middle of the parkway. Both incendiary devices were initially discovered by Tupelo Police Department officers. In the most recent incident, a Tupelo officer was responding to an off-parkway call when he ran over the branches. When he realized he had struck an object, the officer looked in his rearview mirror and saw three to five-foot flames in the roadway. The officer, suspicious of a possible ambush, backed up his vehicle, took cover, and requested back-up. Tupelo District DR Kim Korthuis responded. Once the scene was declared safe, the officers extinguished the fire. There are no suspects at this time, but a multi-agency investigation with Tupelo PD is underway. [Submitted by Jackie Henman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Ranger Jermaine Dossie, 22, passed away in the early morning hours of November 13, apparently of natural causes. Jermaine had recently converted to a law enforcement ranger position in the Ridgeland District. He was hired by the park last June through the student career experience program. Jermaine graduated with a BA in criminal justice from Jackson State University in August, 2001, and from the law enforcement academy at Colorado Northwestern Community College this past September. He was enrolled in a criminal justice graduate degree program at Jackson State at the time of his death. His co-workers are grieving the loss of this professional, polite young ranger with so much potential. [Submitted by Jackie Henman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Ranger Jermaine Dossie, 22, passed away in the early morning hours of November 13, apparently of natural causes. He was hired by the park last June through the student career experience program. Jermaine graduated with a BA in criminal justice from Jackson State University in August, 2001, and from the law enforcement academy at Colorado Northwestern Community College this past September. He was enrolled in a criminal justice graduate degree program at Jackson State at the time of his death. A memorial service was held for him on Friday at the Anderson United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi; the funeral and interment were to have been held in Atlanta, Georgia, on Saturday. [Submitted by Charles Cuvelier, District Ranger, Ridgeland District]
On the morning of November 17, park dispatch received a report of a single vehicle accident at milepost 118 in the Ridgeland District. Preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of the vehicle, M.B., overcorrected after her car went off the roadway, causing her to lose control of the vehicle, which then struck a tree with the impact centered on the passenger side door post. L.B., 63, was in the passenger seat. He was transported to University Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi, where he was pronounced dead. M.B. was uninjured. The B.s are residents of Longview, Texas, and were returning home after a trip to Starkville, Mississippi. [Submitted by Jackie Henman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a report of a woman crying on the side of the road in the Ridgeland District on the morning of November 18. District ranger Charles Cuvelier responded. The woman told Cuvelier that she'd been abducted at gunpoint from a service station in Flowood, Mississippi, and taken to the parkway. Her abductor, described as a man in his mid-30s, reportedly attempted to sexually assault her before fleeing on foot into the woods. A multi-agency response ensued, but no sign of him was found. A joint investigation with Flowood PD is underway. [Submitted by Jackie Henman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Leipers Fork rangers Bruce Gagnon and Mark Cyr and a local wildlife officer set up a deer decoy on the morning of October 11 in response to complaints the park had received about illegal road hunting. Shortly after 8 a.m., a truck stopped and backed-up to the site; a man then fired a weapon out of the passenger side window, hitting the decoy. Rangers stopped the truck shortly thereafter and discovered fresh blood in the truck bed and two weapons on the front seat. One of the weapons, a muzzleloader, was still warm from a recent firing. J.G., 20, was charged with possession of a weapon and hunting within the park; T.P., 32, was charged with possession of a loaded weapons, discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle, and hunting within the park. Additional state charges are also pending against the men for the illegal taking of a small buck earlier that morning. [Submitted by Jackie Henman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
On January 1, Leipers Fork ranger Bruce Gagnon stopped a Mercury
Tracer station wagon for a minor traffic violation. As he approached the
vehicle, Gagnon noticed fresh blood on the rear bumper. When he
contacted the occupants, R.E. and J.Z. both of Killen,
Alabama, Gagnon discovered a doe with a bullet hole to the head in the
rear of the vehicle. The investigation revealed that J.Z. had phoned
R.E. the night before, and that they'd made plans to drive up the parkway
to poach a deer. J.Z. spotted a deer about 40 yards off the road near
milepost 426 and shot it with a .22 rifle. As he exited the vehicle, he
threw the .22 on the front seat with a round chambered, causing the
rifle to discharge. The round nearly hit R.E., who was seated in the
driver's seat, and passed completely through the driver's door side
post. Both men were arrested and taken to Nashville for an initial
appearance. They were then released on $5,000 bonds.
Park dispatch received a report of a single vehicle accident near
mile marker 56 in the Natchez District around noon on February 25.
Rangers Tim Lacy and Patrick Shell and Claiborne County officers
responded and found that the driver, J.A., 47, of
Kosciusko, Mississippi, had died in the accident. Investigation
indicates that J.A. drifted off onto the southbound road shoulder,
overcorrected, crossed the opposing traffic lane, and hit a tree.
Rangers Regina Klein and John Hearne investigated a report of a
vehicle accident with an entrapment at mile marker 161 in the Kosciusko
District on the afternoon of March 5th. The driver, who survived the
accident, was taken to a hospital and released later that day, but
passenger D.F., 48, of Fulton, Mississippi, was pronounced dead
at the scene. The vehicle, a Ford Ranger pickup, had gone off the road
and hit a tree.
Ground searchers for the Williamson County SO found the body of a
Smyrna, Tennessee, man on private lands adjacent to the park on May 3rd.
On March 29th, Leipers Fork rangers had received a report that the man
had intended to jump off the Highway 96 bridge within the park. An
extensive search was made for him that night that entailed a helicopter
with infrared equipment and the use of a bloodhound. All efforts proved
unsuccessful, however. Subsequent investigation and interviews by
rangers and county detectives strongly indicated that he was staging his
disappearance to start a new life. The cause of death is unknown, but an
overdose of prescription medications is likely.
On May 4th, ranger John Hearne observed a vehicle that was exceeding
the speed limit and whose driver was not wearing a seatbelt. Hearne
stopped it and noted that the driver was unusually nervous. When Hearne
contacted the passenger, he smelled the odor of marijuana, which the
passenger admitted to having just smoked. Rangers searched the vehicle
and found approximately a pound and a quarter of marijuana. Five ounces
were packaged for distribution in five separate bags. The Madison County
Sheriff's Office will be assisting with the case, the follow-up
investigation, and possible asset forfeiture. The case will be
prosecuted through the state court system.
On the afternoon of May 17th, ranger Barbara Mauller received a
report of a male kneeling next to the roadway in the Tupelo District.
The man, in his early 20's, was attempting to wave down passing
motorists. Mauller and ranger Kim Korthuis found that the man had
suffered several gunshot wounds. He was taken to North Mississippi
Medical Center by ambulance. The preliminary investigation indicates
that he was involved in a dispute at his house in an adjacent community
when he was shot. Following the dispute, the man was taken to the
parkway and dumped there. Verona PD is leasing the investigation.
A woman traveling down the parkway got out of her vehicle for a brief
stop in the Ridgeland District on May 19th. An unidentified man accosted
and sexually assaulted her. The FBI is leading the investigation;
Ridgeland District rangers are assisting.
A two-car MVA occurred in the early morning hours of May 23rd near MP
253 in the Tupelo District. An Oldsmobile sedan driven by S.N.
failed to yield to oncoming traffic and entered the parkway directly in
front of a northbound Mitsubishi Montero. A five-year-old girl in the
Oldsmobile was killed in the collision, and the remaining four occupants
of the Oldsmobile were taken to North Mississippi Medical Center. The
driver of the Mitsubishi did not have to be taken to the hospital.
On June 27th, ranger Carmelo Ortiz was notified of an armed robbery
that reportedly occurred on a park access road. A man employed a vehicle
to block another car being driven on the access road, then got out of
his vehicle, point a gun at the people in the blocked car, and demanded
money. He then drove off. The incident was initially reported to and
investigated by the Lee County SO. The investigation continues.
On June 28th, a Madison County jury returned a guilty verdict on all
six counts stemming against a man charged in an accident which killed
five children in the park last August. D.L., 24, was found
guilty of one count of DUI homicide, four counts of culpable negligence
manslaughter, and one count of aggravated assault. Just prior to the
accident, D.L. had been boating and drinking on waters outside the
park. He then got into a vehicle and, while traveling at 81 mph, failed
to heed a stop sign as he approached a parkway intersection. His vehicle
struck a car driven by Lisa Miller, who had five children with her.
Miller was the only survivor; all five children, who ranged between 7
and 10 years of age, were killed. Judge Samac Richardson sentenced
D.L. to 85 years, with 20 years suspended. D.L. will not be
eligible for parole for 40 years. The Madison County district attorney
prosecuted the case.
On the night of July 11th, ranger J.J. Montgomery saw a Pontiac Grand
Prix, being driven by E.T. of Florence, Alabama, run a stop sign on
park jurisdiction near mile marker 340 and County Road 10. Montgomery
activated his emergency lights and stopped the vehicle off park lands at
the intersection of County Roads 10 and 5. Montgomery, who had not yet
exited his patrol vehicle, saw E.T. look back at him just prior to
leaving the scene at a high rate of speed traveling south on County Road
5. Montgomery notified park dispatch that he was in pursuit of the
vehicle; a minute later, he notified dispatch that the Grand Prix had
gone off the road and struck a tree. The 22-year-old driver had two
juveniles in the vehicle with him at the time of the accident. E.T. and
one passenger were transported by ambulance to ECM Hospital in Florence;
the other passenger was flown by life flight to Huntsville, Alabama. An
Alabama State Patrol investigator was dispatched to the scene. A joint
investigation is underway.
On July 14th, a park maintenance worker found a pickup truck with its
driver side door open and a suicide note attached near milepost 364.
Rangers from the Cherokee and Leipers Fork Districts and officers from
the Wayne County sheriff's office responded. They found a 64-year-old
man at the end of a nature trail with a .410 shotgun pointed at his
head. Ranger Calvin Farmer and a Wayne County investigator began talking
with the man; after an hour, they got him to surrender and took him into
protective custody. The shotgun was found to be loaded. The man was
found to be a convicted felon and a registered sex offender.
On July 25th, ranger Luke Johnson checked out a report of an accident
with injuries at milepost 205 in the Kosciusko District. He found that a
GMC pickup truck had left the parkway, hit a tree, and rolled over. The
passenger in the truck - J.W., 29 - was killed in
the accident.
R.P., 27, of Eupora, Mississippi, was killed in a
single-vehicle accident at MP 182 on the parkway during the early
morning hours of August 17th. R.P.'s Ford Ranger went off the road,
clipped a sign, then hit several trees before coming to a stop. The
visitor who reported the accident said that the vehicle was totally
engulfed in flames when he came upon the scene. Rangers from the
Kosciusko District and Choctaw County officials responded and
investigated.
In the early morning hours of September 22nd, a 1993 Cadillac El
Dorado was heading northbound on the parkway near mile marker 263 when
the driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a bridge that spanned an
agricultural underpass. The Cadillac then flipped over and landed upside
down below the bridge. D.D., 37, of Pontotoc, Mississippi, was
declared dead at the scene. A rainstorm passing through the area at the
time may have contributed to the accident.
On the afternoon of September 23rd, dispatch was notified of the discovery of a burned-out vehicle near MM 397 in the Leipers Fork District in Tennessee. The vehicle, which was in a ravine out of sight of the road, was severely burned, and the sole male occupant's body was burned beyond recognition. It appears that the driver fell asleep or drifted off the road during the early morning hours of September 18th. A Tennessee State Patrol accident reconstruction specialist assisted at the scene. Ranger Daniel Kimes is the case agent. [Submitted by Jackie Henman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
During the night of November 2nd, thieves cut through the chain
link fence surrounding the park maintenance compound at Port Gibson and
stole a park-owned Aerostar van, a park-owned 16-foot flatbed trailer,
two contractor ATV's, and numerous hand tools. One of the government
tags on the van was removed and replaced with a Louisiana plate from the
contractor's personal pickup truck, which was also parked in the
compound. The van was recovered on the evening of November 5th on the
Clinton - Raymond road, which parallels a stretch of parkway
between Port Gibson and Jackson, Mississippi. It was in serviceable
condition and has been processed for evidence. The other plate from the
van remains missing and has been entered into NCIC and NLETS.
Ranger Tim Lacy found the Port Gibson maintenance and ranger facility
gate unsecured on the morning of December 27th and determined that a
break-in had occurred the previous night. Maintenance property valued at
more than $8,400 was taken and a GSA pickup was stolen. The white 2003
Ford F-150 pickup (G42-52125) has been entered into NCIC. About 2,000
rounds of ammunition of various calibers was also taken. The case is
being investigated by the park, the FBI and the Claiborne County
Sheriff's Department.
On April 2nd, Madison County deputies, acting on a tip, confiscated
more than $100,000 in stolen property — some of it from the park
— in a raid on two homes in Jackson, Mississippi. R.O.
was charged with receiving stolen property and J.T. faces a
disposing-of-stolen-property charge. Both have been charged with
state crimes and are to appear in Hinds County Court. Several agencies
are involved with the associated investigation and property
identification, including the Hinds County Sheriff's Department, Flowood
Police Department, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries,
and Parks, and Natchez Trace Parkway. Items stolen from the park
earlier this year — including ammunition, a Ford F150 pickup, a
generator, and three pieces of yard equipment — have been
identified and recovered. It will take several days to sort
through all the items that were seized. Additional charges may
follow.
Field training ranger Joe Mangino and trainee Rachel Strain stopped a
vehicle for speeding just before 6 p.m.on April 17th. Strain asked the
driver to get out of the vehicle because she believed he was operating
under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. A joint was seen in plain
view and led to a search of the vehicle and the passenger's purse. In
the purse were a dozen "rocks" of crack cocaine. A check on the driver
revealed that he was a convicted felon and that he had an extensive
history of possession of controlled substances and five prior DUI
convictions. Although wanted in Georgia for previous violations,
authorities in that state declined to extradite him. An unloaded 12
gauge shotgun was removed from the trunk. Charges are pending against
both driver and passenger, including felony possession of controlled
substances, felon in possession of a firearm, felony DUI, driving while
license suspended, and speeding. Forfeiture proceedings are
pending against the vehicle.
Field training ranger Bruce Gagnon and trainee Jim Graves stopped a
vehicle for a seatbelt violation on the afternoon of April 18th. While
investigating the possibility that the driver was operating under the
influence, they found that the she was also operating on a suspended
license. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of an open
container of alcohol and a variety of drug paraphernalia, including four
pipes, papers, razor blades and screens. A film container containing a
dozen rocks of crack cocaine was found in a heater vent. One of the
passengers, who was on parole from a prior conviction for being a
habitual motor vehicle offender, admitted to ownership of the cocaine
and was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to
distribute. The driver was arrested for possession and for operating on
a revoked license. An extended interview at the local sheriff's office
produced leads to other drug-related activities in a local community.
Rangers Terry Kelly and Dave Hajdik assisted on the stop. Rangers,
Columbia PD officers and Hickman County deputies will be pursuing the
new leads.
On Friday, April 30th, rangers responded to a report of a body found
at Line Creek pullout at MP 213 in Webster County, Mississippi. The
victim has been identified as A.L.W., 34, of Greenwood,
Mississippi. Local, state, and federal agencies are assisting in the
investigation. Luke Johnson is the case ranger.
On Friday, June 18th, rangers responded to a report of a single motor
vehicle accident at milepost 341 in Lauderdale County, Alabama. The
driver was traveling north and left the northbound road shoulder and
struck an uprooted tree. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene;
the driver was transported to a local hospital. Alcohol is
believed to have been a contributing factor. An investigation was begun
to identify the driver and the passenger and to determine their
citizenship status. The driver was subsequently identified as B.D.C. and
the passenger as A.N.G.-R., both from Guatemala. B.D.C. was arrested on
a warrant charging him with manslaughter and is currently being held in
the Lauderdale County Jail. The state and U.S. Attorney's Office are
evaluating prosecution and deportation related issues. Numerous agencies
have assisted in the investigation, including the Alabama Highway
Patrol, Lauderdale County, INS, the State Department, and the Guatemalan
Consulate. District ranger Calvin Farmer and ranger JJ Montgomery
are the case rangers.
Ranger Carmelo Ortiz saw a car traveling in excess of 75 mph on the
parkway near milepost 262 just after 1:30
a.m.on Sunday, August 8th. Ortiz attempted to stop it, but the driver
— subsequently identified as David Westmoreland, 25, of
Shannon, Mississippi — fled, exiting the parkway onto local roads.
The pursuit ended approximately three minutes and three miles away when
Westmoreland failed to negotiate a curve and struck a house. Ortiz and
ranger Andy Atkins arrested Westmoreland after having to use pepper
spray on him to curb his interest in fighting them. His passenger —
T.S., 22, of Fulton, Mississippi — had to be extricated from
the vehicle. The resident of the house, who was awakened by the rangers,
was not injured; the house's foundation was damaged. Westmoreland and
T.S. were taken to North Mississippi Medical Center for evaluation.
They were released later in the morning, then taken to the county jail.
Westmoreland faces numerous charges, including speeding and possible
felony DUI. The assistant U.S. attorney and magistrate are being
consulted to determine if a new state law that went into effect on July
1st applies in this case. The law contains misdemeanor and felony
provisions for fleeing or eluding a law enforcement officer in a motor
vehicle. T.S. also faces charges. Ortiz is the case
ranger.
As a result of heavy rains and flooding, a section of the Natchez Trace Parkway has been washed out and is closed between Milepost 282.5 and 307.6. A recommended detour around this closed section of the Natchez Trace Parkway is as follows: Northbound — Traffic should exit the Natchez Trace Parkway at Milepost 282 onto Highway 371 North; take 371 North to Highway 4 West; follow Highway 4 West to Highway 30 East; and re-enter the Natchez Trace Parkway near Milepost 307. Southbound — Traffic should exit the Natchez Trace Parkway near Milepost 307 onto Highway 30 West; take Highway 4 East to Highway 371 South; follow Highway 371 South and re-enter the Natchez Trace Parkway at Milepost 282. These detour routes will be signed accordingly. This detour will
remain in effect until further notice while this section is under
repair.
Isolated thunderstorms dropped 11 inches of rain in three hours in
Tishomingo County, Mississippi, on August 25th, causing localized
flooding, significant damage to the Natchez Trace Parkway, and a
fatality on a nearby state highway. Ranger Carmelo Ortiz was dispatched
to milepost 293 around 8:30 a.m. to check
on high water, possible flooding, and a tree down. Upon arrival, Ortiz
parked his patrol car to provide traffic control for a stranded motorist
who had struck a pothole. At approximately
9:07 a.m., Ortiz felt the ground tremble and saw it break free
south of where he was standing. The hole grew to approximately 60 feet
long and 40 feet deep, leaving Ortiz stranded. Motorists traveling
north of milepost 293 were forced to turn around due to flooding over
the parkway at Jourdan Creek at mileposts 295 and 299. Seven motorists
joined Ortiz. One of them, an insulin dependent diabetic, was monitored
throughout the day. Meanwhile, Mississippi Highway Patrol and
Tishomingo County units were attempting a rescue on State Route 4 near
the parkway. A motorist attempting to cross the flooded roadway was
swept away, entrapped, and later pronounced dead at the scene. Flood
waters began receding late in the afternoon, allowing the stranded
motorists to drive out of the area. A temporary detour was
established, then changed to reflect a permanent detour around the
closed section of the parkway. The four mile detour will remain in
effect until a damage assessment and significant road reconstruction
have been completed. The response to the storm involved the
combined efforts of maintenance and ranger staff from the neighboring
Cherokee and Tupelo Districts.
Ranger Bruce Gagnon stopped a vehicle for an equipment violation near
milepost 416 on the evening of August 20th. Gagnon asked the driver for
and received consent to search his vehicle. During the search, he came
upon some items consistent with a mobile methamphetamine laboratory.
County deputies and members of the local drug task force joined him in
the investigation. The driver, C.S., was found to have
an extensive criminal history and an active warrant out against him from
neighboring Williamson County. C.S. was charged with possession of a
controlled substance, distribution and manufacture of methamphetamine,
driving while license revoked, and criminal impersonation. His
passenger, an 18-year-old woman, was also charged with possession of a
controlled substance.
Parks along the Gulf Coast are battened down and waiting out Ivan's passage. The Service's Eastern IMT is on standby for callout to any park(s) needing assistance, and the national and other regional teams are on call if further help should be required. Meanwhile, reports have been received from parks further inland that are facing the prospect of very heavy rains on top of all the precipitation dropped by Hurricane Frances. And Virgin Islands NP has sent a follow-up note about Tropical Storm Jeanne: Natchez Trace Parkway — Ivan could have a significant impact on approximately 300 miles of the parkway today. Downed trees and power outages are expected. Park staff have made preparations, and rangers have warned campers at Rocky Springs and Jeff Busby campground of the approaching weather.
Ranger Jerome Timmons of the Natchez District stopped a motorist for careless driving and suspicion of driving under the influence near milepost 26 just before 11 p.m. on October 9th. The driver, P.T., a local resident, refused to cooperate with Timmons' instructions to complete standard field sobriety tests. Timmons then told him he was under arrest for DUI, at which point P.T. became argumentative, then threatened to fight Timmons. Timmons used pepper spray on him twice, but with little effect. P.T. than attempted to hit him, so Timmons responded by striking P.T. with his baton. P.T. then tried to gain control of Timmons patrol car. Timmons drew his gun and ordered P.T. to the ground, but P.T. instead ran to his truck and took off. A pursuit ensued at speeds under 30 mph. Timmons requested assistance from the Adams County Sheriff's Office and advised that he believed Tanner was headed for his home. The chased ended on a county road adjoining the park. P.T. was arrested and taken to jail, where his blood alcohol level was found to be over the .08 limit.
On Monday, October 11th, rangers responded to a report of a motor vehicle accident on the Natchez Trace Parkway near Interstate 55 in Madison County, Mississippi. The initial report of the accident was received around 8:30 a.m. from an off-duty firefighter who noticed tire tracks that indicated skidding and soon found a wrecked 1997 GMC pickup off the highway. The driver, Laurence Medders, 52, was deceased. Medders had been traveling southbound on the parkway and failed to negotiate the curve on the exit ramp from the parkway to the interstate. The truck went off the road and down an embankment, then rolled over, ejecting Medders. Ridgeland PD and the Madison County Sheriff's Office assisted in the
accident investigation. Rachel Strain is the case
ranger.
Rangers checked out a report of an accident near milepost 299 on Wednesday, November 24th. They found that a 1994 Thunderbird had gone off the road and hit a tree. The driver and sole occupant of the car — A.B., 73, of Florence, Alabama — suffered traumatic injuries and had expired. The accident is under investigation; Andy Atkins is the case ranger [Submitted by Marty Huseman, Acting Chief Ranger]
On Friday, June 3rd, rangers were contacted by Warren County officers and asked to assist in serving a felony warrant on S.B., who was reportedly staying at Rocky Springs Campground. Nobody was found at the site he was believed to be occupying, so surveillance was begun. S.B. returned about two hours later, then fled on foot. A female companion, Lisa Bell, was arrested at the campsite. A multi-agency search was begun for S.B.. Mississippi Highway Patrol search dogs were unable to track his scent de to the high temperatures and humidity. Additional personnel from ATF and Warren County joined the effort. At about 3:30 p.m., district ranger Patrick Shell received a tip as to S.B.'s whereabouts. Shell and a county deputy surprised him behind a house and took him into custody without incident. A search of Bower's vehicle resulted in the discovery of two firearms, drugs, and explosive devices. [Submitted by Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger]
On Saturday, August 13th, the Williamson County Sheriff's Department received a report of an abandoned vehicle on the Highway 96 bridge at milepost 438. Responding deputies located a body at the base of the bridge and asked rangers to assist. Their initial investigation has led officials to rule the death a suicide. The body has been identified as that of a 44-year-old Nashville resident and local musician. [Submitted by Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger]
Although Hurricane Katrina made landfall yesterday morning, no reports have yet been received from parks in its path. Today's summary includes two follow-up reports from south Florida and a series of reports received on Sunday and Monday from Louisiana and Mississippi prior to the hurricane's arrival: Natchez Trace Parkway Because of the impacts of Hurricane Katrina, the parkway was closed to traffic from Milepost 105 (Post Road) in Ridgeland, Mississippi, to Milepost 204 (Highway 82) near Mathiston, Mississippi, effective at 12:30 p.m. yesterday. This closure will be in effect until further notice. The park has also closed its Rocky Springs and Jeff Busby campgrounds. The Mississippi Crafts Center, operated by the Mississippi Craftsman's Guild and located in Ridgeland, Mississippi, also closed.
The National Park Service is in the process of mobilizing people and resources to aid those parks that suffered damage from Hurricane Katrina. The following report is based on two sources of information - a report submitted yesterday evening by Nancy Gray, information officer for the incident management team (IMT) at Everglades, and a Tuesday morning conference call that included representatives from affected parks, members of incident management teams, Southeast Regional Office senior staff, Washington Office staff, and others. This summary is brief and by no means definitive. Additional reports will appear in these pages as they arrive: Natchez Trace Parkway The park is dealing with widespread power and phone outages. Incoming phone calls can be received, but outgoing calls can't be made. The park's radio system is intact, however, so internal communications have been unimpeded. All employees are accounted for. The section of the parkway from MP 105 to MP 208 remains closed. Staff in the Southeast Regional Office are currently involved in an intensive effort to complete a comprehensive assessment of damage throughout the region in order to determine which areas need what resources. Three incident management teams - a second Eastern IMT (Rick Brown, IC), the Pacific West IMT (Denny Ziemann, IC), and the national IMT (J.D. Swed, IC) - are all on standby in case one or more teams are needed.
The National Park Service continues to steadily increase its support to parks hit by Hurricane Katrina. Two incident management teams (IMTs) have so far been committed to Hurricane Katrina recovery operations and a third is on standby. As previously noted, one Eastern IMT (Gordon Wissinger, IC) is now at Everglades NP, assisting the park staff with damage to Flamingo and to Dry Tortugas NP. A second Eastern IMT (Rick Brown, IC) is currently en route to Gulf Islands NS to work with that park on recovery operations in the Mississippi District. And the national IMT (JD Swed, IC) is on standby for possible deployment to the New Orleans area to assist the staffs at Jean Lafitte NHP&P, New Orleans Jazz NHP and any other areas that might need assistance. One critical incident stress management (CISM) team has been committed to Everglades and another will likely soon be dispatched to Gulf Islands. Other teams of specialists are on standby and will be committed when the necessary ground work has been laid to accommodate them. Numerous NPS employees have also been called out to support FEMA, DOI or other agencies in recovery operations. Here's a wrap-up of what was known about affected parks as of yesterday evening: Natchez Trace Parkway About 200 miles of the parkway remain closed due to downed trees and power lines. The road may be opened sometime today. The park has no internet or email communications and outgoing long distance phone service is also out. Incoming calls can be received. The park's 800 emergency line is fortunately still in service for both incoming and outgoing calls, thereby making it possible for employees from other parks to check in. A current concern is the lack of propane fuel for generators and other types of fuel as well. [Nancy Gray, IO, EVER; Nina Kelson, GUIS; Keith Whisenant, NATC; Charles Cuvelier, NATR]
The National Park Service continues to steadily increase its support to parks hit by Hurricane Katrina. Two incident management teams (IMTs) have so far been committed to Hurricane Katrina recovery operations and a third is on standby. As previously noted, one Eastern IMT (Gordon Wissinger, IC) is now at Everglades NP, assisting the park staff with damage to Flamingo and to Dry Tortugas NP. A second Eastern IMT (Rick Brown, IC) is currently en route to Gulf Islands NS to work with that park on recovery operations in the Mississippi District. And the national IMT (JD Swed, IC) is on standby for possible deployment to the New Orleans area to assist the staffs at Jean Lafitte NHP&P, New Orleans Jazz NHP and any other areas that might need assistance. One critical incident stress management (CISM) team has been committed to Everglades and another will likely soon be dispatched to Gulf Islands. Other teams of specialists are on standby and will be committed when the necessary ground work has been laid to accommodate them. Numerous NPS employees have also been called out to support FEMA, DOI or other agencies in recovery operations. Here's a wrap-up of what was known about affected parks as of yesterday evening: Natchez NHP Power was restored on Tuesday night and the park has reopened. At present, however, both internet and email services are down. [Nancy Gray, IO, EVER; Nina Kelson, GUIS; Keith Whisenant, NATC; Charles Cuvelier, NATR]
The National Park Service, Department of Interior and overall Federal commitment to hurricane relief and recovery operations took another step forward yesterday. Three NPS incident management teams (IMTs) have now been committed to Hurricane Katrina recovery operations: One Eastern IMT (Gordon Wissinger, IC) is at Everglades NP, assisting the park staff with repairs to damage at Flamingo and Dry Tortugas NP. A second Eastern IMT (Rick Brown, IC) is at Gulf Islands NS working with that park's staff on recovery operations in the Mississippi District. The National IMT (JD Swed, IC) is en route to assist the staff at Jean Lafitte NHP&P with employee support and park recovery operations when the latter become possible. The team is currently in Houston, Texas, but will be moving closer to New Orleans once support facilities are found. Other teams of specialists are on standby and will be committed when the necessary ground work has been laid to accommodate them. So far, the National Park Service has committed about 110 people to recovery operations. The NPS response is just a small part of a massive federal response that grows day by day. As of yesterday morning, DOI estimated that more than 400 employees had been committed to Hurricane Katrina support operations. The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise is preparing for an even more extensive Interior/Agriculture commitment. In a report released yesterday, NIFC calculated what resources it could release for the recovery effort while still maintaining a sufficient reserve to fight wildland fires. Managers of NIFC's participating agencies are prepared to make available two area command teams, eight Type 1 IMTs, 20 Type 2 IMTs, and 155 crews. They are also prepared to dispatch aircraft, materials stored in the eleven geographic area caches, radios, and contracted services. Here's today's summary, based on email reports (including a couple of parks that haven't previously appeared in this summary) and information gleaned from a conference call yesterday morning: Natchez Trace Parkway Park staff flew over the parkway from Tupelo to Natchez and back yesterday to assess conditions on the closed section of the parkway. Although nearly all trees have been removed from the roadway, power lines remain down and getting them removed may be a challenge. Phone problems persist. [Nancy Gray, IO, EVER; John Bandurski, GUIS; John Quirk, JAZZ; Leigh Zahm and Karl Hakala, JELA; Rusty Rawson, NATR; Holly Rife, CATO; Stacy Allen, SHIL; Monika Mayr, VICK]
The reports below provide updates (current as of yesterday evening) on actions underway in the six parks still dealing with significant issues stemming from the hurricane's passage:
Those of you seeking documents pertaining to the hurricane from the Washington Office or any of the three incident management teams now in the field (incident action plans, ICS-209s, etc.) should go to http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=1&prg=5&id=3742. Files are listed under the appropriate 'folders.' We are just now beginning to receive these, so more will likely be available in the future. Natchez Trace Parkway The entire 444-mile length of the parkway is open from Natchez, Mississippi, to Nashville, Tennessee. The reopening occurred on Thursday, September 1st, following several days of cleanup. Following the opening of the parkway, the Little Mountain gas station and store at Jeff Busby (Milepost 193) and the Mississippi Craft Center in Ridgeland, Mississippi (Milepost 102) also reopened. Even though the main motor road is open, five facilities on the parkway remain closed. These facilities include:
Needed repairs and cleanup may take some time due to ongoing efforts throughout the entire region. The park does not have an estimated date when the facilities will reopen, but it may take several months to restore the facilities to pre-Katrina condition. Employee Relief Fund Many NPS and cooperating association employees in Gulf Islands NS, Jean LaFitte NHP and New Orleans Jazz NHP have had severe damage to their homes and several have lost their homes. Others have lost all of their personal belongings, including automobiles. Many evacuated with limited belongings and are just trying to find temporary housing, food, etc. Out of pocket expenses can be tremendous for families trying to stay together and recover from such a catastrophic disaster. Donated funds will be distributed immediately to provide for basic, daily needs, such as food, water and temporary housing. If additional funds are available, we will provide long-term aid, which will help replace or repair larger items that will not be covered by loans or federal grants. To be eligible, the NPS and cooperating association employees must be currently employed by the NPS or the cooperating association, and must have experienced loss or damage from Hurricane Katrina. Employees who would like to apply for aid should contact E&AA. E&AA will respond to these requests as they are received. Requests for immediate funds will be processed generally within 24 hours. Those with the greatest need will have priority. An application process has been established for larger long-term requests. Assuming funding is available, an independent committee will review applications and disperse funds. Your assistance is needed! Please help members of the NPS family by making a donation to the Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund today! Checks can be made payable to E&AA and sent t E&AA, Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, 470 Maryland Drive, Suite 1, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please direct questions on this fund (applications or donations) to Jack Ryan or Chesley Moroz at 215-283-6900. [Submitted by Debbie Santiago, IO, IMT, Houston; Nancy Gray, IO, IMT, EVER; Peter Givens, IO, IMT, GUIS; Jerry Pendleton, PAO, NATR]
A Natchez Trace ranger made a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding at mile post 260 this past August. The driver of the vehicle admitted to drinking, and there were open containers in plain view. During the DUI investigation, the driver and passenger both appeared to be very nervous. The ranger asked what else was in the vehicle, and the driver admitted that there was a large quantity of marijuana. A search of the vehicle revealed five pounds of marijuana in the spare tire. Both driver and passenger have numerous felony convictions for narcotics and possession of firearms in the past and were on probation. They were charged with possession with intent to distribute, DUI, speeding and open container.
Rangers and Mississippi Highway Patrol officers are currently investigating the cause of a fatal collision that occurred on the parkway late on the evening of November 10th. Around 10 p.m., park staff received a report of a two-vehicle collision near milepost 248 in Lee County, Mississippi. A 31-year old male resident of Chickasaw County, Mississippi, was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the collision. Five other occupants of the vehicle he was driving were transported to the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi, by air and ground ambulances. The driver of the other vehicle and his three passengers were treated at the scene but did not require transport to the hospital. The initial investigation indicates that the two southbound vehicles collided, resulting in the victim's vehicle traveling down the road shoulder and coming to rest in a drainage ditch, partially submerged in water. The ongoing investigation will determine what role speed, seatbelt use, and/or drugs, including alcohol, may have contributed to the collision. No charges have been filed at this time. [Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger]
Rangers are investigating the cause of a fatal collision that occurred on the parkway early on the morning of Tuesday, November 22nd. Just before 8 a.m., park personnel received a report of a two-vehicle collision near milepost 227 in Chickasaw County, Mississippi. A 79-year-old woman from Maben, Mississippi, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her sister, also of Maben, was transported by air ambulance to North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC), where she died several hours later from her injuries. A 79-year old man from Florence, Alabama, was identified as the driver of the other vehicle. He was transported by ground ambulance to the NMMC. The initial investigation indicates that the man's southbound 1998 Oldsmobile van crossed the center of the highway and collided head-on with the women's northbound 1988 Toyota Corolla. The vehicles came to rest on the parkway, blocking both lanes of traffic. The ongoing investigation will determine the cause of the collision and what role seatbelt use and/or fatigue may have contributed to the accident. No charges have been filed at this time. [Marty Huseman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Rangers and Wayne County Sheriff's Department deputies are investigating the death of a 50-year-old resident of Collierville, Tennessee. On January 11th, park dispatch received a report of an apparently abandoned vehicle in the Holly picnic area near milepost 346. Rangers began and investigation to determine the whereabouts of the vehicle's registered owner. The information they obtained led to a search of the nearby area, where the victim's body was found. The death was evidently a suicide. [Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger]
On February 2nd, NPS employees who were traveling through the Birdsong Hollow area saw a vehicle parked on the parkway bridge that spans Highway 96. A man who was sitting on the railing of the bridge jumped from it as they watched. The employees were unable to intervene due to the quick sequence of events and their distance from him. The 54-year-old victim was a resident of Nashville, Tennessee. His death has been ruled a suicide. [Charles Cuvelier]
On February 11th, a ranger from the Leipers Fork District in Tennessee observed a pickup truck doing "doughnuts" on the parkway's grass shoulder. When the ranger attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver took off and a pursuit ensued, with speeds reaching 100 mph. The pickup truck eventually crashed into the trees on the edge of the parkway. The intoxicated male driver, age 18, and the intoxicated female passenger, age 16, were taken into custody without incident. Neither was injured, but the pickup truck was totaled. The girl was transported to a juvenile facility in Williamson County, Tennessee. The driver was taken to the Willamson County Jail and charged with a state felony evading charge and five state misdemeanor charges, including DUI, drug possession and reckless driving. On that same day, another pursuit took place at the north end of the parkway. Local deputies chased a man who entered the parkway in Madison County, Mississippi. The pursuit continued up the parkway from milepost 115 to milepost 135. At that point, a ranger was able to successfully deploy spike strips on the road, deflating three tires on the pursued vehicle. The driver was arrested. The county is the lead agency on this case. [Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger]
A search is underway for a 25-year-old man who has been indicted on murder and other charges stemming from a fatal accident on July 11, 2003. On that date, the man ran a stop sign on Route Lauderdale 10 at the point where it crosses the parkway. A ranger saw him and pulled him over, but the driver took off when the ranger got out and approached his vehicle. He eventually lost control of the car and crashed. The driver and one of his two passengers were taken to a hospital, treated and released; the second passenger, a 15-year-old boy, died of his injuries about three weeks later. Along with the murder charge, the driver was indicted for first-degree assault, driving while under the influence, criminally negligent homicide, speeding, attempting to elude, and reckless driving. When Lauderdale County officers sought to pick him up, they found that he was no longer at his residence, and an exhaustive effort to find him has so far failed. [Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger]
Rangers in the Ridgeland District received a report of a single-vehicle accident near milepost 135 on Tuesday, April 4th. They found that the vehicle had gone off the road and hit a tree. Extrication of the 62-year-old driver and sole occupant of the vehicle took about 45 minutes. He was taken to Leake Memorial Hospital, then to St. Dominic's for treatment of traumatic injuries. He died of his injuries on Friday, April 7th. [Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger]
Rangers in the Leipers Fork District received a report of a person threatening to jump from the Highway 96 double arch bridge near Franklin, Tennessee, on April 7th. Rangers and Williamson County officers soon arrived on scene and found a despondent 42-year-old woman in her vehicle, with many prescription drugs at hand. She was talked out of harming herself and was taken by ambulance to a local psychiatric clinic for care. On April 19th, Williams County officers, assisted by rangers from the Leipers Fork District, successfully intervened in an attempted suicide from the same bridge. A 35-year-old man from Franklin, Tennessee, was found straddling the bridge railing. A lengthy negotiation and crisis intervention effort followed, resulting in the man being taken into custody and brought to a local psychiatric center for evaluation and treatment. The Highway 96 bridge is 1,655 feet long and 160 feet high. [Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger]
An 81-year-old woman from French Camp, Mississippi, was driving on the parkway on the morning of May 15th when she lost control of her 1993 Buick LeSabre, went off the road, and hit a tree. She was transported by ambulance to Monfort-Jones Hospital in Kosciusko, Mississippi, where further efforts to revive her were unsuccessful. [Kim Korthuis]
On July 1st, a ranger from the Leipers Fork District in Tennessee saw a vehicle speeding near the Highway 96 bridge at milepost 438. During the traffic stop, the ranger found that the woman driving the car was intending to jump off that bridge. A family member was contacted and took her to her mental health provider. During this contact, the ranger heard the Williamson County Sheriff's Department broadcast a 'be on the lookout' message for another woman who'd told family members that she was going to commit suicide from the same bridge. She was not located until 4:30 a.m. the next morning, when a county deputy physically prevented her from jumping off the bridge. [Marty Huseman, Acting Chief Ranger]
A 24-year-old Mississippi man was seriously injured in a collision with a car on the evening of September 6th. M.B. was bicycling south on the parkway when he collided with a southbound 2001 Suzuki driven by B.B., 73, of New Orleans, Louisiana. Park staff and local fire and EMS personnel responded. M.B., who suffered significant injuries, was taken by ambulance to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where his condition was later reported as critical but stable. B.B. was uninjured. An investigation is underway into the cause of the accident. [Jerry Pendleton]
The park received a report of an auto accident with fatalities near mile post 162 in Attala County, Mississippi, just before 8 a.m. on October 5th. S.C., 21, was driving a 1988 Buick Electra southbound on the parkway when it hit a bridge abutment on the east side of the road, went airborne, then landed on top of a guardrail on Munson Crossing Road, which passes underneath the parkway at that point. The Electra then burst into flames. Passersby rescued S.C. and two other front seat occupants - G.W., 21, and a three-year-old girl. A three-month-old girl and year-old boy in the back seat did not survive. S.C. and G.W. are the parents of all three children. The three survivors were all injured and were taken to Montfort Jones Memorial Hospital in Kosciusko, Mississippi. S.C. was later airlifted to North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC) in Tupelo, Mississippi, and the others were transported by ambulance to NMMC. Rangers are investigating the cause of the fatal accident. [Marty Huseman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of Friday, October 20th, park dispatch received a call from a park visitor who reported that he had been approached and threatened by several heavily intoxicated males while at one of the scenic overlooks in the Tupelo Mississippi District. A few minutes after receiving the information, ranger Scott Jamison located and stopped the described vehicle near park headquarters. Ranger Jay Drinkwater provided backup. During the contact, two men exited the vehicle - J.S., 26, and W.H., 32 - and quickly advanced on the rangers. They refused to comply with any orders, made verbal threats and became combative. Both rangers utilized their pepper spray, which was effective only on J.S.. W.H. wiped away the spray and continued to fight. One of the rangers used a baton on him, but with no success. As the rangers continued to struggle with him, a Lee County deputy arrived on scene to assist. He used his taser, which proved effective and permitted rangers to handcuff W.H.. A total of six arrests were made at the scene. Assault charges are pending on J.S. and W.H. Jamison is the investigating ranger. [Allen S. Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On Thursday, December 7th, park dispatch was notified of a single-vehicle accident near milepost 156. Rangers and local police and firefighters responded and found that the car was engulfed in flames. The driver had evidently been headed north on the parkway when the car left the road and hit a tree. One body was removed from the badly-burned car. Due to the severity of the damage to it and the subsequent fire, identification of the driver proved difficult. The victim was taken to the Mississippi Mortuary Service for autopsy and help with the identification. Rangers, assisted by several local agencies and by Mississippi Highway Patrol accident investigators, scoured the vehicle for identification information, but without success until ranger Jack Corrao found a small scrap of paper with some medical information on it. Corrao used this lead to determine the name of a possible victim - T.F., 38, of Booneville, Mississippi. The medical examiner used dental records to confirm this identification. Local media interest was high. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Ranger Larry Brown in the investigating ranger. [Allen S. Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Rangers are currently investigating the cause of a fatal collision that occurred near milepost 205 on the parkway on the afternoon of Monday, January 29th. The park received a report of the accident around 2:40 p.m. B.L., 52, and her daughter, M.L., 22, both residents of Stewart, Mississippi, were pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the collision. It appears that the Ford Explorer, which was being driven by the elder L., was heading south on the highway when it went off the road and hit a tree. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Several agencies assisted rangers with the accident, including the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Choctaw and Webster County Sheriffs' Departments, and Choctaw County Emergency Services.Rangers Brent Mahle and Barb Mauller are investigating this accident. [Submitted by Marty Huseman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
On the evening of January 5th, supervisory park ranger Joe Mangino stopped a 2003 Ford Expedition for speeding near milepost 122. During the subsequent interview, the driver and front seat passenger offered significantly different stories about where they'd come from and where they were going. While Mangino was talking to the driver outside of the vehicle, one of the passengers - S.T., 31, of Tupelo, Mississippi - exited the vehicle and fled on foot with a package into nearby woods. Mangino called for backup and secured the remaining passengers. When ranger Rachel Strain and local police units arrived, a search for S.T. was begun. He was found about a mile away in the Riverbend picnic area. A K-9 unit later found the package, which contained two pounds of marijuana. Charges are pending, including fleeing and eluding and possession with intent to distribute. [Allen S. Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Ranger Anthony Franks was on patrol around 8 p.m. on the evening of February 11th when he came upon a single-vehicle accident near milepost 321 in Colbert County (Alabama). The accident had occurred just seconds prior to his arrival. J.L., 65, and his wife, E.L., 63, both of Iuka, Mississippi, were seriously injured in the accident. The L.s were heading south on the trace when they swerved to avoid wildlife, ran off the road and hit a tree. J.L. was medevaced to North Mississippi Medical Center (NMCC) in Tupelo; E.L. was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Iuka and later transferred to NMCC. Both are in the intensive care unit at that hospital. Local police and fire and rescue units assisted at the scene. Franks is the investigating ranger. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of March 2nd, ranger John Hearne and field trainee ranger Tom Holmes (Independence NHP) were assisting Lee County officers at a traffic safety checkpoint on a county road that intersects with the parkway. One of the drivers - J.H., 30 - was selected for additional screening. J.H. failed each of his sobriety tests, recording a .202 on a preliminary breath test. Holmes moved to arrest J.H. for DUI, but J.H. broke free as he was being handcuffed and fled. A foot chase ensued. J.H. eventually found himself trapped in a deep excavation project next to the parkway. After a brief standoff, he surrendered to the rangers and county deputies, who took him into custody. J.H., who has an extensive criminal history, including several felonies and current warrants against him from other jurisdictions, is facing seven counts, ranging from DUI to failure to obey lawful orders. Given his previous history, J.H. is still in custody of U.S. marshals. This was Holmes's eleventh arrest since he has been training on the parkway. [Allen S. Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of Thursday, March 8th, ranger Rachel Strain investigated an abandoned vehicle in the Cypress Swamp Trail parking lot near milepost 122 in Madison County and learned that it belonged to a 43-year-old Ridgeland, Mississippi, man who was reported to be missing and suicidal. Strain and ranger Patrick Gagnon, assisted by Madison County officers, found the man's body in a secluded area just off the trail. A firearm and suicide note were found on his person. The body was taken to the state crime lab in Jackson for an autopsy. The death is being treated as a suicide. The FBI and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are assisting. Strain is the investigating ranger. [Submitted by Allen S. Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Rangers received a report of an unoccupied van parked on the Tennessee River Bridge at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 16th. A suicide note had been found inside. Supervisory park ranger Calvin Farmer and officers from the TVA and Colbert and Lauderdale Counties responded. Boats were launched and a search of the river was begun. A check of the van's registration revealed that it belonged to J.M., 56, of Killen, Alabama; investigators also learned that he was awaiting sentencing on multiple sex offenses in Alabama. Other information lead officers to believe that the event might have been staged, and a 'be on the lookout" message was issued for J.M. He was found late that afternoon about 60 miles from the scene. He is being held in Lauderdale County as a potential flight risk and is awaiting sentencing. Other charges resulting from the suicide hoax are pending. Farmer is the investigating ranger. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of May 7th, field training ranger Jay Drinkwater and trainee Doug Briggs attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding near milepost 258. The driver refused to stop, though, and accelerated away, reaching speeds of over 100 mph. He then left the parkway and continued on toward a heavily-traveled area of Tupelo, passing cars in the middle turn lane and going through intersections at a high rate of speed. The vehicle went off the highway and came to a stop about four miles down the road. The rangers conducted a high-risk stop and arrested the driver without incident. He was charged with felony eluding, DUI and numerous other violations. His blood alcohol level was .15, nearly twice the legal limit. He also had two outstanding felony warrants against him from Tupelo PD. This was Briggs' tenth arrest in only seven days of field training. [Marty Huseman, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Ranger Brent Mahle stopped a car for speeding at milepost 219 on the afternoon of Sunday, July 15th. The driver had no license and no insurance. Following issuance of citations, Mahle was granted consent to search the vehicle. Two other officers who were passing by - one from the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the other from Chickasaw County - stopped to assist. The two male passengers were instructed to get out of the vehicle. One of them, R.N., 18, appeared nervous and had an unusual bulge in his pants. When Mahle began to frisk him, R.N. pulled away and fled on foot into the woods. Male repeatedly ordered him to stop, but he continued to run. Mahle then used his taser on R.N. and took him into custody R.N. was found to have two ounces of marijuana hidden in his pants. Charges are pending. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On the morning of July 20th, park dispatch received a report of a single vehicle motor vehicle accident near milepost 125 on the parkway. The driver, W.E., 82, of Shannon, Mississippi, was killed when his 2007 Chevrolet truck left the roadway and struck a tree. There was no evidence of skid marks or braking prior to the accident. Rangers Joe Mangino and Patrick Gagnon responded. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Early on the morning of Wednesday, September 19th, park dispatch received a report of a single-vehicle collision near milepost 368 in Wayne County, Tennessee, about 10 miles northeast of Waynesboro. The driver, A.S., 16, was airlifted to Vanderbilt Hospital, where she later succumbed to injuries sustained in the collision. The initial investigation indicates that A.S.'s 1990 Chevrolet Camaro was northbound on the parkway when it left the road and struck a tree. Speed may have been a contributing factor. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Ranger Daniel Kimes is the investigating ranger. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Ranger Rachel Davidson was southbound on the parkway near milepost 203 around 4 p.m. on September 26th when she observed a car traveling in the opposite direction at a high rate of speed - her radar had it clocked at 106 mph. Davidson attempted to stop the car, which was driven by C.M., 40, of Marietta, Mississippi, but he declined to pull over. Davidson pursed until C.M. left the parkway and entered the town of Mathiston, then broke off the chase. She continued to follow More, though, attempting to keep him in sight as county units converged on him. C.M. subsequently lost control of his car and hit a tree. Davidson took him into custody and drove him to the Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo for observation. Alcohol and drugs were determined to have been contributing factors - C.M. admitted to consuming six beers and numerous prescription medications prior to the incident. The park and Webster County have filed numerous charges against him. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
R.M., 74, of Clinton, Mississippi, was riding his bike north on the parkway early on the morning of September 8th when he made a U-turn to head back south. R.M. failed to see a truck approaching from behind him, though, and turned directly into its path. The truck hit him and he suffered numerous injuries. R.M. was taken to a local emergency room and eventually admitted to an intensive care unit. He succumbed to his injuries on October 10th. Ranger Rachel Davidson is the investigating ranger. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a report of a single-vehicle accident a mile north of the Witch Dance comfort station near milepost 235 at 6:30 a.m. on October 19th. When rangers Scott Jamison and Larry Brown arrived on scene, they found that a Ford truck heading northbound on the parkway had crossed to the opposite side, gone off the pavement and down an embankment, and struck two trees. The driver, D.C., 68, of Guin, Alabama, was killed in the crash, which had occurred the previous night. The area was under a severe thunderstorm advisory at that time and had been hit by heavy rain showers. Rangers also found that D.C. had a history of heart ailments. An autopsy will be conducted. Brown is the investigating ranger. [Submitted by Allen S. Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
T.V., 18, of Raymond, Mississippi, was killed when his 1997 BMW left the parkway and struck several trees near milepost 84 on the evening of October 22nd. Rangers Patrick Shell and Tim Lacy responded and are investigating. T.V. was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the accident. Speed and rainstorms in the area may have been contributing factors, but the accident remains under investigation. This was the fourth fatal accident in the park in the past five weeks. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
B.H., 17, of Collinwood, Tennessee, was killed on the night of January 5th when her 2003 Ford Explorer left the parkway and struck a tree near milepost 346 in Wayne County, Tennessee. She had three passengers in the Explorer at the time - all were taken to local hospitals, where two remain in critical condition. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. David Henry is the investigating ranger. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
W.W., 68, of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, was killed in a two-car accident near milepost 363 on the morning of February 27th. W.W. was heading south on the parkway when the 1998 Chevrolet Tracker he was driving crossed into the opposite lane and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. W.W. was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries several hours later. The driver of the northbound vehicle was not injured in the accident. Weather may have been a contributing factor. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
FTO ranger Jay Drinkwater and trainee Ryan McLeod were on patrol of the Natchez Trace Parkway when they saw a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign just after midnight on Saturday, January 19th. They contacted the occupants and noted that the passenger was acting nervous and appeared to be providing false information. A check of the passenger's information was completed via dispatch, which confirmed Drinkwater and McLeod's suspicions. Further investigation revealed he had four active felony warrants out against him. The rangers also found that he had about 2.5 ounces of marijuana in his possession. This was McLeods 30th arrest while in the FTEP program. [Allen S. Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Around 10 p.m. on the evening of Friday, April 18th, ranger Ryan Balentine and trainee Derek Biasiolli contacted the occupants of two vehicles parked outside the Port Gibson facilities near milepost 39, where break-ins have occurred in the recent past. One of them - K.M., age 31 - had been drinking, and possessed both an open container and codeine without a prescription. K.M. was nervous and would neither stand still or remain where he was told to stand. At this time, ranger Jerome Timmons and trainee Tim Svem arrived to assist and began to interview K.M.. K.M. then removed his jacket and fled on foot, running northbound on the parkway. During the chase rangers, saw K.M. remove and discard an item from the small of his back. He also ignored repeated commands to stop. Timmons used his taser to the pursuit. K.M. was arrested on multiple charges. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On the morning of Wednesday, April 30th, supervisory park ranger Patrick Shell came upon a white Dodge pickup parked on the west side of the parkway with its hazard lights on. The truck was also hauling several new, large appliances, and this type of hauling is prohibited on the parkway. As Shell stopped to investigate, the chief of a local police department arrived on scene along with the driver, identified as J.A., 37, of Shubuta, Mississippi. The chief told Shell that he'd contacted J.A. as he was walking to a nearby town and that J.A. told him he'd run out of gas. They'd returned to his truck with a container of fuel. Shell asked J.A. about the appliances, which were still in their original shipping containers. Shell noted that J.A. was very nervous, and determined that he could possibly be under the influence of drugs. J.A. and his passenger provided conflicting information about their trip and the appliances. Further investigation revealed that they'd been stolen that morning from a new housing development nearby. J.A. and his companion were arrested on numerous charges. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 8th, a severe storm that generated several tornadoes swept across a segment of the park in northeast Mississippi and northwest Alabama. In Tupelo, headquarters employees and visitors took refuge in the basement of the administrative building as the tornadoes passed overhead. Parkway facilities were spared, but nearby shopping centers, homes and other buildings received moderate damage. The parkway was temporarily closed near milepost 282 when large trees were felled by high winds. Fire management saw crews responded and cleared the road within a short time. Due to damage in the local community, all traffic, including commercial traffic, was temporarily rerouted from damaged areas onto the parkway. One park employee received a minor injury when the store he was in received a direct hit. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 8th, a severe storm that generated several tornadoes swept across a segment of the park in northeast Mississippi and northwest Alabama. In Tupelo, headquarters employees and visitors took refuge in the basement of the administrative building as the tornadoes passed overhead. Parkway facilities were spared, but nearby shopping centers, homes and other buildings received moderate damage. The parkway was temporarily closed near milepost 282 when large trees were felled by high winds. Fire management saw crews responded and cleared the road within a short time. Due to damage in the local community, all traffic, including commercial traffic, was temporarily rerouted from damaged areas onto the parkway. One park employee received a minor injury when the store he was in received a direct hit. [Submitted by Allen S. Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On Monday, May 5th, park dispatch received a report of vandalism to construction equipment on the parkway near milepost 339 in Lauderdale County, Alabama. Ranger Anthony Franks discovered that a 2005 Kobelco crane had been seriously vandalized. The cab of the crane, all of its electronics, computers and windows had been destroyed. The crane belongs to a contractor that is replacing three bridges on the parkway. During his investigation, Franks learned that a dump truck, parked one half mile from the parkway, had received similar vandalism and that a suspect, C.J., had been arrested by Lauderdale County officers. During his investigation, Franks located physical evidence that tied C.J. to the crane vandalism. During an interview, C.J. admitted to vandalizing the crane. Charges are pending. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of May 27th, park dispatch received a report of a motor vehicle accident near milepost 336 in Lauderdale County, Alabama. G.R., 72, and his wife J.D.R., 71, of Saltillo, Mississippi, were traveling northbound on the parkway when their vehicle left the road and entered a flooded creek. Recent rainfall in that area had caused the creeks in that area to swell to the degree that the R.'s vehicle was swiftly carried downstream. J.D.R. was able to escape the vehicle, but G.R. was not. The Florence Emergency Management Agency's swift water rescue team was on scene to assist in the search and rescue. When the submerged vehicle was initially found, the water was too deep, the current too strong and the water too turbid to safely enter. After the waters subsided, a team member was able to reach the vehicle and discovered that G.R. was still seat belted in the driver's seat. He was declared dead at the scene, but the cause has not yet been determined. J.D.R. was treated for hypothermia, then assisted home by friends. Anthony Franks is the case ranger. [Calvin T. Farmer, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Park staff responded to a report of a serious bike accident near milepost 404 in Hickman County, Tennessee, on the morning of May 31st. Bicyclists H.H., 72, of Bedford, Texas, and T.M., 59, of Fort Valley, Georgia, were biking together northbound on the Trace when H.H. began a left turn into Jackson Falls. He and T.M. became entangled and both went down. H.H. was knocked unconscious for about a minute. H.H. was flown by Lifeflight to Vanderbilt medical center, where he was admitted into the trauma unit. He suffered a gash to his head, a broken clavicle and 11 broken ribs, all on his left side. T.M. suffered a broken right clavicle and serious road rash on his arms and legs. He was transported by ambulance to Maury Regional Hospital in Columbia. Both riders were wearing helmets, which likely prevented further injury. Terry Kelly is the investigating ranger. This time of the year, the Trace experiences large numbers of bicyclists and biking groups, especially on the northern sections of the parkway. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of Friday, August 15th, ranger Gabe Bell stopped at the Birdsong Hollow scenic overlook in Williamson County, Tennessee, and informed several visitors that the overlook closed at sunset. He was able to contact everyone but the operator of one unoccupied vehicle. Bell checked on the vehicle and found that the 25-year-old male owner had been reported missing and possibly suicidal. Bell found the man's body underneath a bridge a short distance from the parking lot. He'd succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. A note was also found on his person. Bell is the case ranger; Williamson County deputies, EMS, and the local medical examiner assisted. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Parks along the Gulf Coast are making preparations for Tropical Storm Gustav, which will likely return to hurricane strength when it reaches the Gulf of Mexico, while those in Florida and on the eastern seaboard are keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Hanna, which may make landfall somewhere in that region. The three parks most likely to be affected by the former are preparing for closure if necessary: Meanwhile, other parks in the area are in the planning and monitoring phase: Natchez Trace Parkway The National Park Service is also preparing to support any potential requests for support from FEMA. [Dean Ross, WASO; Mark Ruggiero, SERO; John Hughes, JELA; Clay Jordan, GUIS]
A few reports have been received on the status of parks in the path of and/or affected by Hurricane Gustav and appear below. More will appear in coming days. The Central incident management team was ordered by Big Thicket NP and is being staged in Austin, Texas; it will provide support for Texas parks. The Western incident management team was ordered by Southeast Region and is staging in Jacksonville, Florida; they will support Gulf Coast parks if and when requested. Natchez Trace - Because of the hurricane's potential impacts, a segment of the parkway was closed to traffic as of 8 a.m. yesterday morning. The parkway was closed from milepost 8 (Highway 61) in Natchez, Mississippi, to milepost 87 (I-20) near Clinton, Mississippi. The closure is in effect until further notice. Rocky Springs and Jeff Busby campgrounds have also been closed. [Thomas Berryhill, Natchez Trace; Laura Gates, Cane River; Mark Ruggiero, SERO]
Several parks in the region remain closed and are making damage assessments following Hurricane Gustav's passage (below), while others are keeping an eye on the Atlantic. With four named storms going at once - Gustav, Hanna, Ike, and Josephine - the tropics are exceptionally active today. The last time there were four named systems present on the same day was on August 24, 1999. The National Park Service is also supporting FEMA by providing 30 boat crews in conjunction with the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The group is staged in Austin, Texas; some of them will be released today, but 14 boats will be held pending a FEMA mission assignment for Hurricane Hanna. The National Park Service has also been tasked with a second FEMA mission assignment for boat crews with the assistance of USFWS and USGS. Many of these crews are in Texarkana. Some will be released today, but three will be held for an assignment to Hanna. Natchez Trace Parkway - The parkway is now closed from mile marker 0 to mile marker 87. Two campgrounds in the southern districts are also closed. There appears to be only a modest amount of debris needing clearance. Assessments are underway. [Dean Ross, Emergency Services Coordinator, WASO]
Several more reports have been received on the impacts that Hurricane Gustav had on parks in the south central states: Natchez Trace Parkway - The parkway remains closed to traffic from milepost 0 in Natchez to milepost 87 (I-20) near Clinton because of the impacts of Hurricane Gustav. This closure will remain in effect until further notice. Rocky Springs and Jeff Busby campgrounds also remain closed. [Dean Ross, WASO; Larry Perez, EVER; Russ Wilson, CALO; Clay Jordan, GUIS]
Two areas spent the balance of last week dealing with the damage created by Gustav's passage: Natchez Trace - The parkway is now open to traffic from milepost 0 in Natchez to milepost 87 (I-20) near Clinton, both towns in Mississippi. Numerous trees fell on the parkway, causing the closure of much of this lower section of the road. Maintenance crews worked diligently to remove trees and debris, making it possible to reopen the road on Friday. The Jeff Busby and Rocky Springs campground have also been reopened. [Allen Etheridge, NATR; Clay Jordan, GUIS]
During the first two weeks of October, rangers made 20 arrests while conducting four separate plainclothes operations in the Ridgeland and Tupelo Districts in an effort to deter disorderly conduct violations. These operations targeted public sexual misconduct, solicitation and indecent exposure incidents that were known to be occurring at several parkway sites and trails. Several people were also charged with drug offenses. Other districts participated by providing personnel. Additional support was provided by the Lee County (Mississippi) Sheriff's Department. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
The park received a report of a serious accident near milepost 259 around 1:40 a.m. on Thursday, November 20th. J.F., 28, of Belden, Mississippi, who was evidently the driver of a 1995 Toyota Avalon headed north on the parkway, was killed in the accident and her passenger, B.B., 33, of Pontotoc, Mississippi, was injured. He was taken to North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo for treatment, then released. Finney apparently lost control of the Toyota, which crossed over the southbound lane and struck bridge railings. [Calvin Farmer]
On the afternoon of Monday, December 1st, park dispatch received a report of a hit and run accident near milepost 260 in Lee County, Mississippi. Ranger John Hearne responded and learned that a blue Toyota had been rear-ended by a red Dodge Neon driven by E.J., 51, of Saltillo, Mississippi. Both the victim and witnesses reported that E.J. had been belligerent, threatening and likely was heavily intoxicated. Before rangers could arrive on scene, E.J. departed. A search for his vehicle was begun and it was soon located at a residence just off the parkway. The vehicle had extensive front end damage. No one answered at the residence, but, as the vehicle was being impounded, a heavily intoxicated E.J. approached Hearne. E.J. was providing contradictory information to Hearne when two local Saltillo police officers arrived to assist. It was learned that the car had been reported stolen and that a Lee County warrant was out for E.J. arrest. When Hearne attempted to arrest E.J., he refused to obey any commands and assumed a fighting stance. Hearne then employed his taser, but without effect. When E.J. advanced on the officers, another attempt was made to taser him but was also unsuccessful. With taser cartridges expended, Hearne utilized pepper spray on E.J., but it too had little effect and he continued to forcibly resist. The officers then took him to the ground, where E.J. forcibly resisted their efforts to handcuff him. E.J. was transported by ambulance to the local hospital for evaluation prior to being taken to jail. Multiple federal, state and local charges are pending. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of Monday, December 1st, park dispatch received a report of a hit and run accident near milepost 260 in Lee County, Mississippi. Ranger John Hearne responded and learned that a blue Toyota had been rear-ended by a red Dodge Neon driven by E.J., 51, of Saltillo, Mississippi. Both the victim and witnesses reported that E.J. had been belligerent, threatening and likely was heavily intoxicated. Before rangers could arrive on scene, E.J. departed. A search for his vehicle was begun and it was soon located at a residence just off the parkway. The vehicle had extensive front end damage. No one answered at the residence, but, as the vehicle was being impounded, a heavily intoxicated E.J. approached Hearne. E.J. was providing contradictory information to Hearne when two local Saltillo police officers arrived to assist. It was learned that the car had been reported stolen and that a Lee County warrant was out for E.J. arrest. When Hearne attempted to arrest E.J., he refused to obey any commands and assumed a fighting stance. Hearne then employed his taser, but without effect. When E.J. advanced on the officers, another attempt was made to taser him but was also unsuccessful. With taser cartridges expended, Hearne utilized pepper spray on E.J., but it too had little effect and he continued to forcibly resist. The officers then took him to the ground, where E.J. forcibly resisted their efforts to handcuff him. E.J. was transported by ambulance to the local hospital for evaluation prior to being taken to jail. Multiple federal, state and local charges are pending. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On Wednesday, December 10th, a large drainage culvert collapsed as a result of flooding from an intense winter storm, closing the parkway at milepost 279.5, in Lee County, Mississippi. Over the course of a 24-hour period on Tuesday and Wednesday, the area received six inches of rain, which quickly exceeded the capacity of area culverts and canals. A sinkhole approximately 14 feet deep and 16 feet wide was created on the eastern road shoulder when the culvert collapsed. Crews worked into the night to set up a nine-mile-long detour on rural county roads. The parkway will be closed in this area until further notice pending repairs. On Thursday, all three states that the parkway traverses received varying amounts of snow and ice, a rare event for the region. Rangers responded to several accidents, including one that was fatal. O.O., 40, of Waynesboro, Tennessee, was heading north on the parkway when his Honda went off the road and hit a tree. High winds also caused dozens of large trees to fall across the parkway from milepost 0 to milepost 240. Maintenance and fire management saw crews worked continuously through the day to clear the trees and keep the highway open. Several areas, including park headquarters, experienced power outages caused by falling trees. The entrance gates on the northern end of the parkway near Nashville were closed due to three to five inches of snow. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch was notified of a wildland fire near the Big Tree scenic overlook at milepost 440 in Tennessee at 8:30 p.m. on Monday, December 8th. Local fire departments responded. The fire burned about 40 acres before being contained. The next morning, parkway firefighters were inspecting the fire line when they came upon a man's body. The area was secured and rangers were notified. The FBI lead the investigation, assisted by rangers, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents and Williamson County officers. Preliminary evidence indicates that he was purposefully burned and that this action led to the wildland fire. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of December 16th, a 1994 Ford van with two people on board went off the road near milepost 253 and struck a bridge railing, then rolled into a creek that was running high due to several days of rain. Rangers Jeff Penney, Kim Korthuis an Jay Drinkwater responded along with numerous local fire and rescue units. The driver - J.H., 57, of Aberdeen, Mississippi - was extricated and taken to an area hospital but did not survive. His female passenger was injured. Alcohol and rain storms in the area may have been contributing factors. Penney is the investigation ranger. [Andy Atkins, Staff Ranger]
Park dispatch received a report of an accident near milepost 164 in Attala County, Mississippi, early on the morning of December 29th. A 1990 Ford Ranger pickup had gone off the road and hit a tree. Local police, fire and EMS units responded and extricated D.R., 20, of Pegram, Tennessee, from the truck. He did not survive the accident. Family members reported that D.R. had been driving from Tennessee to work in Mississippi and may have fallen asleep at the wheel. [Calvin Farmer]
Local fire departments responded to and suppressed a wildland fire near the Big Tree scenic overlook in Tennessee last December 8th. When park firefighters inspected the burned 40-acre tract the next morning, they came upon a man's body. The area was secured and protection rangers were notified. The FBI lead an investigation, assisted by rangers, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) agents and Williamson County officers. Evidence indicated that the victim been murdered and purposefully burned. On December 12th, E.P.S., 48, of Nasvhille, Tennessee, was arrested and charged with second degree murder. An investigation by U.S. Customs also revealed that E.P.S. was in the country illegally. He was ordered held without bail. An affidavit from a TBI agent states that E.P.S. was an associate of the victim. No additional information will be released about the identities of the victim or suspect until next of kin are notified and all charges are filed. [Calvin T. Farmer, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Just after midnight on Sunday, January 11th, ranger Ryan Balentine and Mississippi game warden Steven Strader were working an anti-poaching operation on the Natchez Trace Parkway near milepost 28 in Jefferson County when they saw the operator of a Ford F-150 pickup stop his truck in the middle of the parkway and point it so as to shine its headlights on a deer decoy. The passenger then fired two shots at the decoy. The truck then headed south on the parkway, with the ranger and warden in pursuit. It was intercepted by ranger Jerome Timmons, who'd been waiting in concealment at milepost 25. A deer was found in the back of the truck that investigation revealed had been shot in Louisiana about three hours earlier. All three occupants of the truck were charged with several state and federal violations, including the Lacey Act. This was the second instance of attempted poaching on that weekend. Balentine and game warden Jock Smith were working a deer poaching detail on the Saturday before the above incident when they head a shot coming from the parkway just north of their location. They found a blue Lincoln Town Car parked on the shoulder. Timmons joined them there. They found that a passenger in the car had shot at a deer, but had evidently missed. Three people in the car were charged with state and federal violations. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of January 1st, rangers conducted a plainclothes operation to deter disorderly conduct in park areas around Ridgeland, Mississippi. The focus was on problems of public sexual misconduct, solicitation and indecent exposure which were known to be occurring at several park sites and on park trails. During the operation, rangers Patrick Gagnon and James Purcell encountered J.C. of Ridgeland engaged in an illegal activity. Purcell was compelled to use his taser on J.C. while the rangers were attempting to arrest him. Neither J.C. nor the rangers involved were injured during the incident. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Rangers, with assistance from Williamson County Sheriff's Department officers, are investigating an apparent suicide that took place from the park's Highway 96 bridge in Tennessee. The body of W.B., 60, was found last Sunday below the bridge and adjacent to Highway 96. It's believed that he jumped from the 155-foot-high bridge late on Sunday morning. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Park dispatch received a call regarding a single-vehicle accident on the parkway in Lauderdale County on the morning of March 26th. Rangers and Alabama state troopers responded. They found that a 2003 GMC Sonoma pickup operated by D.M., 62, had been heading north on the parkway when it went off the road and hit a tree. D.M. was fatally injured. The exact cause of the accident is under investigation. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
E.H., 51, of the Netherland was biking south on the parkway near milepost 231 on the afternoon of April 22nd when she was hit from behind by a southbound 2009 GMC Suburban. Rangers, Chickasaw County deputies, and Van Vleet VFD personnel all responded. E.H. died at the scene. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Dispatch received a 911 call reporting a possible suicide on the Highway 96 Bridge just before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20th. Rangers found that L.V., 34, of Nashville had evidently jumped to his death from the 155-foot-high bridge. His body was found on the road shoulder below. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Ranger trainee Walker Gusse was participating in a traffic safety checkpoint on May 26th with field training ranger John Hearne when he saw a vehicle with an expired inspection sticker - and some overly nervous occupants. During further screening, the passenger admitted to possessing marijuana. A search of the passenger led to the discovery of several precursors for methamphetamine production, and he admitted that he had the items because of his intent to manufacture methamphetamine. The local narcotics task force was contacted and interviewed the man further. He was found to be a local methamphetamine "cook" (manufacturer), who'd only been known previously by his street name. The man had been a target of interest for some time. Gusse and Hearne participated in the follow-up investigation, which yielded additional evidence of methamphetamine production. This was one of 29 arrests in which Gusse was involved during his 11 weeks of field training. Gusse also generated three arrests while serving as a plainclothes officer working a disorderly conduct (public sexual misconduct) detail and made eight arrests for OUI. Other notable arrests during his tenure in the park included a suspect in possession of two pounds of marijuana and a separate felony case for possession of methamphetamine (made with ranger Jay Drinkwater). While working with ranger Jerome Timmons, Gusse was also involved in a foot chase and taser deployment for a man who fled from a vehicle during a traffic stop and was subsequently charged with seven violations, including possession of a controlled substance. [John Hearne, Park Ranger]
On the afternoon of June 11th, a Mississippi Bureau of Investigations agent notified rangers that a wanted felon might be camping in the Rocky Springs campground at milepost 55 in Claiborne County, Mississippi. The suspect, A.T., was wanted for armed robbery and theft of a motor vehicle in nearby Lawrence County. Ranger Heath Jarratt responded, confirmed A.T.'s presence, then evacuated nearby campers for their safety. Ranger Tim Lacy, the MBI agent, and a Lawrence County Sheriff's Department investigator surrounded the camp site and arrested A.T. without incident. A fixed blade hunting knife and five unused syringes were found in his tent. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of July 23rd, rangers were notified of a theft from a construction site at Pigeon Roost, located near milepost 204 in Choctaw County, Mississippi. A project manager for Ellis Construction, a contractor working for the park, found that an excavator valued at $60,000 was missing from the site. A joint investigation was conducted by Tupelo and Ridgeland rangers, the Choctaw County Sheriff's Department, Attala County Sheriff's Department, and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Within three hours of notification, the property was located, a warrant was issued and served, and the stolen equipment recovered. At this time, the investigation continues and charges are pending. [Calvin T. Farmer, Supervisory Park Ranger]
D.A., 48, was biking south near milepost 208 on the Trace late on the morning of October 9th when he was struck from behind by a southbound Ford Escape. Rangers from the Tupelo District responded along with county deputies and EMS personnel. They found him unconscious and unresponsive and were unable to revive him. It appears that D.A. may have been struck as the Escape was attempting to pass and D.A.'s bicycle veered into the northbound lane. [Calvin Farmer, Acting Chief Ranger]
On the morning of Wednesday, November 18th, park dispatch received a call from an employee who reported a possibly unresponsive person in a car parked at Garrison Creek. Rangers from the Liepers Ford District arrived on scene and found a 55-year-old woman lying in her car, covered with a blanket. Notes were visible in the car warning of a deadly gas. The Franklin County hazmat team responded and retrieved the woman from her vehicle. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Other notes inside the car suggested that she may have been suicidal. The chemical containers found in the vehicle were a toilet bowl cleaner and a generic fungicide. The exact composition of the chemicals has not been confirmed. The Tennessee State Medical Examiner's Office and the Williamson County Sheriff Office are conducting an investigation into the cause of death. [Calvin T. Farmer, Supervisory Park Ranger]
The park received a report of a motorcycle accident near milepost 430 in Williamson County, Tennessee, on the afternoon of November 28th. A multi-agency response ensued that included rangers from the Leipers Fork Subdistrict, Williamson County deputies and EMS, and Vanderbilt Medflight. When they arrived on scene, they found that Y.R.-F., 24, of La Vergne, Tennessee, had gone off the road and hit a tree. Witnesses said that they saw three motorcycles, including his, traveling north on the parkway at high rates of speed. Y.R.-F.'s motorcycle left no skid marks when it went off the road. Although wearing a helmet at the time, he was found to be unconscious and unresponsive. The county medical examiner pronounced him dead at the scene. [Calvin Farmer, Supervisory Park Ranger]
The body of a 51-year-old Nashville woman was found below the Highway 96 bridge on Monday, December 7th. She evidently jumped from the 155-foot-high bridge late Monday afternoon. Rangers, assisted by an NPS special agent and Williamson County detectives, are investigating the case. [Terry Wildy, Acting Chief of Interpretation]
C.S., 27, of Florence, Alabama, was traveling southbound on the parkway near milepost 310 when her 1999 Nissan Altima left the road, struck a tree, and landed upside down in Bear Creek. Rangers, Colbert County deputies, Colbert County Emergency Medical Agency and Dive Team personnel, Cherokee Police Department officers, the Colbert County coroner, Air Evac Helicopter and Emergency Medical Services, the Cherokee Volunteer Fire Department, and the Cherokee Rescue Squad all responded. C.S. did not survive. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. [Terry Wildy, Acting Chief of Interpretation]
On the evening of Sunday, February 28th, E.C., 63, of French Camp, Mississippi, was driving northbound on the parkway when his Chevy pickup went off the road and hit a tree. Rangers and Attala County deputies and fire and EMS personnel responded. E.C. and his passenger, S.R., 40, were both taken by ambulance to Montfort Jones Hospital in Kosciusko, Mississippi, where E.C. was pronounced dead. S.R. was airlifted to University Medical Center in Jackson with serious injuries. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. [Michael Foster, Chief Ranger]
The park and the Williamson County Sheriff's Department are investigating an apparent suicide that took place from the Highway 96 Bridge in Williamson County, Tennessee. The body of a 49-year-old man was discovered below the bridge on Tuesday, March 23rd. The bridge is 155 feet high. [Michael Foster]
Rangers, with assistance from the Williamson County Sheriff's Department, are investigating an apparent suicide that took place from the parkway's Highway 96 Bridge in Williamson County, Tennessee. The body of an 18-year-old woman was found last Tuesday below the bridge adjacent to Highway 96. The bridge, near Franklin, Tennessee, is 155 feet high. [Michael Foster]
The park and Williamson County Sheriff's Department are investigating a probable suicide that took place at the intersection of Tennessee Highway 96 and the on-ramp to the parkway on or about July 15th. The body of a 53-year-old Franklin, Tennessee, was found inside her car there that day. [Mike Foster, Chief Ranger]
R.B. of Flemingsburg, Kentucky, was bicycling on the parkway south of Tupelo on December 22nd when he was struck by a pickup truck that left the scene. R.B. was taken to a hospital with a concussion, broken collar bone, compressed vertebrae, and a sprained ankle. Rangers interviewed a number of witnesses, and, while documenting the incident, found a side view mirror which appeared to be from the truck. Rangers Jeff Penney and John Hearne identified the mirror from a parts number as belonging to a Dodge Dakota pickup. On January 5th, at the suggestion of staff at a Dodge dealership, Penney spoke with the manager of the South Gloucester Body Shop, who said that his shop had put a new right side view mirror on a 2004 Dodge Dakota pickup on December 27th. The manager of the body shop identified the customer as H.C., 90, of Tupelo, Mississippi. Penney interviewed H.C. on several occasions, and H.C. eventually admitted to driving in the area of the incident, striking an object (which he had thought was a sign) in the area of the incident, and admitting that the parts the rangers found were most likely from his truck. A criminal complaint has been filed in the Northern District of Mississippi for unsafe operation of a motor vehicle, failure to report a motor vehicle accident, and violating the safe passing distance when passing a bicyclist. [Mike Foster, Chief Ranger]
On April 26th and 27th, a 300-mile stretch of the Natchez Trace Parkway was impacted by several major storm systems. An estimated 10,000 trees were blown down by high winds within the boundary of the park, including hundreds on the parkway itself. A single 10-mile section took park crews most of a day to clear. One visitor was killed as a tree was blown over onto his tent. Park staff handled about 350 calls for service, ranging from downed trees to stranded visitors, flooding, and numerous motor vehicle accidents. No other major injuries or fatalities occurred despite having over 10,000 travelers on the parkway. Damage assessments are continuing. [Superintendent's Office]
On the morning of August 5th, park dispatch received information regarding a single-vehicle accident that resulted in a fatality. J.L.S., 61, of Maben, Mississippi, was traveling northbound on a closed section of the parkway near milepost 204 when his GMC pickup struck a tree which had fallen across the road during the night. Rangers, Webster County deputies, and emergency medical and fire rescue units responded along with the Webster County coroner. J.L.S. was found dead at the scene. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. [Michael Foster, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rangers, with assistance from the Lee County Sheriff's Department, are investigating an apparent suicide that took place at the Confederate Gravesites near mile post 269 in Lee County, Mississippi. The body of a 46-year-old Tupelo man was found there on Tuesday. The Lee County Coroner's office is also assisting in the investigation. [Mike Foster]
On September 3rd, field training ranger Jay Drinkwater and field trainee Sasha Herrin attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding on the parkway. The driver tried to elude them by turning off the parkway onto a county road, then a dirt road leading into an agricultural field. The driver then bailed out and fled on foot. The rangers gave chase but were unable to catch the individual. State and local agencies responded to lend assistance. A perimeter was set up and K-9 units were brought in, but they were unable to locate the suspect. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of 108 pounds of marijuana. The investigation is ongoing and being conducted in cooperation with North Mississippi Drug Task Force, with leads being followed up in Texas and Mississippi. [Mike Foster, Chief Ranger]
A single-vehicle accident on the parkway on Wednesday claimed the life of one juvenile occupant. A second was seriously injured and flown to University Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. The accident occurred when the southbound car went off the road near milepost 56 in Claiborne County. Rangers responded along with county deputies, county EMS and fire and rescue personnel, and the county coroner. High speed is the suspected cause, but the investigation continues. [Yolanda Ray, Park Guide]
On Sunday, May 6th, emergency responders were dispatched to an accident involving a motor vehicle and bicyclist on the parkway south of Kosciusko, Mississippi. Dr. G.D.H., 54, a resident of Kosciusko, was riding his bicycle south on the parkway when he was struck by a Toyota FJ Cruiser driven by a 17-year old boy. G.D.H. was pronounced dead at the scene. The parkway was closed for nearly four hours and traffic was detoured as a parkway traffic accident reconstruction specialist analyzed the scene. The investigation is expected to take several weeks to complete before a cause can be determined. Agencies assisting with the accident and investigation include the Mississippi Highway Patrol, Attala County Sheriff's Department and coroner, and the Kosciusko Police Department. This is the first bicycle-related fatality on the parkway since 2009. [Superintendent's Office]
On June 10th, field training ranger Brent Mahle and trainee Brad Jones observed a vehicle whose driver was not wearing a seatbelt. When they attempted to stop it, the driver fled down the parkway. A brief high-speed pursuit ensued that ended when the driver arrived at a dead end and attempted to flee on foot. He was apprehended during the subsequent foot pursuit and taken into custody without further incident. A search of the bag that he fled with revealed two and a half pounds of marijuana, 40 grams of crack cocaine, and $2,000. A check of his criminal history showed a previous arrest for possession with intent to distribute. This was the second felony drug arrest by Jones last weekend. He also had four DUI arrests (two of them felonies) and two other PCS cases during the first two weeks of this training phase. [Sarah Davis, Chief Ranger]
Tropical Storm Isaac, which was on the verge of becoming a hurricane early this morning, continues on its steady course toward a landfall along the Gulf Coast. It should be near or over the Louisiana coast tonight or early on Wednesday. The following is a summary of reports received from parks that Isaac has already passed by or that are in the storm's probable path: Natchez Trace Parkway - A conference call was held yesterday among division chiefs, district rangers and district maintenance foremen to line out our final preparations for Isaac. Following the call, all of the visitors in the Rocky Springs campground were contacted and advised to leave; the campground will officially close at noon today. All emergency response personnel are pre-positioning equipment and access barricades should the need arise to close sections of the parkway. Travelers have also been advised to avoid using the parkway in southern Mississippi during the storm and in the aftermath due to the possibility of falling trees and other obstructions. The Eastern IMT remains on standby to report to any park or parks needing assistance after the storm's passage. [Compiled from IMT and park reports]
The remnants of Isaac, now over Arkansas, will bring heavy rain and the threat of flash flooding as the system moves north and then northeastward over the weekend. For additional information on hydrological forecasts, go to NOAA's HYPERLINK "http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/" Hydrometeorological Prediction Center's web page. Here's today's park status report: Natchez Trace Parkway - The parkway was closed yesterday from Mile Marker 145 to the highway's southern terminus - a distance of 145 miles - due to falling branches and downed trees. The storm was still in full force when this report was made on Thursday and it was deemed probable that more trees would fall before it cleared the area. The park hoped to begin a damage assessment late yesterday. The Eastern IMT remains on standby to report to any park or parks needing assistance after the storm's passage. [Compiled from regional and park reports]
Over the past few days, parks affected by Hurricane Isaac have conducted damage assessments and found only minor impacts. The following reports have been received: Natchez Trace Parkway - As of early Friday, trees had been cleared from the southern end of the parkway and from Milepost 125 to Milepost 145. Remaining sections of the road were to be cleared on Friday and plans were to reopen the parkway on Saturday morning. No reports have yet been received from any inland areas (excepting the above) regarding any flooding from heavy rains from the remnants of Isaac. Those rains will continue in the East today. [Compiled from regional and park reports]
On March 17th, a bicyclist riding on the parkway near Friendship Hill Road north of Tupelo was physically assaulted by an unidentified person, leading to his hospitalization with severe injuries. The man's bicycle was also damaged. Rangers are currently conducting an investigation and are seeking the community's assistance in identifying the assailant. He's been identified as a white man in his 40s or 50s with short gray hair and a stocky build. He was driving a late model white crew cab pickup, possibly a Dodge, and would have been traveling south on the parkway late that afternoon. A reward of $500 is being offered for information leading to his arrest and conviction. Anyone with information about him should call the park at 662-680-4002. Rangers are also hoping to identify and talk with a witness who was at the scene and is thought to have been driving a dark colored four door sedan. [Sarah Davis, Chief Ranger]
On the evening of Tuesday, April 9th, emergency responders were dispatched to an accident involving a motor vehicle and a bicyclist on the parkway near milepost 77. G.W., 52, of Bay Minette, Alabama, was riding his bicycle north on the parkway when he was struck by a Nissan Versa driven by Norris Edney, 52, of Clinton, Mississippi. G.W. was pronounced dead at the scene. The roadway was closed for approximately four hours as a park reconstruction specialist analyzed the scene. The investigation is expected to take several weeks to complete before a cause can be determined. Agencies assisting with the accident and investigation include the FBI and the Hinds County Sheriff's Department and Coroner's Office. [Sarah Davis, Chief Ranger]
Rangers Andrew Schnetzer and Jennifer Falkey traveled the entire 444 miles of the parkway over the course of a two week period this spring, training 76 of the park's employees in CPR, AED and basic first aid. District Ranger Bill Ramsey, who was among those trained, was at a pool party three weeks later when a six-year-old boy was pulled from the bottom of the pool. The boy was blue in color, was not breathing and had no pulse, so Bill and his wife Cathy, a nurse, jumped into action and started CPR. Cathy gave the boy rescue breaths while Bill performed chest compressions. After about 10 compressions the boy began spitting up water, regained a pulse and resumed breathing. He was taken to a local hospital, where he spent several days in ICU, but has since returned home and is expected to make a full recovery. Bill said that the recent CPR training gave him the confidence to know what to do, and he appreciated the park putting forth the effort to train so many employees. [Sarah Davis, Chief Ranger]
Late on the evening of February 16th, a local sheriff's office advised the park that they'd received a report of someone jumping from the Double Arch Bridge. The body of a 66-year-old Tennessee man was found below the bridge along the side of Highway 96 outside of Franklin, Tennessee. His vehicle was found on atop the bridge near milepost 438 on the parkway. [Calvin Farmer]
The park is recovering quickly from the damage caused by high winds and rain associated with the big storm that moved through the region earlier this week. A tornado also struck Tupelo, Mississippi, on Monday, with an impact zone approximately five miles south of park headquarters. Here's a summary of the park's status as of yesterday morning: Power had been restored to park headquarters and employees were reporting to work. Internet and email service had been restored, but phone service was still out. If you're trying to contact the park, call cell phones or use email. Park facilities and infrastructure were found to be undamaged. Damage to the parkway was determined to be minimal. Several trees were down, but only a few landed on the road. Park maintenance crews cleared all of those within a few hours of the passing of the storm front. A pickup truck struck a tree that came down on the parkway near Thomastown, Mississippi, sometime in the early hours of April 29th. The driver of the vehicle, a 53-year-old Alabama man, was pronounced dead at the scene. One employee's home was damaged. Co-workers helped him shore up the structure and it is now watertight. To see a Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal slide show of damage in the Tupelo area, click on HYPERLINK "http://djournal.com/news/photo-gallery-aerial-view-tupelo-tornado- damage/" this link. [From report by Dale Wilkerson, Administrative Officer]
On the morning of Tuesday, June 24th, the park learned of a single motorcycle accident on the parkway near Collinwood, Tennessee. Rangers and Collinwood PD officers responded. The Honda motorcycle was being driven by a 73-year-old Tennessee man with his 74-year-old wife as the rear seat passenger. It appears that the motorcycle was northbound when it left the road and hit a tree, fatally injuring both of them. The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation. [Public Affairs Office]
Rangers and detectives from the Spring Hill Police Department are investigating the death of a 47-year-old Spring Hill resident whose body was found in a park creek on June 28th. A "be on the lookout" message concerning the man was sent out on June 27th, as he hadn't been seen since the previous day. On June 28th, rangers found his vehicle in the Sweetwater Branch parking lot and launched a hasty search. His body was found in the creek. The initial investigation indicates that he died as a result of an accidental slip and fall. Agencies assisting with the recovery included Murray Regional EMS and the Wayne County Sheriff's Office. [Sarah Davis, Chief Ranger]
The Leake County Sheriff's Department and Natchez Trace Parkway, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, are investigating the death of Courtney Cooke, 27, of Leake County. On the morning of Thursday, July 3rd, rangers discovered Cooke's body in a vehicle off the roadway near milepost 143 along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Authorities are seeking any information that may aid in their investigation. If you have any information, please contact the Leake County Sheriff's Department at (601) 267-7361, Crimestoppers at 886-481-8477 or 601-355-8477, or the Natchez Trace Parkway 1-800-300-PARK(7275). [Sarah Davis, Chief Ranger]
One person was killed and a second seriously injured in a rollover accident near milepost 146 in Leake County on Tuesday, August 5th. The driver of a Hummer H3 lost control of his vehicle when he suffered a medical emergency. Both he and his juvenile passenger were ejected from the Hummer. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene; the juvenile suffered major but non-life-threatening injuries. Two other passengers, both of whom were wearing seatbelts, suffered only minor injuries. On the afternoon of Wednesday, August 6th, a serious collision occurred between a pickup truck and a motorcycle near milepost 289 just north of Pharr Mounds. The two motorcycle riders, P.D. and G.N., both 56 of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada, were pronounced dead at the scene. Evidence and witness statements indicate that Donnie Sartain of Tishomingo, Mississippi, crossed the center line, striking the motorcycle head on. On August 7th, Sartain was charged in U.S. magistrate's court with one count of driving under the influence-manslaughter. Additional charges are pending. [Sarah Davis, Chief Ranger]
Rangers have responded to three single-vehicle collisions with fatalities since mid-September. On Thursday, September 18th, J.R.A., 41, of Houston, Mississippi, lost control of his vehicle and struck a tree. J.R.A. was not wearing his seatbelt and a toxicology report found a blood alcohol content of .20, much higher than the legal limit. On Thursday, October 2nd, C.C., 68, of Tupelo, Mississippi, lost control of her vehicle and struck a tree. She was transported to the hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. The data retrieved from the vehicle's airbag module indicates Carson was traveling well in excess of the posted 40 mph speed limit. On Saturday, October 18th, D.B., 26, of Ackerman, Mississippi, was ejected from his vehicle in an accident and was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation has revealed that D.B. likely fell asleep and was not wearing his seatbelt. Due to the proximity of the accidents to each other, rangers are increasing patrols in the area and will be performing safety checkpoints to increase seatbelt usage and reduce speeds. [Sarah Davis, Chief Ranger]
On Saturday, July 8th, T.N. was bicycling on the Natchez Trace Parkway near the park's northern terminus when a passing black Volvo struck him, causing serious but non-life threatening injuries. The Volvo failed to stop and left the scene. A bicyclist wearing a camera recorded video of the incident. Rangers and Williamson County Sheriff's Department deputies identified M.G.N. III, 58, of Franklin, Tennessee, as the driver of the vehicle who left the scene. On July 27th, a federal grand jury in the US District Court, Middle District of Tennessee, indicted M.G.N. on the three felony counts — reckless aggravated assault, lying to a federal agent, and obstruction of justice. On July 28th, rangers arrested M.G.N. at his home without incident. Source: News release, Natchez Trace Parkway.
Two Mississippi men pled guilty to theft of government property last month and have been sentenced to terms in prison, probation and restitution. In March, 2016, park maintenance employees found several items missing from the maintenance facility located in Dancy, Mississippi. Additional items were taken from the same facility in July, including a hydraulic winch valued at over $10,000. In August, Clay County and Oktibbeha County law enforcement officers arrested three suspects, including Easley and Williams, on charges of arson and theft in a series of crimes that spanned several counties. Clay County investigators contacted rangers with information connecting Easley and Williams to the park thefts. Rangers worked with officers from the two counties in executing search warrants and recovered several items, including the missing winch. Based on the information provided by county investigators and the Mississippi Agricultural and Livestock Theft Bureau, Easley and Williams were interviewed about the stolen property. Both confessed and provided detailed information about the two break-ins. In January, rangers presented the case before a grand jury in Oxford, Mississippi, and obtained a felony indictment against the two men for theft of government property; both pled guilty to the charge in June. Williams was sentenced in September to time served, three years' probation, and ordered to pay $848.50 in restitution. Easley was sentenced early last month to 12 months and one day of incarceration, followed by three years of supervised probation, and ordered to pay the $2516.15 in restitution. Source: News release, Natchez Trace Parkway
An interagency investigation led by an NPS special agent has culminated in a lengthy prison sentence for a man who fatally shot a woman on the parkway in 2014. C.E.L., 37, pleaded guilty to second degree murder in September and was recently sentenced in federal court to 480 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. On July 3, 2014, C.E.L. was riding on the parkway with a co-worker. He'd stolen a firearm from their employer's store before getting into the vehicle with the victim. While inside the vehicle, C.E.L. shot the woman five times in the chest and leg, leaving her in the backseat of her vehicle. Her body was later found by a ranger. A federal grand jury indicted C.E.L. in September 2016, charging him with murder in the second degree as well as being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, theft of a firearm, and use of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. At the sentencing hearing, C.E.L. was also ordered to pay $7,269 in restitution to the Office of Attorney General's Crime Victim Compensation Fund. The National Park Service thanks the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Leake County Sheriff's Department for their assistance in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi. Source: News release, Natchez Trace Parkway.
On the afternoon of December 29th, a bicyclist was struck by a 2017 Chevy Tahoe near mile marker 108 on the parkway. Rangers responded along with units from the Ridgeland Fire Department, Ridgeland Police Department, Madison County Sheriff's Department, and Pafford Ambulance Company. The cyclist, later identified as 50-year-old J.M. of Springfield, Missouri, was transported to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson by ambulance with serious injuries. The driver of the Tahoe, identified as S.E. of Jackson, Mississippi, was cited by the Ridgeland Police Department for not having insurance and faces additional charges from rangers. The investigation continues. Source: Natchez Trace Parkway news release.
The driver who's been charged with causing a bike crash on the Natchez Trace Parkway last year will change his plea to guilty later this month. A motion was filed to change M.N.'s plea from not guilty to guilty, according to an order filed in the U.S. District Court for Middle Tennessee. The charges M.N. faces stem from a July 2017 accident in which he's accused of striking a bicyclist with his vehicle and leaving the scene. A federal grand jury charged M.N. with reckless aggravated assault, lying to a federal agent, and obstruction of justice. If convicted of the federal charges, M.N. could face prison time. He could spend two to twelve years in prison on the reckless aggravated assault charge, up to five years in prison for lying to a federal agent, and up to 20 years in prison for obstructing justice. Source/full story: Nashville Tennessean.
A federal judge has accepted a plea agreement from a man who hit a cyclist on the parkway last July. M.N. pleaded guilty to all three counts with which he'd been charged — reckless aggravated assault, lying to a federal agent, and obstruction of justice. M.N. agreed to accept a 10-month prison sentence, which would be followed by three years of supervised release. He would also have to pay $1,210 in restitution to the cyclist he hit. M.N. and his family received threatening messages after the video of the crash went up online. Bumper stickers and his license plate number identified him to online users, so M.N. removed the stickers from his vehicle. Officers who arrived at M.N.'s house after the accident found him unconscious on the floor. He later admitted that he'd been driving on the parkway earlier in the day and claimed that someone threw a bicycle at his car. Source: Nashville Tennessean.
A company hired to complete work for a new housing development under construction in Davidson and Williamson Counties illegally excavated park lands, removing century-old Native American artifacts, and will pay a substantial fine. C.R.A. Inc. entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice last month to avoid criminal charges for violating ARPA and agreed to pay a $15,024 fine, the amount of damages assessed from the unauthorized excavation; they were also ordered to return all artifacts discovered during the process. The company was issued a notice of violation by rangers last December for conducting an unauthorized archaeological survey on park lands in connection with an abutting development. C.R.A. excavated land without required archaeological permits in November, 2016, and removed Native American archaeological artifacts more than a century old. The excavation was done in advance of proposed tree plantings to screen the housing development from the view of parkway visitors, according to the release. "This situation could have easily been avoided had C.R.A. applied for and received an ARPA permit," said Superintendent Mary Risser. Source: Nashville Tennessean.
Below are short follow-ups on incidents previously reported in this newsletter: Natchez Trace Parkway — A federal judge has revoked the bond for M.N., who was sentenced a month ago for hitting a cyclist on the Natchez Trace in 2017. M.N. was taken into custody by U.S. Marshals and is awaiting transfer to the Bureau of Prisons to begin serving his sentence. A filing on October 1st alleged that M.N. broke his bond agreement by leaving inpatient alcohol treatment early and arriving at Nashville International Airport intoxicated on Monday. On September 27th, M.N. checked himself out of an inpatient facility for treating his alcoholism. He didn't have permission to leave the treatment facility until Tuesday and was prohibited from any alcohol or drug intake. Source: The Tennessean. August 24, 2022 On August 23, a park employee observed a 20-year-old spray painting the Tennessee 96 bridge on the Parkway and reported it to law enforcement. Williamson County sheriff deputies arrived on scene and detained the individual until an NPS law enforcement officer arrived. The individual was issued citations for multiple violations, including trespassing and vandalism. The park will clean up the graffiti and bill the individual for the costs. Source: Natchez Trace Parkway September 18, 2022 Over Labor Day weekend, NPS and local law enforcement agencies conducted a series of traffic safety checkpoints, resulting in ten arrests for impaired driving, one felony charge for possession of controlled substances, as well as 26 citations and 42 warnings. Source: Natchez Trace Parkway February 8, 2023 On January 25, a car ran off the parkway just north of Tupelo, hit an embankment, and landed upside down in a creek. Lee County Sheriff's Office, Saltillo police and fire departments, NPS staff, and the Tupelo Fire Department dive team responded and found the 55-year-old driver deceased. There were no passengers. Source: Daily Journal
On June 7, law enforcement conducted an operation to detect and apprehend individuals engaging in "illicit sexual activity" in the parkway's parking lots and other public areas. Two individuals were charged with disorderly conduct and indecent exposure. The parkway's chief ranger has stated that this type of operation is a priority for 2023. Source: WKRN
On July 29, a vehicle struck a motorcyclist at the Thomastown intersection of the parkway, causing "catastrophic injuries." The driver fled the scene, headed west on Highway 429 toward Thomastown. Debris found at the scene, including a front bumper and grill, suggests the car might be a 2011 or 2012 black Dodge Charger. The NPS is looking for any information the public might have to support the investigation. Source: Natchez Trace Parkway
On October 20, a vehicle veered off the road and hit a tree between I-55 northbound and Rice Road. The 47-year-old driver died on scene. The road was closed for a time for the investigation and has since reopened. Source: WLBT
On November 29, nine individuals pleaded guilty to driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Each of the defendants was sentenced to serve a probationary period. Source: Natchez Trace Parkway
On the evening of January 14, the Natchez Parkway was closed between mileposts 429 and 442. The parkway visitor center closed at noon on January 15. It has since reopened. Source: Natchez Trace Parkway
On February 25, a dark colored Buick Enclave was involved in a collision near Pharr Mounds at milepost 286.7. The driver fled the scene without stopping, heading northbound. The NPS is asking the public for any information they might have. [Editor note: The press release made no mention what the car collided with, but a picture in the release indicates that one other car was possibly involved in the incident.] Source: Natchez Trace Parkway
On November 14, a 29-year-old pleaded guilty to a homicide on the Natchez Trace Parkway on September 23, 2018. The individual got into a fight with their housemate during a party they were hosting. The victim left the house, and the individual followed them and convinced them to go for a drive together. They drove to the parkway, where the culprit shot the victim multiple times. The victim was found the following morning by a pedestrian walking along the trail on the parkway. The culprit will be sentenced on February 12, 2025. The investigation was completed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Park Service and Ridgeland (MS) Police. Source: WJTV, U.S. Attorney's Office: Southern District of Mississippi | |