July 2024 Ranger Blotter
Report Summaries
On July 1, rangers responded to a solo non- injury vehicle accident that occurred in the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. A ranger located an unoccupied vehicle on District property and contacted the owner for additional information. There was no damage to District property and the vehicle was later towed from the scene.
On July 2, a ranger responded to a hiking accident on the Lower Meadow Trail at Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve. The patient was evaluated by Santa Clara County paramedics and was transported home by their spouse.
On July 4, a ranger was first on scene to a vehicle accident on Highway 35. The ranger initiated patient care and maintained cervical spine immobilization until the San Mateo County Fire Department arrived and American Medical Response paramedics transported the patient to the hospital.
On July 5, a ranger responded to a hiker who experienced heat exhaustion and fell on the Madrone Knoll Trail in the Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve. The ranger assessed the patient, who declined medical treatment, then transported her back to her vehicle. The patient' s friend transported her to the hospital.
On July 5, a ranger closed Highway 35 at Alpine Road per the request of the California Highway Patrol ( CHP). CHP worked with a tow service to recover a vehicle from off the highway, approximately 500 feet down a slope. The ranger staffed and enforced the closure for over two hours until directed by CHP to open the road.
On July 5, rangers met with the Kings Mountain Fire Department and Life Flight at the El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve landing zone for training. The training included establishing a safe landing zone, communicating with the helicopter pilot on the radio, loading a patient into the air ambulance, and ensuring safety throughout the helicopter’ s departure. Many landing zones on District property are used for accidents and medical aides on and off District lands, and rangers often coordinate the landing zone.
On July 6, a ranger responded to the Thornewood Open Space Preserve for an injured motorcyclist on the access road. The ranger was first on scene, assessed the motorcyclist for injuries, and requested a medical response from the San Mateo County Fire Department. The motorcyclist was evaluated by county paramedics and left after signing an Against Medical Advice Release.
On July 7, rangers responded to a fallen solo motorcyclist on Highway 84. Rangers arrived first on scene and began a patient assessment until the San Mateo County Fire Department, San Mateo County Sheriff’ s Office, and California Highway Patrol arrived. Rangers assisted with traffic control until the patient was transported by ground ambulance to the hospital with arm injuries.
On July 7, a vehicle accident occurred westbound Highway 9 near the intersection of Heather Heights Road. A single vehicle exited the roadway and came to rest approximately 500 feet into Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve. The Santa Clara County Fire Department used a low- angle rescue system to bring the two injured occupants up to the roadway. The patients were transported by ambulance to the hospital, and the vehicle was left in the preserve because emergency responders were unable to reach it due to the steep terrain. CHP declared the vehicle “ abandoned” since it was unreachable. Rangers will work to determine if it can be removed and follow up with the registered owner and CHP.
On July 8, a ranger took a report of two equestrian gates that were removed and stolen from Rancho San Antonio County Park near the Whispering Oaks Stables off the Hammond Snyder Loop Trail. Maintenance personnel have been notified and new gates were ordered.
On July 10, rangers scanned the San Mateo County Fire Department’s radio traffic about a hiker feeling faint on the North Ridge Trail in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. The Kings Mountain Fire Department extracted the patient from the trail before rangers arrived on scene. The patient signed an against medical advice form with San Mateo County Fire personnel and was transported home by her husband.
On July 13, rangers, the Palo Alto Fire Department and the City of Palo Alto Rangers responded to a bicycle accident in Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. The patient injured her right hip and was transported from Canyon Trail to the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve parking lot, where she declined medical care with Palo Alto Fire personnel against medical advice.
On July 13, a ranger was notified that the Santa Clara County Fire Department and Sheriff Deputies were searching for a suicidal subject in the area of Highway 35 and a Highway 9. The Sheriff Deputies located the subject deceased near the Skyline Trail in Castle Rock State Park. A ranger confirmed the incident was not on District property and provided a wheeled stretcher to assist recovery efforts. Rangers remained on scene to assist Santa Clara County Park Rangers, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, and California State Park Rangers with the carryout.
On July 15, a ranger and two ranger recruits were first on scene of a cycling accident on Page Mill Road. The patient complained of right forearm pain. The Palo Alto Fire Department responded and transported the patient.
On July 15, a ranger responded to an injury hiking accident at Rancho San Antonio County Park and Open Space Preserve on the Lower Meadow Trail. The patient was evaluated by Santa Clara County paramedics and transported by ground ambulance to El Camino Hospital.
On July 17, a visitor at Monte Bello Open Space Preserve experienced dizziness while participating in a Midpen docent- led guided activity. Rangers and Palo Alto Fire Department personnel responded and provided care. The patient signed a release against medical advice form and left the preserve in their personal vehicle.
On July 18, rangers were notified by email of an incident of a coyote attack on a dog that took place in Windy Hill Open Space Preserve on July 15. A ranger called the reporting party to obtain more information and found out a coyote had pounced on the visitors off leash dog. The dog was not harmed and the person scared the coyote away. After other reports of coyotes in the area acting aggressively towards pets and people, the area was closed to the public in coordination with Natural Resources staff. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to the incident and looked for offending coyotes in order to perform behavior modification but were unsuccessful. Rangers obtained air horns and continued to patrol the area, successfully treating several coyotes by acting aggressively towards them and deploying the loud horns to scare them off. The goal is to restore fear of humans in the coyotes.
On July 23, a dogs prohibited violation occurred at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve. The suspect refused to identify himself, then provided false information, became agitated, and started filming the interaction. He was later identified and issued a citation for having a dog in a prohibited area and given a verbal warning for providing false information to a peace officer and for resisting, obstructing, and delaying a peace officer.
On July 23, an injury traffic accident occurred on Skyline Boulevard. A ranger was first on scene and provided patient care until the San Mateo County Fire Department arrived. One patient was transported by ground ambulance to the hospital.
On July 23, rangers were requested by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office to respond to the lower Windy Hill Open Space Preserve parking lot to assist with an at-risk missing person search. A woman was reported missing by her husband, who located her phone at the parking lot. Six rangers and approximately ten sheriff’s deputies, including a K9 and drone operator, participated in the search. The San Mateo County Fire Department also responded. The person was discovered off-trail within one hundred yards of the parking lot, deceased by apparent suicide. The San Mateo County Coroner responded and removed the decedent.
On July 23, a ranger responded to an injury hiking accident on the Hassler Loop Trail in Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve. When rangers arrived on the scene at approximately 11:48 a.m., the San Mateo County Fire Department was already with the patient and transported them by ground ambulance at approximately 12:12 p.m.
On July 24, a vehicle swerved off of Page Mill Road and came to rest approximately 30 feet into Foothills Open Space Preserve. The City of Palo Alto Rangers responded, and District rangers followed up and gathered information for the report. The driver had minor injuries and refused treatment. The vehicle was removed by tow truck.
On July 26, an extinguished fire was discovered in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. Rangers and the San Mateo County Fire Department responded and found the fire had extinguished itself. CalFire investigated the fire for possible arson and removed the fire ashes from the preserve.
On July 27, a ranger responded to two visitors who reported their vehicles had been burglarized in the equestrian lot. Credit cards were stolen from both victims, and unauthorized purchases were made. The visitors were advised to contact the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department.
On July 31, rangers attended a World Ranger Day gathering in Oakland, hosted by East Bay Regional Parks, with over 150 participants from 30 agencies including a Japanese Park Ranger from the Japanese Ministry of the Environment- National Parks.