Death Investigation at Swains Lock

On Tuesday, September 23, at 4:09 p.m., United States Park Police units responded to Swains Lock, at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park, for a report of a visitor in cardiac arrest.

The initial investigation revealed a 78 year old male was walking with his wife along the canal towpath, when he collapsed. His wife called 911 and Montgomery County Medics responded and began treatment. He was transported to Suburban Hospital and later pronounced.

The man has been identified as Robert E. Moran, Jr., of Potomac, MD.

Anyone with information about this incident, please call the United States Park Police, Criminal Investigations Branch on (202) 610-8737.

Medical Emergency on Baltimore Washington Parkway

On Monday, September 22, 2008, at approximately 4:09 p.m., the United States Park Police were dispatched to southbound Baltimore-Washington Parkway south of Powder Mill Road for the report of a medical emergency. Arriving units reported Emergency Medical Services on the scene performing CPR on an individual who was subsequently transported to a local hospital by ambulance. He was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the decedent had been sick for several days. The decedent had stayed home that day and later determined the need go to the hospital. A friend of the decedent was contacted who responded to his residence to take him to the hospital.

While driving southbound on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway south of Powder Mill Road, the friend noticed that the decedent had slumped against the car's passenger door. He had been complaining of not being able to catch his breath. The friend pulled to the roadside and found the decedent unresponsive. The friend contacted 911 who had him begin CPR.

The decedent has been identified as 25 year old Anthony Ray Eldridge, a Lanham, Maryland resident.

Anyone with information about this incident, please call the United States Park Police, Criminal Investigations Branch on (202) 610-8737.

Motorcycle Checkpoint Conducted

On Sunday, September 14th, officers from the United States Park Police District 2 Station, in conjunction with the Virginia State Police and the Arlington County Police, conducted a motorcycle safety checkpoint on the southbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in the area of Reagan National Airport. Over 4,000 vehicles passed through this checkpoint, which was conducted between 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. During the course of this enforcement action, 75 motorcyclists were stopped. Of the motorcyclists stopped, eight operators had no driver’s licenses, eight operators had registration violations, seven motorcycles were found to have safety inspection issues, one operator had a revoked permit, one operator was in violation of a learner’s permit, and three motorcycles were impounded. Twenty-six citations were issued as a result of the above findings.

The goal of the checkpoint was to enforce existing laws and educate riders through motorcycle safety tips brochures. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 4,810 motorcyclists were killed in 2006 – an increase of five percent over the 4,576 motorcyclists killed in 2005. There were 88,000 motorcyclists injured during 2006. Also, per mile traveled in 2006, a motorcyclist is approximately 37 times more likely to die in a crash than someone riding in a passenger car. Due to the overwhelming success of this enforcement action, it will be repeated in the future.