Friday, July 1, 2011

YNP: Two dead - Hikers swept over flooded bridge into Hetch Hetchy Reservoir

Two Hikers were swept over a bridge and into a reservoir while backpacking through Yosemite National Park. 

The men died Wednesday when they were swept over a flooded bridge and into the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.
One of their bodies has been found. The other man is missing and presumed dead.
Park officials say the bridge where the group was crossing was open to the public but it was filled with water from rain and snow runoff. 

Victims: Both victims were doctors that worked in the Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital emergency room in Whittier. The two men were identified as Dr. Gregory Meyer, an emergency medical specialist who worked at the hospital since 1998; and Richard Fox, a physician's assistant in the emergency department, working at the hospital since 2003. They were part of a group that had been backpacking for several days through Yosemite National Park this was the fourth year that the group of five has taken the trip to Yosemite.
The other three also work at the hospital. One was Meyer's wife. 

Park officials say there have been fatalities at the park this year, but this is the first time anyone has been swept away on or near the bridge where Wednesday's incident happened,  the accident happened Wednesday around 8 a.m. Both men were in their 50s were part of a group of five hikers.
Park officials confirmed Meyer is presumed dead but they are still searching for his body. Fox's body has been recovered.

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