Imperial Sand Dunes recreational area By VICTOR MORALES, Staff Writer
Sunday, November 25, 2007 11:37 PM PST
KEVIN MARTY PHOTO
Headlights and taillights illuminate Buttercup Valley in eastern Imperial County on Saturday.
KEVIN MARTY PHOTO
A motorcyclist heads down a steep dune Saturday in Buttercup Valley.
KEVIN MARTY PHOTO
Riders race to the top of the hill climb in Buttercup Valley on Saturday in eastern Imperial County.
Bureau of Land Management officials were breathing a little easier after watching over an estimated 150,000 off-road enthusiasts here during the Thanksgiving weekend with no fatalities reported by press time Sunday.
As of early Sunday evening, emergency medical crews had responded to 90 calls, transported 40 patients by ambulance and seven by helicopter during the Thursday through Sunday period, said BLM Public Affairs Officer Steve Razo.
The injuries ranged from broken bones to lacerations to concussions.
Razo said there were 577 law enforcement contacts with the majority stemming from speeding and safety investigations, Razo said.
There were 18 people booked at the Imperial County jail who were arrested at the dunes during the long weekend, according to the county jail logs.
The majority had been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Four men in a pickup were reportedly threatening duners at knifepoint shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday, according to the Imperial County Sheriff’s call logs.
Deputies were called to Highway 78 and Gecko Road, where reportedly four shirtless Hispanic men with “bald heads and many tattoos” fled in a silver Dodge pickup with an attached flag, reading Riverside.
No other information was available.
The relatively slow weekend marks a stark comparison with past ones. Fatal accidents, homicides and fights have occurred at the 160,000-acre area.
Razo said no unlawful assemblies occurred at Oldsmobile Hill, a lengthy mount popular with duners and spectators but notorious for its lawlessness.
“The last three years have shown a consistent pattern of the area returning to a family-oriented environment,” Razo said.
" maymay 92243, that happened the weekend before.Not on the Thurs. thru Sunday Thanksgiving weekend.That's what the article is about. "
wriststrong wrote on Nov 27, 2007 11:38 AM:
" off the subject, but I agree with wikiscogg on the new format of IVP online. It's crap. "
CDJ wrote on Nov 26, 2007 10:09 PM:
" Hey, Mr. Morales, check it out: The pic up there with the caption 'KEVIN MARTY PHOTO
A motorcyclist heads down a steep dune Saturday in Buttercup Valley', is covering some of the text of the story. Help! CDJ "
marcusjayshapiro wrote on Nov 26, 2007 9:45 PM:
" I went on the T-Give eve...Wednesday...It was pretty fun...boardmanville was more like boredmanville... When I headed back into the burbs(OWL) I saw stacks of people rollin to G-Mis. I have some video from hangin with the BIG BELLY CREW... get it up soon...I love that place...supersitions...San Felipe...when the surf is down and the skys are clear...no bette place to drive to. This weekend I will be heading to Parker/Lake Havasu for the River Bowl. I will be broadcasting the Wildcat Pee Wee team which features the RB Whannel, and the Jr. Midgets with Lloyd Johnson...should be a great day for www.imperialvalleyfootball thanks to all that watch the Mid Valley Sun Devils on Sunday... They almost had it... "
jhitesma wrote on Nov 26, 2007 7:51 PM:
" The train accident wasn't Thanksgiving weekend, it was the weekend before so why would it be reported as a thanksgiving accient?
The people who were burned were at Gordon's well not Glamis, though both areas are part of the ISDRA, and were apparently transported to PHX and SD - latest word is one of them was over 60% burned while the other was only 35%. Not that 35% isn't horrible, and they're both apparently still in critical condition based on information from a family friend posted on glamisdunes - dot - com (apparently dot com is a "naughty" word on here) "
maymay92243 wrote on Nov 26, 2007 6:33 PM:
" What do they mean there were no fatalities at Glamis, there was a horrible accident at the train tracks, doesn't anyone know about that? "
lacosta wrote on Nov 26, 2007 6:15 PM:
" Hey polo87.There were not any fatalities this weekend in the dunes or desert(off-roading) that we know of. Not even at superstition.I haven't heard of any at Ocotillo Wells. "
vam2111 wrote on Nov 26, 2007 5:18 PM:
" wikiscogg,
Call me with the "man's" information. I would like to speak with him. Thank you. Victor Morales, Reporter, 337-3452. "
tyrone wrote on Nov 26, 2007 4:27 PM:
" "four shirtless Hispanic men with “bald heads and many tattoos”"
That's all we need, A bunch gang banging southsiders from out town in our dunes terrorizing families who are trying to enjoy some quality family. "
wikiscogg wrote on Nov 26, 2007 2:13 PM:
" It is a bad picture and I don;t like the new format the IV press has for online. "
susflores wrote on Nov 26, 2007 12:29 PM:
" what a bad picture...I had to focus on the small shadows at the bottom of the pic to realize what it is... At a glance it looks like bad neon lights hanging from the ceiling. "
wikiscogg wrote on Nov 26, 2007 11:23 AM:
" I was just emailed by a friend that a man and his nephew had a accident at Glamis and both were burnt over 65% of thier bodies. "
polo87 wrote on Nov 26, 2007 8:23 AM:
" Well, it's not always bad news at the dunes despite the fatalities and some arrests. "
jsyi wrote on Nov 26, 2007 1:39 AM:
" Hmmm..... "
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lacosta wrote on Nov 27, 2007 8:15 PM: