Accidental Overdose Causes Camper’s Death

A 48-year-old man who was camping at Buffalo Point campground with his family was discovered not breathing in his tent by his wife at about 6:45 a.m. on June 3rd. A respiratory therapist camping nearby heard screams from the site and attempted to render aid. She could not find a pulse, though, and determined that rigor had probably set in to his the lower extremities. A 911 call resulted in the dispatch of NPS rangers. An NPS EMT arrived on scene and discovered that the man was suffering from lividity on his back. CPR was therefore not begun. The man had a long history of using excessive amounts of prescribed pain medications for treatment of pain associated with a back injury sustained in a 1996 automobile accident.  The preliminary coroner's report listed the cause of death as accidental overdose.  The victim’s body has been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for an autopsy.