Ranger Randy Fisher saw a parachute opening under the New River Gorge Bridge while on patrol on August 13th. He then saw a woman running toward what appeared to be a getaway vehicle at the park’s river access below the bridge. He ordered her to stop, but she refused to comply. As she fled, she discarded a handheld radio. Fisher pursued and apprehended her, then attempted to catch the BASE jumper. He disappeared into the woods, though, which led to a four-hour-long interagency search. The man was finally caught and both were held at the Southern Regional Jail until they could appear before a federal magistrate on the following morning. The man, identified as Donald Heckel, pled guilty to violation of the regulation prohibiting parachuting in the park; the woman, identified as Rachel Streusand, pled guilty to aiding and abetting. Fisher was assisted by rangers Charles Mitchem and Sandy Shuck, a ranger trainee, and Fayette County and Fayetteville officers.
