[Vision2020] KTVB and KREM report on Paul Joyce in Orofino

[Saundra Lund]

Thanks, Ken, for sharing this, and for your important PS.

 

As is known by everyone who knows me, I am severely directionally challenged.  There are countless “typical Saundra” stories about how lost I can get if left to my own devices, and a majority of those debacles involved driving at night, often in unlit or poorly lit unfamiliar areas.

 

Such a tragedy.

 

 

Saundra

Moscow, ID

 

If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.  If you want to be happy, practice compassion.

~  The Dalai Lama

 

From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Kenneth Marcy
Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2016 12:52 PM
To: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] KTVB and KREM report on Paul Joyce in Orofino

 

KTVB and KREM report on Paul Joyce in Orofino 

 <http://tinyurl.com/hmjog4t> http://tinyurl.com/hmjog4t 

CLEARWATER COUNTY, Idaho – Authorities said a University of Idaho dean who was found dead back in April was just trying to get back to his hotel late at night.

Paul Joyce, 57, was found submerged in his Toyota Prius in the Dworshak Reservoir at the Big Eddy Boat Ramp. Authorities confirmed that his cause of death was drowning, but they have not said much else.

On April 22nd, the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office said Paul Joyce was at the High Country Inn near the community of Ahsahka. Around 10:30 p.m., he decided to leave the Inn and head back to his hotel in nearby Orofino, according to authorities.

Investigators said Joyce was not familiar with the area and was given directions on how to get to Orofino. They believe he took a couple of wrong turns and eventually ended up drowning at the Dworshak Reservoir.

So how did Joyce drive down this steep ramp and manage to submerge his car? KREM 2 on Your Side wanted to take a look at the area for ourselves.

Starting at the High Country Inn on the Old Ahsahka Grade, KREM 2’s Taylor Viydo hooked up a camera to his car and left the motel just as Joyce would have. Once Joyce got to the end of the old grade, he should have gone right, downhill towards Ahsahka. He instead went left, driving up hill. 

He would then have to stay on Viewpoint Road for around two miles, navigating turns in the dark. Once Joyce got to the Big Eddy Boat Launch area, he would have to turn right into a parking lot. He could have went around the parking spots and over to the boat launch. Joyce could have also taken a sharp turn and headed directly to the boat launch. 

But once he got there, investigators said the car went into the water by driving directly down the ramp. He would not be spotted until the next morning and nobody called authorities until later that day, according to officials.

KREM 2 also noticed light poles in both the parking lot and near the boat ramp. KREM 2 reached out to Dworshak State Park officials and left a message to find out if those lights would have been turned on at the time Joyce drove through the area, but have not heard back.

At last check, the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office was still awaiting toxicology results in this case.


Ken

P.S.:  The lack of prominent street and area signage that would respond to headlights at night is undoubtedly a contributing factor in this tragedy.  The area around this boat ramp is certainly not the only location in rural and insular Idaho where non-locals could be expected to utilize public facilities, yet the lack of signage, lighting, street striping, and other directional accoutrements of a more developed community allow unfamiliar visitors to take unnecessary and erroneous routes to their disadvantage.  Perhaps a local review of similar sites would not be amiss.  --KM

 

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