Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Worker Killed On The Blue Ridge Parkway

Tragedy has struck the Blue Ridge Parkway in the form of the death of Maintenance Worker Dana Bruce.

This brings to mind the dangers faced by people working along the Parkway everyday.  Mowing along steep mountain slopes, cutting vistas along steep overlooks among loose footing and rocks, operating hazardous equipment, and vehicles.  All of this work continues so you can enjoy a safe visit to our parks.

Dana's death is a great loss to us all.

Below is taken from the National Park Service Morning Report for May 9, 2012.


Blue Ridge Parkway
Maintenance Worker Killed In Mowing Accident

Dana Bruce, 63, a seasonal maintenance worker with the Blue Ridge Parkway, was killed in an accident Monday while mowing vegetation at the Haw Creek Overlook on the parkway north of Asheville, North Carolina.  The accident is under investigation by Southeast Regional Office. Bruce is survived by his wife, Denise MacMillan, daughters Lorin Crowley and Alexandra Harrington, stepdaughter Stephanie Cohen, stepson Kevin Stevens, ten grandchildren, and his parents, Robert and Esther Bruce. Bruce was a Vietnam-era veteran who has worked for three seasons as a seasonal employee with Blue Ridge Parkway. “He was a great worker with a wonderful attitude, and was a friend to everyone he met,” said Superintendent Phil Francis. “This is a very sad day for his family and all of us at Blue Ridge Parkway.” A memorial service will be held in near his parents’ home in New Hampshire.  The details of the service are to be determined.  In lieu of flowers, family is requesting donations be made to the Nature Conservancy,www.nature.org. [Bill Reynolds, SERO]

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