Ranger Suzanne (Suzi)
E. Roberts, 36, died while attempting to remove rocks on the road in the
Kipahulu District of Haleakala National Park on Maui. She had worked at the
park since April as a law enforcement ranger.
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On September 14, 2004
Roberts was on duty in the Kipahulu District and on Hana Road in the
Alelele area when she noticed several rocks in the middle of the
road, recently fallen from an adjacent cliff. She parked the patrol
car on a nearby access road to the Alelele beach area and walked down
the main road to clear the rocks. While bending over to remove the
rocks, she was hit in the upper back and head by a boulder in excess
of three feet in diameter that fell from the cliff.
Witnesses used the radio in her cruiser to contact the NPS Pacific
Area Dispatch Center. Rangers and Maui police, ambulance and fire
units arrived within 15 minutes. Resuscitation efforts were
unsuccessful. She was taken by ambulance to the Hana Medical Center.
Suzi was doing what rangers do, said her supervisor, unit manager
Eric Anderson. She was making the place safe for others. Roberts had
served as a long-time seasonal in Rocky Mountain National Park before
transferring to Haleakala this spring. She was so energetic and full
of life, Anderson said. She had a lot of rangering experience and a
great personality. Visitors loved her. And so did we. We feel a
tremendous sense of loss.
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