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Introduction
Summary
Timeline
The
Kims and Their Doomed Trip
The
SAR Effort: Bungled or Undermined?
Who
Was Responsible?
Lessons
to Learn
Afterthoughts:
Summer 2007
Media
and Official Reports Archive
Media
and Official Reports Archive
Local newspaper's report of Kati Kim's Jan. 15, 2007
interview with Klamath County, Oregon Sheriff Tim Evinger. In this interview, she recalls
their decision to take an unmarked logging road, hoping to reach
Gold Beach.
CNET
tribute to James Kim. This
article, written by Mr. Kim’s fellow trade journalists,
struck a tone adopted by most media outlets that covered the
tragedy.
Lessons
of Kim tragedy
An
emergency preparedness foundation says, “ … the
bottom line is that if you are prepared and react with common
sense before things become an emergency, you will either avoid
the emergency altogether, or it will be a lot less life
threatening.”
Spencer
Kim: The Lessons in My Son’s Death
Calls
for wilderness access restrictions and weakening of credit
card privacy laws. Criticizes National Guard, local SAR
efforts. Condemns media overflights of search area.
Salon.com:
Who’s to blame for James Kim’s death?
Salon
magazine, an Internet magazine, published this account of the
tragedy. It emphasizes personal responsibility, but passes
along some of the factual errors contained in other media
reports.
First
warning sign on Kims’ route
Second
warning sign on Kims' route
Third
warning sign on Kims' route
Intersection
of Bear Camp Road (FS23 - left) and a logging trail
(BLM34-8-36 - right). Kim's car was found 21 miles down
34-8-36 from this intersection. Note fourth warning sign in
background on Bear Camp Road.
Close-up
of fourth warning sign seen by Kims.
Governor’s
timeline
Released
Jan. 5, 2007, this timeline offers a sketch of government SAR
activity. It suggests a conflict between Spencer Kim and
authorities over private agency helicopter flights in the
search area, and details the revival of Josephine County’s
SAR effort after intervention by an Edge Wireless employee and
an Oregon State Police officer.
ABC Television's "20/20" report,
produced by Firecracker Films, based in London, England, aired Feb. 11, 2011. I consider it
the shoddiest media account of all. Kati Kim's account directly contradicted
her Jan. 15, 2007 interview by Klamath County, Oregon Sheriff Tim Evinger.
New elements were introduced, including her claim to have been asleep for
much of their drive into the wilderness -- a drive whose details she had
reported four years earlier. Comments attached to the story were sharply critical of
ABC, Firecracker Films, and Mrs. Kim. I don't expect the link to be active for
very long.
Rogue River Float Guide BLM publication. Maps of Bear Camp road area
on pages 6 & 7, maps of each section of the Rogue in Bear Camp area; photos
of river canyon; much rafting-oriented info. Page 31 shows Big Windy Creek,
Black Bar Lodge, and BLM 34-8-36, the logging road where the Kims were found.
The Kims were found downriver from Black Bar Lodge on 34-8-36. Rafting tips for
navigating the river are very detailed.
James Kim's Path
Google map images with markings of path, etc. added.
Page #1 shows corrected car position; other photos show incorrect
original car position.
This map shows the immediate area
where the Kims were stranded.
OSSA
Report
Released
Jan. 18, 2007, the exhaustive Oregon State Sheriff’s
Association report includes interviews with participants,
analysis and recommendations for changes in SAR procedures.
OSSA: Report Parts I & II
OSSA: Report Part III
OSSA: Part IV: Timeline of Events
OSSA: SAR Timeline
OSSA: Kim Family Timeline
OSSA: List of Participants
OSSA: Josephine County After-Action Review
OSSA: Flight Log
Portland Police Dept. Missing Person Report
Home
©2007,
2011 Charles Wilson, all rights reserved
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