Video shows vandals destroying popular Oregon rock formation
Martha Bellisle, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Wednesday, September 07, 2016 01:05 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, September 07, 2016 01:18 PM EDT
Cellphone video captured a group of people knocking over a popular sandstone rock formation known as the “Duckbill” on an Oregon beach.
Oregon State Parks officials originally said they didn’t think the break at the site frequented by tourists was caused by humans.
But the video shot by David Kalas of Portland shows a group of visitors pushing the structure until it crumbled to the ground on August 29 at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area.
The sandstone pedestal was roughly 7 feet to 10 feet across and located in a fenced off section of the park.
Kalas told The Associated Press on Monday that he was with some friends making a drone video of their summer adventures on the Oregon coast when they went to the rock formation.
When they got the drone in the air, a group of eight people “came out of nowhere” and started pushing on the rock. Kalas says he started recording with his cellphone when it began wobbling.
“I didn’t think anything would happen,” Kalas said. “It’s a big rock.”
Five of the people stepped away, but when three others saw there was a crack, they pushed it over, Kalas said.
“We confronted them and they said it was a safety hazard,” Kalas said. “They said one of their friends had broken a leg on it. It’s like their weird revenge thing.”
The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department said Monday it will review the incident and takes vandalism seriously.
A similar episode in Utah caused an online uproar. Two Boy Scout leaders were sentenced to probation after recording themselves toppling an ancient rock formation at Goblin Valley State Park and posting it on YouTube.
This undated photo provided by State of Oregon, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department shows a natural rock formation that was found in pieces last week at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area which is a state park in Pacific City, Ore. The sandstone pedestal was roughly 7 feet to 10 feet across and located in a fenced off section of the park. Oregon State Parks officials originally said they did not think the break at the site frequented by tourists was caused by humans but cellphone video captured a group of people knocking over the popular sandstone rock formation known as the "Duckbill" on the Oregon beach. (State of Oregon, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department via AP)
This photo provided by Chelsea Rutherford shows a natural rock formation in Oct. 2008, at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area which is a state park in Pacific City, Ore. The sandstone pedestal, which was found in pieces last week, was roughly 7 feet to 10 feet across and located in a fenced off section of the park. Oregon State Parks officials originally said they did not think the break at the site frequented by tourists was caused by humans but cellphone video captured a group of people knocking over the popular sandstone rock formation known as the
http://twitter.com/DavidKalas/status/770429099890188292
Video shows vandals destroying popular Oregon rock formation | World | News | To
Martha Bellisle, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
First posted: Wednesday, September 07, 2016 01:05 PM EDT | Updated: Wednesday, September 07, 2016 01:18 PM EDT
Cellphone video captured a group of people knocking over a popular sandstone rock formation known as the “Duckbill” on an Oregon beach.
Oregon State Parks officials originally said they didn’t think the break at the site frequented by tourists was caused by humans.
But the video shot by David Kalas of Portland shows a group of visitors pushing the structure until it crumbled to the ground on August 29 at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area.
The sandstone pedestal was roughly 7 feet to 10 feet across and located in a fenced off section of the park.
Kalas told The Associated Press on Monday that he was with some friends making a drone video of their summer adventures on the Oregon coast when they went to the rock formation.
When they got the drone in the air, a group of eight people “came out of nowhere” and started pushing on the rock. Kalas says he started recording with his cellphone when it began wobbling.
“I didn’t think anything would happen,” Kalas said. “It’s a big rock.”
Five of the people stepped away, but when three others saw there was a crack, they pushed it over, Kalas said.
“We confronted them and they said it was a safety hazard,” Kalas said. “They said one of their friends had broken a leg on it. It’s like their weird revenge thing.”
The Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department said Monday it will review the incident and takes vandalism seriously.
A similar episode in Utah caused an online uproar. Two Boy Scout leaders were sentenced to probation after recording themselves toppling an ancient rock formation at Goblin Valley State Park and posting it on YouTube.
This undated photo provided by State of Oregon, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department shows a natural rock formation that was found in pieces last week at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area which is a state park in Pacific City, Ore. The sandstone pedestal was roughly 7 feet to 10 feet across and located in a fenced off section of the park. Oregon State Parks officials originally said they did not think the break at the site frequented by tourists was caused by humans but cellphone video captured a group of people knocking over the popular sandstone rock formation known as the "Duckbill" on the Oregon beach. (State of Oregon, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department via AP)
This photo provided by Chelsea Rutherford shows a natural rock formation in Oct. 2008, at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area which is a state park in Pacific City, Ore. The sandstone pedestal, which was found in pieces last week, was roughly 7 feet to 10 feet across and located in a fenced off section of the park. Oregon State Parks officials originally said they did not think the break at the site frequented by tourists was caused by humans but cellphone video captured a group of people knocking over the popular sandstone rock formation known as the
http://twitter.com/DavidKalas/status/770429099890188292
Video shows vandals destroying popular Oregon rock formation | World | News | To
