the REGION
Endangered Camel Dies at Zoo
The National Zoo's only camel died yesterday. The 18-year-old male Bactrian camel was thought to be in good health and was slated to be sent to an animal park in Ohio, according to Peper Long, zoo spokeswoman.
Long said the cause of death will be known after a final pathology report is completed. Bactrian camels, which have two humps, are critically endangered in the wild. The zoo's camel belonged to the domestic form of the species and had been at the zoo since 1987. Camels are native to northwest China and Mongolia and generally live from 35 to 50 years.
THE DISTRICT
Dead Driver Identified as Md. Man
The motorist who died Sunday night after his car veered off the George Washington Memorial Parkway into the Potomac River was identified by police yesterday as James Kenard Wall, 34, of Germantown.
Wall was northbound on the parkway about 11:20 p.m. when his car left the roadway and traveled about 200 feet before plunging into the river north of Lady Bird Johnson Park, according to police. The accident remains under investigation by the D.C. police department's Major Crash Investigations Unit.
A passing motorist saw the headlights from Wall's 1995 Nissan 240X in the water before it sank, and he called authorities. The car was submerged in about 12 feet of water, about 30 yards from shore, when rescuers arrived. There were no other occupants.
D.C. Harbor Patrol divers pulled Wall out of the water. He was taken to George Washington University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities said earlier that they did not find any skid marks at the scene indicating an attempt to brake.
Search for Kidnapping Suspect Fizzles
After searching about five hours for a suspect who police believe had kidnapped a woman and held her hostage, D.C. police left the area empty-handed late last night.
Police SWAT teams toting automatic weapons and wearing Kevlar helmets and bulletproof vests arrived in the late afternoon in the unit block of K Street NW. Officers had received a report that a woman had been abducted from Southeast Washington by her ex-boyfriend, authorities said.
Dozens of police mounted a massive show of force, shutting down several blocks. But after entering at least two residences, they found no signs of the man or woman.
Spokesman Quintin Peterson said police filled the area after investigators found a vehicle there that had been described by complainants. People at the scene then told police that the estranged couple might be inside a nearby home, Peterson said.
Police left the K Street area about 10:30 p.m. and were still searching for the pair.
Late last night, police issued a warrant for the arrest of the suspect, whom they identified as Robert Young, in connection with the kidnapping of Shirley Harding.
