National Park Ranger. Born Marina Vargas in Caracas, Venezuela, she earned a bachelor's degree in marine biology from Universidad de Oriente in Venezuela. She emigrated to the United States in 1990 to attend the University of North Texas, where she earned a doctorate in biology. She married after school and had one son. From 1999 to 2005, she worked for the city of Carrolton, Texas as a storm water coordinator. After a move to Corpus Christi, she took a position as Biological Technician with the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at Padre Island National Seashore and was beginning her second season with the Kemp's Ridley recovery project, patrolling North Padre Island in search of nesting Kemp's Ridley sea turtles in order to protect them, their eggs, and hatchlings from threats. She was killed on duty after the all-terrain vehicle she was driving flipped in calf-deep sand along Big Shell Beach at Padre Island National Seashore. The vehicle landed on her chest. Ranger EMT's responded to the scene immediately and a HALO-Flight med-evac helicopter was dispatched. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at the scene. A memorial service for her was held at the Padre Island National Seashore's Malaquite Beach Visitors Center during which there was a presentation of the colors by the National Park Service honor guard, after which her family were presented the flag of the United States flag, Marina's badge, and name tag. Presentations were followed by honors from the United States Coast Guard with a hovering helicopter tribute.
National Park Ranger. Born Marina Vargas in Caracas, Venezuela, she earned a bachelor's degree in marine biology from Universidad de Oriente in Venezuela. She emigrated to the United States in 1990 to attend the University of North Texas, where she earned a doctorate in biology. She married after school and had one son. From 1999 to 2005, she worked for the city of Carrolton, Texas as a storm water coordinator. After a move to Corpus Christi, she took a position as Biological Technician with the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery at Padre Island National Seashore and was beginning her second season with the Kemp's Ridley recovery project, patrolling North Padre Island in search of nesting Kemp's Ridley sea turtles in order to protect them, their eggs, and hatchlings from threats. She was killed on duty after the all-terrain vehicle she was driving flipped in calf-deep sand along Big Shell Beach at Padre Island National Seashore. The vehicle landed on her chest. Ranger EMT's responded to the scene immediately and a HALO-Flight med-evac helicopter was dispatched. Resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and she was pronounced dead at the scene. A memorial service for her was held at the Padre Island National Seashore's Malaquite Beach Visitors Center during which there was a presentation of the colors by the National Park Service honor guard, after which her family were presented the flag of the United States flag, Marina's badge, and name tag. Presentations were followed by honors from the United States Coast Guard with a hovering helicopter tribute.
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