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Presumed 400-foot Fall Kills Man in Zion National Park

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Published Date

February 26, 2009

A 48-year-old man has been killed in Zion National Park, apparently by a 400-foot fall. NPS photo.

A 48-year-old man has been killed in Zion National Park, apparently the victim of a 400-foot fall from the Canyon Overlook near Zion Tunnel.

Park officials say the man's body was found this morning. The victim's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The incident is under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in cooperation with the National Park Service. An investigation is standard procedure for fatalities in the park.

Rangers on patrol in the park discovered a vehicle parked overnight at the Canyon Overlook Trail parking area east of the Zion Tunnel. A search for the occupant or occupants of the vehicle began yesterday.

The location of the body, at the base of the Great Arch, would indicate that the man fell from Canyon Overlook. Canyon Overlook is a popular viewpoint overlooking Pine Creek and Zion Canyon in Zion National Park.

More information on this incident will be released once the investigation is complete and the victim’s family has been notified.

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Comments

Submitted by admin on February 27, 2009 - 5:09am.

It appears to me, and I have no facts or figures to support my thinking, that there seems to be more visitor deaths at Zion than other parks.


Submitted by admin on February 27, 2009 - 11:32am.

Zion has more abrupt drop-offs than most Parks. Canyon Overlook wouldn't be a hard place to lose your footing and slide over the edge.


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