BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Man dies after 400-foot fall from rim of Grand Canyon

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. (ABC4) — A 20-year-old North Carolina man died at the Grand Canyon National Park on Wednesday after falling 400 feet below the rim.

Officials said Abel Joseph Mejia of Hickory, North Carolina was near the edge of the canyon rim near the Pipe Creek Overlook when he fell over. Due to the height of the fall, Mejia did not survive and his body was later recovered by responding National Park Service rangers.

The National Park Service said it was conducting an investigation into the fall and encouraged visitors to stay on designated trails and walkways.

“Keep a safe distance of at least six feet, or two meters, from the edge of the rim and stay behind railings and fences at overlooks,” Grand Canyon National Park officials said in a statement.

The fatality marks the fourth reported death in less than two months at the Grand Canyon National Park. In July, a 50-year-old hiker from San Angelo, Texas was found unresponsive 100 feet below the Bright Angel Trailhead. In June, park officials reported two deaths: A 41-year-old man who died at the bottom of the canyon on the same trail and a 69-year-old man from Texas who was found on the River Trail.

According to the most recent mortality data released by the National Park Service, over 90 people died while visiting National Parks in 2023. Seven of those were falls, with only one fall taking place at the Grand Canyon National Park.

West

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Clear

la

54°F Clear Feels like 54°
Wind
2 mph SSW
Humidity
95%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
51°F Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 51F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
3 mph E
Precip
15%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Last Quarter