Waterfall into a pool in a lush forest, South Falls in Silver Falls State Park. Oregon, United States of America. (Photo by: Craig Tuttle/Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
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A 20-year-old Kentucky man died after he slipped and fell while posing for photographs atop a nearly 200-foot-tall waterfall, the Oregon State Police reported.
Timeline:
State troopers and deputies with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office found the man, who was identified as Zachary Mertens, Monday evening after they responded around 6:30 p.m. to a report that someone had fallen from a waterfall in Silver Falls State Park, just east of Salem.
Big picture view:
The investigation into Mertens’ death determined that the Burlington, Kentucky, man went into a closed area at the top of South Falls to pose for photographs. The report indicated that after he slipped, Mertens fell into the water about 177 feet below.
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The backstory:
The Oregon State Parks website highlights South Falls as one of the main attractions in Silver Falls State Park. It sits among other waterfalls along hiking trails that will take you under the towering natural site.