A California cliff collapse killed one hiker and seriously injured another at Point Reyes National Seashore over the weekend after both plummeted about 70 feet.
The incident happened
around 6 p.m. Saturday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. John Dell'Osso, of the National Park Service, said the hikers went to the Arch Rock overlook despite posted warning signs saying it was hazardous and closed to visitors. It appeared the sandstone bluff just gave way.
A helicopter from the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office picked up the hikers after and transported them to a medical helicopter, park officials said.
The Marin County coroner's office identified the deceased hiker as 58-year-old Nancy Blum, of San Francisco, who was pronounced dead after she was airlifted to
Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, CBS San Francisco reported.
The second hiker, who has not been identified in media reports, was listed in serious condition but with no life-threatening injuries.
"We just put up warning signs this past Thursday and Friday,"
Dell'Osso told the Los Angeles Times. "I can't tell you why somebody would walk past those signs and not pay any attention to them. This is a tragedy."
Karen Blasing, who was visiting the park Saturday, told the Chronicle that she and her husband turned back from the cliff after seeing the warning sign, but saw dozens more apparently ignore it.
"It was clear no one should be on that rock with the huge fissure," Blasing said. "We stayed back, but many others were unconcerned and dangerously taking chances."
Dell'Osso told the Chronicle that park officials decided to completely close the area because of crumbling of the cliff.
"Obviously there is a tragedy and one person didn't survive, but one person did and hopefully this won't happen again," he said.
The park, which receives about 2.5 million visitors a year, is one of the most picturesque in California with 150 miles of trails along with 80 miles of coastline. The park is also significant because it sits on the earthquake-prone San Andreas fault zone.