Hiker Dead After Plunging Over Waterfall in National Park

A Pennsylvania woman has died after plunging over the famous St. Mary Falls in Glacier National Park and drowning.

Officials say the 26-year-old woman—who has yet to be identified as her family was still being notified—fell into the waters above the falls around 5:20 p.m. on Sunday. After being trapped under the turgid waters for several minutes, she plunged over the falls and was pulled out from the waters below by bystanders, who performed CPR on her until rescue officials arrived.

According to the report, park rangers and ambulance staff from nearby Babb, Montana arrived around 5:45 p.m., while an ALERT helicopter landed nearby at 6:20 p.m. to assist with resuscitation efforts. However, she never regained consciousness, and was declared dead a short time later. 

The exact nature of her fall and subsequent death are still under investigation. 

St. Mary Falls is located on the east side of Glacier National Park in Montana. It's one of several famous waterfalls in the park, located along the same trail as the larger Virginia Falls. 

Drowning is typically one of the top three causes of death in Glacier National Park, officials say, alongside natural causes and falls. Recent research from the National Parks Service found that across all parks, automobile accidents are the most common cause of unintentional death.