Richard Ehrhart: California hiker, 69, falls 300 ft off Oregon trail after losing contact with his wife

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA: A California man tragically lost his life after he plunged more than 300 ft from a coastal trail in Oregon over the weekend. According to the Curry County Sheriff’s Office, the victim was identified as 69-year-old Richard Ehrhart of San Jose.

Ehrhart was hiking the trail near Natural Bridges, about 12 miles north of Brookings, Oregon, when the accident occurred on Sunday, April 21, around 2.30 pm, as per the sheriff's office. 

Richard Ehrhart and his wife got separated while on hike

The victim and his wife, Susan Kimura, had become separated while on the trail. Kimura then returned to their car and did not know that her husband had fallen, authorities said.

Sheriff’s deputies and an Oregon state trooper arrived on the scene after receiving a 911 call from a person who had been hiking the trail and saw Ehrhart’s body on the rocks below, noted the department.

A search team with the sheriff’s office rappelled down the steep terrain to retrieve Ehrhart’s body, while a chaplain was called to notify Kimura about the accident, authorities said. Sheriff John Ward told McClatchy News that Ehrhart had fallen approximately 300 to 350 feet.

The investigation is ongoing

The Oregon State Police is now leading an investigation and has provided the information to the Curry County District Attorney, the sheriff’s office said.

It was not immediately clear which trail the husband and wife were hiking. A popular trail to one ocean viewpoint is an out-and-back hike of less than 15 minutes, according to AllTrails.

California school teacher dies after falling off Arizona cliff during family hike

MEAWW previously reported that a California mother tragically lost her life after she fell off a cliff in Arizona while hiking with her husband and toddler on April 15, as per authorities.

In a news release, the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) said it responded to a report that a woman, identified as Zaynab Joseph, 40, had fallen down a 140 ft cliff on Bear Mountain in Sedona.

The department further noted that a group of hikers heard yelling and learned the woman was seriously injured. “While members of the group called 911, one hiked down the embankment and found that the victim was still breathing, but unfortunately, she passed away shortly after,” the YCSO said in its statement.

Authorities said that Sedona Fire arrived on the scene first and confirmed Joseph’s death while YCSO responded with its search and rescue teams. Her body was recovered as her husband and one-year-old child were airlifted off the mountain. 

At the time, the family was renting an Airbnb in Sedona, authorities added. The YCSO said it has spoken with hikers coming off the mountain and that an investigation of the incident is going on.