California resident dies in cliff fall

The Curry County Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch received information from the Brookings Police Dispatch, of a call from a person who had been hiking the coastal trail near Natural Bridges, about twelve miles north of Brookings, at approximately 2:35 p.m. Sunday April 21.

The caller relayed that he had seen a person on the rocks below him that appeared to be deceased. Sheriff’s deputies responded to the area along with an Oregon State trooper. The Curry County Sheriff’s SAR team was also called to the scene.

“Several SAR members set up a raising system and SAR members Andy Stubbs and Tim Hawkins rappelled approximately 300’ down to the victim,” according to a Curry County Sheriff’s Office Facebook post. “Due to the location and steep terrain, additional help was requested.”

Members from Cape Ferello and the Brookings Fire Department arrived along with a USFS law enforcement officer to help carry the victim back to the parking area where the victim was released to Redwood Memorial. The victim was identified as 69-year-old Richard Ehrhart from San Jose, California.

Ehrhart had been hiking with his wife and they had separated on the trail and the wife returned to their car, unknowingly that her husband had fallen.

A Chaplin had been called and responded to assist with the notification to Ehrhart’s wife, Susan Kimura. The Oregon State Police. The lead agency for the investigation, has provided the information to the Curry County District Attorney.

“We here at the Curry County Sheriff’s Office express our condolences to the family and friends of Richard Ehrhart. We also want to remind everyone of the dangers of hiking the coastal trails, and to please be safe,” the Facebook post reads.