An 83-year-old woman fell to her death from the East Fork Overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway, according to parkway spokeswoman Leesa Brandon.
Emergency crews responded late Friday morning to the overlook at Milepost 418 in Haywood County, about 40 miles southwest of Asheville.
Nancy Ann Martin, 83, of Richmond, Virginia, fell over the edge of the overlook.
Her companion called 911, and National Park Service law enforcement rangers, in cooperation with Haywood County Sheriff’s Technical Rescue and Haywood County Emergency Services, responded to the scene.
Rescuers were able to locate her about 150 feet below the overlook where she was confirmed dead. Her body was recovered just after 1 p.m. by Haywood Technical Rescue Team.
The overlook is near the popular Graveyard Fields area.
The incident remains under investigation.
This is the second fatality on the Blue Ridge Parkway this year. A man was killed earlier this year in a single vehicle crash on the Virginia side of the parkway.
Brandon said visitors should be aware that hiking and climbing in the park can be dangerous and should not be underestimated. Good planning and proper equipment are essential for a safe trip.
