A 20-year-old from Northern Kentucky died this week after falling from the top of a waterfall in Oregon. Oregon State Police said it happened around 6:30 p.m. on Monday, when troopers and Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Silver Falls State Park for a report of someone falling from the top of South Falls.
Police said Zachary Mertens, from Burlington, Kentucky, fell more than 175 feet after he accessed a closed area to take photos. Bellevue Independent Schools superintendent Misty Middleton said Mertens was a 2025 graduate of Bellevue High School.
“Please keep Zach’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate this unimaginable loss,” Middleton said. “We will continue to support one another and provide care and compassion to those who need it in the days ahead.”
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
