Girl Falls More Than 50 Feet Off Steep Cliff In New Brighton
NEW BRIGHTON (KDKA) -- A 14-year-old girl was injured Wednesday evening in Beaver County when she lost her balance and fell over a steep cliff in St. Joseph's Cemetery, overlooking the Beaver River.
Rescue teams were called to the scene around 6 p.m. in New Brighton.
The hillside overlooks railroad tracks and the river in the rear section of the cemetery.
New Brighton Fire Chief Jeff Bolland told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti that the teenager was texting on her cell phone when she lost her footing.
"She was texting on her cell phone, the cell phone came out of her hand and as she went to go reach for the cell phone, she lost her footing and fell," said Chief Bolland. "She fell approximately 50 to 60 feet, landed on a ledge, then slid off that ledge, and then slid probably about another 30 feet."
Bolland said first responders set up a rope pulley system to rescue her. They lowered a stokes basket, and then after the girl was placed safely into the basket, it was lowered to an access road 30 to 45 feet to an access road below the hillside.
Officials said the girl was lucky.
"She was conscious, alert, she was a little bit confused because she did bump her head," said Chief Bolland. "I believe she may have had a fractured wrist and a fractured ankle, plus minor scrapes and abrasions and everything else."
She was transported to Heritage Beaver Valley Hospital for treatment.
Neighbors in the area say having no guardrails in the area has been a concern for them.
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