14-year-old Girl Dies in Accidental 700-Foot Fall from Arizona's Horseshoe Bend Overlook

A 14-year-old girl from San Jose, California, visiting the Horseshoe Bend Overlook in Page, Arizona, has died from what authorities believe to be an accidental fall from the popular attraction.

Authorities from the Coconino Sheriff’s Office reported that the teenager’s body was found at the bottom of Horseshoe Bend approximately 700 feet below the overlook’s location.

The girl’s family had reported her missing on Monday, Dec. 24, leading the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and the Arizona Department of Public Safety to search the area.

Authorities spotted the girl’s body via helicopter Monday evening, returning to retrieve it Tuesday morning around 10 a.m. due to nighttime conditions.

The bend in the Colorado River has become a popular location for hikers and tourists looking to photograph the scene. Located approximately 140 miles from Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim and South Rim, the bend includes an area where visitors can stand towards the edge of the canyon to see views of the river below.

The attraction receives thousands of visitors per day, with safety concerns in the past eventually leading to the construction of a new viewing deck with safety railings.

Officials say initial investigations point to an accidental fall from the overlook, though the incident is still currently under investigation.

The family was visiting from San Jose, California, according to authorities.