Accidental Death Investigation - Silver Falls State Park

The victim is a recent graduate from the campus and his parents live in Israel.

Salem-News.com

(SILVERTON, Ore.) - Oregon State Police and the Marion County Medical Examiner are continuing the investigation into an apparent accidental death of a 22-year old man from Vancouver, Washington who fell Saturday afternoon from an edge overlooking the Drake Falls area at Silver Falls State Park.

The investigation indicates the victim 22-year old Naseem A Shqueir of Vancouver, Washington was part of a group of 13 people visiting Silver Falls State Park. The group was comprised of Washington State University students from the Vancouver campus.

According to responding OSP troopers and detective, on March 27, 2010 at approximately 1:34 p.m. OSP was notified by Marion County dispatch that a person had fallen from an area near one of the falls at Silver Falls State Park. State Parks rangers arrived first, followed by an EMT from Drake Crossing Fire Services. Woodburn EMS also arrived and pronounced the victim deceased.

Naseem and 2 others were separate from the main group hiking along Canyon Trail near Drake Falls. They stopped to take photographs and he apparently walked out of the others' sight into an area marked "no trail". Unknown to the other members of his group, Naseem Shqueir fell 50 – 75 feet to the rocks and water below.

An unknown hiker that was with a female hiker came up to one of the group's members and said he saw someone fall off the edge to the water below.

Rescuers say the area where he fell was difficult to reach and emergency responders needed to use rappelling gear to reach him. Salem Fire Department's High Angle Rescue team responded and recovered the victim. The medical examiner advised an autopsy is pending.

Investigators need to talk to the person who may have witnessed the victim's fall. This unknown person who was visiting the park is described as a white male adult in his mid 20's, 5'10" tall, about 160 – 170 lbs. He was wearing an orange shirt and khaki shorts. His female companion was described as about the same age wearing a black tank top.

OSP troopers and a detective from the Salem Area Command office are continuing the investigation after leaving the park about 9:00 p.m. No other information for release.