UPDATE:
On September 30, 2025, at approximately 11:57 PM, Pennington County Deputies were dispatched to the area of Falling Rock for the report of a female who had fallen off a cliff.
When Deputies arrived at the Falling Rock area, they located three females at the top of a cliff. 19-year-old Ava Christensen of Rapid City was identified as the person who had fallen from the cliff. With the assistance of Pennington County Search and Rescue, Ava’s body was located at the bottom of the cliff. She was deceased.
This death is being investigated as an accident. Witness statements and evidence on scene indicate Ava lost her balance and accidently fell off the cliff. Alcohol was present and is believed to be a factor.
Several resources responded to this incident including the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Pennington County Search and Rescue, Rapid City Fire Department, and Black Hills Life Flight.
ORIGINAL STORY:
A multi-agency emergency response was launched overnight after a person reportedly fell from a steep cliff in the Falling Rock area near Rapid City.
Just after midnight on October 1, crews from the Johnson Siding Fire Department (JSFD), Rapid City Fire Department Medic 3 and Rescue 3, and Pennington County Search and Rescue were dispatched following a report that someone had fallen over the edge and could not be seen by the reporting party.
JSFD responded with Squad 6 and Rescue 8, and Chief Smart established Incident Command. Paramedics and firefighters descended the hazardous terrain in search of the victim, while Black Hills Life Flight was placed on standby due to the severity of the situation. Technical rope operations were anticipated given the steep and dangerous slope.
Tragically, the victim was located deceased, and the mission shifted from rescue to recovery. Black Hills Life Flight was released, and Medic 5 was called in to support responders working in the dark and treacherous conditions.
Recovery operations concluded just before 3:00 a.m. No further details about the victim have been released, pending notification of family. Law enforcement may share additional information at their discretion.
JSFD emphasized the importance of compassion and respect for those affected, stating, “Be kind.” The department also extended gratitude to all agencies involved for their professionalism during the difficult operation.
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