Fatal fall at Smith Rock

Chaitanya Sathe, 35, from Hillsboro, died in a fall at Smith Rock State Park on Saturday morning.

On August 24, at 9:40 a.m., Deschutes County 911 Dispatch received a call that a male had fallen approximately 100 feet near the access to Lower Gorge at Smith Rock State Park.

Redmond Fire, four Deschutes County Sheriffs’ Office deputies and 12 Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteers responded to the scene. Sathe was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the investigation, it was determined Sathe was making his way down a climber’s path toward the northeast Lower Gorge inside Smith Rock State Park, when he apparently tripped and fell approximately 100

feet.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue volunteers completed the recovery.