Crabtree Falls
Nelson County, VA
Updated 8:45 AM 4.9.13
Nelson County Sheriff David Brooks tells BRLM that the victim an 18 year old female college student from Liberty University fell to her death Monday night at Crabtree Falls. Brooks said she is a resident of New Jersey.
Via CBS-19 Tuesday afternoon 4.9.13:
The Nelson County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the identity of a Liberty University student who died after falling at Crabtree Falls.
CBS19’s sister station in Lynchburg, WSET, is reporting 18 year-old Faith Helbig died after falling off the falls at around 5:30 pm on Monday.
“The victim fell approximately 100 feet down the falls over three distinct ledges, the last one of an elevation about 30 feet tall,” said Michael Barber, Wintergreen Fire & Rescue’s Public Information Officer. Barber is also a crew member with WF&R and made the scene. “Our rope teams were deployed. Members came in from off duty and as far away as Verona. We used what is called a low angle rescue on the trail to recover the victim,” Barber added.
The victim and several others from Liberty hiked the falls Monday. When the 18 year old female fell, others had to walk out for help since there was no cell phone coverage in the area.
Several times in the past area rescue crews have worked fatal calls at Crabtree Falls in SW Nelson County, VA. Over 25 people have lost their lives at the falls. The most recent before Monday was in 2010, a photographer died trying to get a better shot.
Hey Tommy,
I want to make sure your readers know that we aren’t primary in this zone. Montebello Fire & Rescue was there first with 3 units and at least 10 people. History has taught us that incidents at Crabtree are labor intensive. We work together there for the same reasons why Montebello automatically helps us at Ravens Roost.
Thanks for making that clear Curtis. Many times we go with
the most readily available information, but never intentionally
leave out any agency that’s assisting in a rescue / recovery operation.
We wholeheartedly appreciate all of the rescue and fire crews across the area.
T