D.C. hiker killed in fall in South Dakota identified

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Authorities have identified a man who died after falling from a cliff in western South Dakota.

The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office says 50-year-old Ronald Emery, of Washington, D.C., died Thursday at an area near Rapid City known as Falling Rock.

Authorities say Emery was hiking with his family when he lost his footing and plunged about 100 feet to his death.

The area of steep limestone cliffs in the Black Hills National Forest is popular with rock climbers, but it also is deadly. Emery is the sixth person to die there since 2001.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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