Staff and wire reports

CASCADE LOCKS, Ore. - A 20-year-old Eastchester man died after falling from a trail east of Portland, Oregon, authorities say.

The Hood River County sheriff's office said Francesco Goncalves was hiking with friends Tuesday along the popular Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge when he fell about 70 feet into Punchbowl Falls.

Several friends witnessed the accident, authorities said.

The witnesses told investigators Goncalves was underwater when they reached him and had suffered a head injury. They then reported he had died.

The Hood River County Sheriff's Office said they received an emergency call about the accident at 5:42 p.m. and responded along with American Medical Response and the Hood River Crag Rats, a mountain rescue organization.

First responders made their way to the accident site, which is about 2 miles from the trailhead, arriving about two hours after the initial call and confirming Goncalves' death.

No further details of the accident were immediately released.

The Hood River County Sheriff's Office said it is conducting an investigation in collaboration with the Hood River County District Attorney's Office and Hood River County Medical Examiner.

MAP: Eastchester hiker killed in Oregon

Eagle Creek Trail runs through steep basalt walls, and a popular section for hiking includes Punchbowl Falls, the Gorge's most iconic, Metlako Falls, and High Bridge, which spans a narrow rock chasm 120 feet deep. A popular hike covers 6.6 miles, climbs 800 feet and is rated moderately difficult. The trail takes hikers through a dense, temperate rainforest literally dripping with water.

The Associated Press and Zach Urness of the Salem (Oregon) Statesman Journal contributed information for this report.