RAPID CITY, S.D. – A 19-year-old Rapid City woman, Ava Christensen, died early Wednesday after an apparent accidental fall from a cliff at the Falling Rock area, a popular overlook near the Black Hills. The Pennington County Sheriff’s Office confirmed her identity and is investigating the death as an accident.
A gofundme page has been setup to help cover funeral expenses.
First responders were dispatched to the scene late on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, just before midnight, following a report that a person had fallen over the cliff edge and could not be seen.
The multi-agency response included the Johnson Siding Fire Department (JSFD), Rapid City Fire Department (RCFD) Medic 3 and Rescue 3, and Pennington County Search and Rescue. JSFD Chief Smart established Incident Command.
A team of paramedics and firefighters descended the steep and challenging terrain in an attempt to locate the victim. Black Hills Life Flight was placed on standby, and technical rope operations were anticipated due to the dangerous slope.
Upon locating the individual, the mission transitioned from a rescue effort to a recovery operation, as the victim, Ava Christensen, was found deceased at the base of the cliff. Black Hills Life Flight was released. RCFD Medic 5 was requested to the scene to provide support for responders working in the dark and treacherous conditions.
Pennington County Deputies, who located three females at the top of the cliff upon arrival, indicated that evidence and witness statements suggest Christensen lost her balance and accidentally fell. Alcohol was reportedly present and is believed to be a contributing factor in the incident.
Recovery operations concluded just before 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 1.
The Johnson Siding Volunteer Fire Department publicly thanked all responding agencies for their professionalism during the difficult operation, including the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Pennington County 911, the Rapid City Fire Department (Medic 3, Medic 5, and Rescue 3), Pennington County Search and Rescue, and Black Hills Life Flight.