Warrior, Alabama man dies from injuries sustained in fall from Chimney Tops overlook

Overlook near Chimney Tops (NPS)

A Warrior, Alabama man died Tuesday after falling from a Chimney Tops overlook in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

At 1:40 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24, rangers responded to a Chimney Tops overlook along Newfound Gap Road after receiving a report that a man fell approximately 50 feet below the embankment.

Wesley Brandon Stedham, age 48, of Warrior, AL fell after stepping down a steep slope below the overlook for a photograph. Stedham suffered severe head trauma and passed away as a result of these injuries.

Park rangers and members of the park's technical Search and Rescue team established a rope and pulley system to reach the patient and bring him up to the overlook. No additional details are available at this time.

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Cades Cove, Clingman's Dome Rd open

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK - Updated 8:45 a.m. 10/15/15 ... Cades Cove Loop Road is open this morning, according to officials on-site at Cades Cove Campground, but Sparks Lane is temporarily closed due to high water brought on by heavy rainfall yesterday.  Clingman's Dome Road, closed yesterday due to rainfall, is now open.

As of  8:38 a.m. Wednesday morning, Hwy. 441/Newfound Gap Road between Cherokee and Gatlinburg was open to all traffic. Parsons Branch Road, Rich Mountain Road and Balsam Mountain/Heintooga Ridge Road were closed due to downed trees and Sparks Lane was closed due to areas of high water. Construction delays can be expected on Hwy. 441/Newfound Gap Road from the Chimneys to Alum Cave.

Campers at Elkmont Campground were temporarily evacuated by Park Rangers yesterday evening due to rising water, but were allowed to return to the campground around 9:15 p.m. last night.

As a reminder, Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail will close for the season on the evening of October 31, 2014 and will remain closed until April 30, 2015 to replace eight bridges along the roadway. The road will be closed to all public use including hiking and biking.