A New Jersey woman fell to her death while hiking near the upper end of Zion Canyon Friday.

Killed was:Patricia Jane Bottarini, 36, Medford, N.J.

Bottarini was hiking with her husband, James Bottarini, on the trail to Observation Point, about 3 miles from Weeping Rock, about 12:30 p.m. when she fell about 500 feet off a cliff, said park ranger Pat Buccello.

Apparently James Bottarini was hiking in front of his wife and did not see her fall, Buccello said.

The body was recovered by the park's technical rescue team.

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It is the third accidental fatality in Zion this year. None was reported in 1996.

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