COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE - Two separate incidents Friday along trails in the Columbia River Gorge left one person dead and several others injured.

Five People Caught in Path of Rock Slide

Five people were injured along a Columbia River Gorge trail on Friday when a rock slide came down on top of them, hitting them with mud, limbs and melon-sized rocks.

The incident happened around 3 p.m. at Horsetail Falls, which is located just a few miles east of Multnomah Falls.

The five people included a father, mother and their two children, from north Portland, as well as a family friend.

The father, who reportedly sheltered the children to try to protect them, sustained the most injuries.  He suffered serious trauma to his head and spine.

The mother sustained serious contusions and abrasions.

The couple's two children, a 10-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy, were hurt as well.  The girl's leg was injured and the boy ended up with minor cuts and scrapes.

Another 10-year-old girl, who is a friend of the couple's daughter, ended up with an injured wrist.

All were taken to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland for treatment. Their conditions were unknown Saturday. Authorities have not released their names.

Hiker Dies After Falling Off Cliff

A 70-year-old hiker died of his injuries after falling off a 100-foot cliff at Triple Falls, less than a mile from the rock slide at Horsetail Falls. According to the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, Jeremiah Lafor noticed a Chow dog sitting at the top of Triple Falls looking over the edge about 3:30 p.m. Friday and then noticed a man below about 30 yards downstream from the base of the falls. 

After authorities were alerted to the hiker, a rescue team reached the man, who was suffering from massive head trauma, the sheriff's office said. The injured hiker died despite treatment at the scene.

Crews recovered the body Saturday, and the man was positively identified by his Oregon driver's license found in his pocket. Officials declined to release his identity, however, pending notification of next of kin.

An autopsy will be performed to determine his exact cause of death, the sheriff's office said. Crews found no indication at the scene how or why he fell. His vehicle, a silver Toyota, was found in the Horsetail Falls parking lot. His dog was also found and taken to an animal shelter in Troutdale.