DEATH OF HIKER OFF A TRAIL ON MT. HIGBY IN MIDDLEFIELD, CT

   On Monday evening, May 21, 2007 at approximately 5:45 p.m. State Troopers, Meriden Police, Meriden Fire/EMS department personnel and Middlefield Fire/EMS personnel responded to the scene of a call for assistance on Mt. Higby, in Middlefield CT.

   Meriden Police received a 911 cellular call from a hiker who was reporting that a fellow hiker had fallen from the trail that they were hiking and down the steep embankment of the top of Mt. Higby.

   Fire/EMS personnel reached the victim just after 6 p.m. and pronounced him deceased at the scene.

   The victim was transported by hand by fire personnel and State Police Recruits to the State Police Training Academy in Meriden and subsequently turned over to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner to be transported to that office for a post mortem examination.

   Initial investigation has revealed that the victim was hiking with two other persons when he lost his footing on the hiking trail and fell down a steep rock ledge to his death. No suspicious of foul play at this time however the incident is under investigation.

   The deceased is identified as Christopher W. KOENIG,  age 22,   d.o.b. 11/03/1984, of Plantsville, CT. 

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