JOANNE DEMARTINI DIES AFTER FALL FROM CLIFF BY SAND BEACH - ACADIA, 2004

Deaths In Acadia National Park;

Joanne Demartini -
Acadia National Park - 2004
A Mount desert woman has become the parks third fatality this year after she fell on Saturday off rocks near Sand Beach, park officials said Sunday.
The body of Joanne Demartini, 50, was spotted around 2;30pm Saturday at the bottom of a 45 foot drop near the shore path that follows the Park Loop Road, Ranger Neal Labris said Sunday.  A passer by who spotted her body and park personal unsuccessfully tried to revive Demartini before whe was pronounced dead at the scene, he said.
Labis said an autopey determined the womans cause of death likely will be performed this week at the state Medical Examiners Office in Augusta..
Park Officials believe Demartini was walking by herself along the shore when she fell, the ranger said.
"Nobody saw her fall," he said, "We're not sure if she slipped and fell or got dizzy."
Foul play is not suspected in Demartini's death, according to Labris.  The woman, who has relatives in New York  state and in California, is believed to have moved recently by herself to Mount Desert Island, he said.
Labris said there are short paths that lead from the maintained path along the road to viewing points at the top of the steep rocky shore. Park officials believe Demartini fell around 2 p.m., not long before another park visitor took the same side path and saw her body near the high-tide mark.
“Somebody walked out on a trail and saw her at the bottom of the rocks,” the ranger said.
Labris said that because park officials have not determined why Demartini fell, the fatality has not highlighted any specific safety concerns about using the park. He said park visitors, as a general practice, always should be careful when they are near cliffs or steep grades.
“There are areas like this throughout the park,” he said.