Correction appended
A woman died over the weekend while sliding on a homemade zip line that stretches across the Nehalem River in rural Tillamook County, according to the sheriff's office.
A tree holding up the zip line uprooted and fell on Tami McVay and her boyfriend, who were riding together, he told authorities. McVay suffered severe head trauma and died at the scene, the county sheriff's office said in a news release.
The sheriff's office said her boyfriend, Joshua Jackson, was arrested on an unrelated warrant.
The death occurred in a remote region of the Salmonberry Trail area, said Sheriff Andy Long. Responders used all-terrain vehicles and hiked about two miles to get to the couple after a third party called 911 shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday to report McVay was injured, deputies said.
The zip line stretches across the Nehalem about two miles away from the Salmonberry Bridge on Foss Road, said Lt. Gordon McCraw of the sheriff's office. The couple went on a trail normally taken by experienced hikers, he said.
The zip line's seat is a piece of wood, which is connected to the line by a piece of rope, Long said in an email.
Officials haven't yet determined ownership of the spot where McVay died, but Long said the area is mostly Tillamook State Forest and includes some private property.
He also said he is unaware of any other death in recent memory caused by a homemade zip line in the county. But he said responses occur in the area involving water-related activities, such as people jumping off of bridges into the rivers.
McVay, 34, had three children, according to her obituary. She enjoyed the outdoors, went to school in Tillamook and later earned a culinary arts degree. Records indicate she lived in Tillamook.
Jackson, 38, was booked into the Tillamook County Jail. Records show he had an outstanding warrant in connection with a 2012 conviction for fourth-degree assault, a felony, and recklessly endangering another person in Clatsop County.
-- Jim Ryan
jryan@oregonian.com
503-221-8005; @Jimryan015
Tony Hernandez of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report
The zip line crossed the Nehalem River. A previous version of this report incorrectly identified the river.