A Westmoreland County couple who accidentally fell to their deaths at a popular Somerset County overlook and hiking trail March 29 were under the influence of a potent, over-the-counter antihistamine normally taken to treat colds, state police said.
Investigators believe Christopher Cardy, 25, of Ligonier, and Sara Kent Baum, 24, of Greensburg, both consumed large amounts of the drug chlorpheniramine, a potent ingredient used in over-the-counter cold medications, before falling at Beam Rocks in Laurel Summit State Park between 5:30 and 6 p.m. March 29.
Police believe the pair went to hike in the area, about 12 miles east of Ligonier, according to information released at a news conference yesterday by Trooper Scott Mackanick and Cpl. Edward Thomas of the Somerset station.
"We believe we know what occurred based on the type of injuries they received and the position of the bodies. Based on that, it doesn't appear they were pushed or stepped off the rocks," Thomas said.
Mackanick said investigators pieced together their findings during a two-month investigation that included interviews with friends who spoke with the pair that day, video surveillance from two convenience stores the couple visited in Greensburg before the accident, interviews with other hikers who saw them walk to the overlook and sightseers who observed Cardy's bloody sweatshirt on a rock ledge, toxicology reports and examination of the scene.
Mackanick said Cardy had 30 times the normal dosage levels while Baum had four times normal levels, according to blood tests.
Baum died of a fractured skull, and Cardy died of a broken neck, police said.
Investigators said the pair were friends, but were not dating. Police said Cardy, a guitarist and songwriter who hoped to pursue a career in music, was between jobs, while Baum, the mother of a 6-year-old boy, was previously employed as a telemarketer.
Thomas said Baum apparently slipped on the rocks at one point and bloodied her face. Mackanick said tests on Cardy's sweatshirt, which was recovered from the top of the rock ledge, revealed that she wiped her face on the shirt.
Just a few minutes later, Baum fell again, plummeting 16 feet, 9 inches onto an underlying rock ledge, police said. Her broken sunglasses were found near her body.
Mackanick said the woman also suffered abrasions to her chest in the fatal fall.
Thomas said Cardy's body was found 39 feet below the top of the overlook, almost directly beneath the ledge where Baum's body was discovered. The position of his body led authorities to believe he was descending a narrow path in an attempt to assist his friend before he also fell.
Investigators believe both died instantly.
Although hikers found Cardy's bloody sweatshirt on the rock about 6 p.m. March 29, they did not see the bodies below. They contacted police after hearing news about the deaths.
The bodies were not discovered until about 10:20 a.m. March 30, when Cardy's mother went to look for the pair. She discovered Baum's vehicle in the parking area. A hiker found the bodies a few minutes later, police said.
Dr. Neil Capretto, the medical director of Gateway Rehabilitation Center, said abuse of cough medicine and over-the-counter cold tablets is not rare in the region, but usually occurs among adolescents or teenagers.
"A lot of teenagers come to us with various drug problems and at one time or another they say they have abused cough syrup. But it's rarely a drug of choice," Capretto said.
He said such abuse is rare among young adults.
"Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine. In high doses, it would make you lethargic, disoriented and you could even hallucinate," Capretto said.
"It would definitely affect your coordination," he said.
Capretto noted that severe abuse could be fatal and higher doses could even cause a heart attack.
"Thirty times the normal dosage? That's very serious ... it's chemical Russian roulette," he said.
Cardy was a 2000 graduate of Ligonier Valley High School who participated in the marching and concert bands and the U.S. Air Force Junior ROTC.
Family members could not be reached for comment.
Following the deaths, park officials placed more caution signs near Beam Rocks warning hikers about portions of the outlook that are about 90 feet high.
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