Woman suffers back injuries after fall Saturday

A 60 foot fall can break vertebrae and damage your spleen and kidney. A 21-year old Des Plaines woman knows that after an incident at Starved Rock State Park Saturday afternoon. Sgt. Phil Wire is with the Conservation Police.  He said Kathleen Bartsch was in critical condition after leaving a trail and falling in Pontiac Canyon.  She landed on sandstone and was later flown to OSF St. Francis in Peoria in critical condition. Since then, she has been moved out of the ER and was talking with a Conservation officer Saturday night.

Wire said the woman was hiking alone. Ottawa River Rescue helped transport the woman across the river. She will not be charged.