Man falls from rock painting message: Girl's name too long

Man painting love message on rock dies after fall
Friend who witnessed fall says victim complained girlfriend's name was too long

Friday, April 6, 2007 3:43 AM
Associated Press

BEACH CITY, Ohio?-A man climbing a rock in eastern Ohio to spray-paint a love message died after slipping and falling, his friend said.

Arthur Lewis, 21, of Navarre was pronounced dead Wednesday at Akron City Hospital.

Lewis and friend Richard Burkey climbed to the top part of Mackin's Rock in Tuscarawas County Tuesday so Lewis could paint "Art loves Kaylee," his girlfriend of more than three years, Burkey said. The rock, south of Beach City, is painted with several other similar messages.

"He was trying reach out further to get her name done," Burkey said. "He kept saying her name was too long. He tried to reach out further and he slipped."

The Summit County Medical Examiner's Office is investigating the death and said Lewis fell 25 to 30 feet.

Burkey said his cell phone didn't get reception at the rock, so he put Lewis in the back of his pickup truck and drove to a service station, where medical assistance was called.

Lewis is believed to have been with a friend or relative near Hobo's Cave at the time of the fall and was flown by medical helicopter to the Akron hospital, the medical examiner said.