Yosemite Valley Ranger Matt Stark crosses the Merced River on a high line to the point where a visitor's body was lodged in midstream between boulders. Aaron Smith | NPS Photo Two people died in separate accidents in Yosemite National Park last Friday. They are the first two accidental deaths in the Park this year.

According to Yosemite’s spokesperson Kari Cobb, the accidents happened at almost the exactly same time. Both victims were hiking on different trails in Yosemite Valley.

The first accident claimed the life of 60-year-old Kent Butler of Austin, Texas. Butler was coming down the Mist Trail just below where the steps begin at approximately 11:30 a.m. Cobb said he slipped off the trail, slid down a big, wet slab, and into the river.

Butler was swept 150 feet downstream, and became lodged in between two boulders. Because Butler’s body was visible from the trail, Park officials closed that part of the trail. The following day, rangers put lines across the river and recovered Butler’s body.

Cobb said the cause of death is undetermined. Butler could have suffered a head injury when he fell or drowned. An autopsy will show the cause of death.

Around noon, Yosemite emergency dispatch received a call about an unresponsive male on the Upper Yosemite Fall trail. James Dunbar, 35, of Berkeley had been running down the trail when he slipped and hit his head. When rescuers arrived, Dunbar was still breathing. Resucitation efforts were made, but Dunbar was prounounced dead a few minutes later.