One skydiver killed and one injured after midair collision in Washington state | Washington state
One parachutist was killed and another was injured when two skydivers collided mid-air during a group jump in Washington state this week, officials said.
Adams County Sheriff’s Office released a statement expression On Monday, authorities were called due to reports that “two paratroopers required medical attention” on Sunday evening.
“At the scene, deputies learned of a mid-air collision that resulted in one of the skydivers being killed and the other injured requiring additional treatment at a medical facility,” the sheriff’s office said.
Later In a statement on Monday authorities said they were investigating the fatal incident, which they said occurred during a “planned group jump at West Plains Skydiving.”
Investigators identified the parachutists as Randy Hubbs of the Kennewick area and Nicole Klein of the Colville area and said preliminary findings indicate “an in-flight collision occurred between two parachutists upon landing.”
After the crash, authorities found Hubbs “he reportedly became incapacitated and could no longer control the parachute canopy”.
Staff observed and followed Hubbs “While approximately 500 feet above ground level, it drifted northward and away from the designated drop zone,” according to the sheriff’s office. Witnesses told authorities he “appeared unresponsive with his head and arms down before disappearing behind a hill to the northeast.”
Authorities said that weather conditions were not considered a “factor in the incident” and that a total of 11 people participated in the jumping operation.
“We offer our deepest condolences to those affected by this incident,” the sheriff’s office said.
West Plains Skydiving said in a statement shared with the local outlet: KHQ-TV “At approximately 300 feet above the ground and with neither jumper aware of the other’s location, the two parachutes touched each other.”
“The Skydive West Plains community mourns the loss of a friend who has been a part of the dropzone family for nearly a decade,” the company said. “The team’s thoughts are also with the second jumper and his family as he continues his recovery.”
company added He said Hubbs had previously completed more than 800 jumps and Klein had completed 900.
