ROCHELLE, Ill. (WGN) — A skydiver was killed Wednesday after a midair collision between two jumpers in Ogle County led to a hard landing.
According to the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office, just before 7 p.m., deputies were called to the 8800 block of South Illinois Route 251 in Rochelle, following a report of a skydiving incident involving an uncontrolled descent in the area.
In an update shared around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, officials from the skydiving center that oversaw the jump, Chicagoland Skydiving Center, said the collision unfolded during an 18-person jump, adding that prior to the collision, the free-fall portion of the jump was normal and all equipment functioned correctly.
The skydiving center that oversaw the jump, Chicagoland Skydiving Center, described the individual killed as a 40-year-old “experienced skydiver,” who had completed more than 2,900 skydives.
According to officials, amid the free fall, after some divers deployed their parachutes, officials said two jumpers collided midair during their descent.
An initial report by deputies indicated that both skydivers’ canopies collapsed during the collision. Deputies say the reserve parachutes were deployed during the fall, but the crash led to an uncontrolled descent for the victim, who experienced a hard landing, resulting in fatal injuries.
The other jumper involved in the collision landed safely at Rochelle Municipal Airport and was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The other 16 jumpers landed without incident.
“The skydiving community is a tight-knit group, and any loss is deeply felt throughout the sport. The management of Chicagoland Skydiving Center of Chicagoland Skydiving Center offers its sincerest condolences to the family of the deceased and the many friends who had shared the skies with him throughout the years,” a spokesperson for the Chicagoland Skydiving Center said Thursday.
Currently, it is unclear what led to the crash and deputies say they are investigating the incident in coordination with federal authorities.
