A 70-year-old skydiver has died after a mid-air collision with another jumper during a group dive in Washington state, authorities said.
Randy Hubbs of Kennewick was taking part in an 11-person group jump with Skydive West Plains on Sunday evening when he collided with 52-year-old Nicole Klein of Colville at about 1,000 feet above the ground, according to local officials and the skydiving company.
Both skydivers had successfully deployed their parachutes before the collision, which occurred at around 6 p.m. local time. Following the impact, Hubbs became incapacitated and lost control of his canopy, drifting away from the designated drop zone. Witnesses reported he appeared unresponsive before disappearing over a hill.
Klein sustained a hip injury, which was not considered life-threatening, and was taken to hospital. She is expected to make a full recovery. Weather conditions are not believed to have been a factor.
Hubbs, an experienced skydiver with around 800 jumps, was also a former music professor at Columbia Basin College and a local estate agent. Skydive West Plains expressed their condolences, saying the community is mourning the loss of a friend who had been part of the dropzone for nearly a decade.
An investigation into the incident is under way, with the company cooperating with local authorities and the United States Parachute Association.
