A tragic midair collision during a group skydiving event in Washington state has left one person dead and another injured, authorities confirmed this week.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office reported that deputies responded to calls on Sunday evening regarding two skydivers requiring medical attention after the incident at West Plains Skydiving.
According to the sheriff's office, the collision occurred during a scheduled group jump, resulting in the death of one skydiver and injuries to the other, who was transported to a medical facility for further treatment.
The deceased has been identified as Randy Hubbs, from the Kennewick area, while the injured skydiver is Nicole Klein, from the Colville area. Preliminary investigations indicate that the two collided while descending.
Following the collision, Hubbs reportedly became incapacitated and lost control of his parachute canopy. Staff members observed him from approximately 500 feet above ground level as he drifted away from the designated drop zone. Witnesses stated that he appeared unresponsive before disappearing beyond a hill to the northeast.
Officials noted that weather conditions were not considered a contributing factor. A total of 11 individuals participated in the jump operation.
“We offer our deepest condolences to those impacted by this incident,” the sheriff's office said in a statement.
West Plains Skydiving expressed their grief in a statement shared with local outlet KHQ-TV, explaining that at around 1,000 feet above the ground, the two parachutes came into contact without either jumper being aware of the other's position.
“The Skydive West Plains community is mourning the loss of a friend who has been part of the drop zone family for nearly a decade,” the company said. “The team’s thoughts are also with the second jumper and her family as she recovers.”
The company added that Hubbs had completed more than 800 previous jumps, while Klein had completed over 900.
