A 70-year-old skydiver has been killed after a mid-air collision with another jumper, according to officials.
Randy Hubbs of Kennewick was on an 11-person group jump with Skydive West Plains when he collided with 52-year-old Nicole Klein of Colville at about 1,000 feet above the ground Sunday evening, according to press releases from local authorities and the skydiving company.
The two licensed skydivers, who were jumping with their own equipment, had a “normal free fall” before the collision and successfully deployed their parachutes, Skydive West Plains said, citing eyewitness reports. The fatal crash occurred at around 6 p.m. local time.
“Following the collision, Randy Hubbs reportedly became incapacitated and was no longer in control of his parachute canopy,” the Adams County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook Monday.
At about 500 feet above the ground, Hubbs drifted north, away from the designated drop zone, authorities said, citing staff members who witnessed the incident.
“Witnesses stated Hubbs appeared unresponsive, with his head and arms down, before disappearing beyond a hill northeast,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Weather conditions are not believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash, according to authorities.
Klein suffered from a hip injury, but it was not considered “life-threatening,” said Skydive West Plains. She was taken to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery.
Skydiving deaths are rare. There were 3.47 million jumps last year and only 16 civilian deaths, according to the United States Parachute Association.
Hubbs was an avid skydiver with about 800 jumps under his belt. Klein is also an experienced parachutist with about 900 jumps.
“The Skydive West Plains community is mourning the loss of a friend who has been part of the dropzone family for nearly a decade,” the company said. “The team’s thoughts are also with the second jumper and her family as she recovers.”
Skydive West Plains said they are cooperating with local authorities and the United States Parachute Association amid an investigation into the collision.
“We offer our deepest condolences to those impacted by this incident,” the Adams County Sheriff’s Office said.
Hubbs was a broker at Equity 1st Home Group since 2017, according to his Facebook page.
The Benton-Franklin Rental Owners Association paid tribute to Hubbs, writing on Facebook, “With great sadness we would like to share the passing of our friend and great mentor and previous board member Randy Hubbs.
“He has been an active part of our community in many ways and has been a mentor to many or our members. He will be missed by his community.”
Hubbs was also a music professor at Columbia Basin College from the late 1980s to 2015, according to his profile.
His former colleague, David Cazier, also shared some heartfelt words about Hubbs.
“I was very fortunate to know Randy Hubbs for MANY years. He was my HS jazz band teacher and later was my colleague for 20 years or so in the music dept at CBC,” Cazier wrote on Facebook.
“His influence was so great. Still processing, but I will definitely miss him,” Cazier added.
