Man who died in skydiving accident was experienced skydiving instructor
Press Release, Orleans County Undersheriff Chris Bourke
BARRE – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a skydiving accident on Saturday evening in the Town of Barre, which claimed the life of a Rochester man.
Undersheriff Christopher M. Bourke reports that at 7:23 p.m., the Orleans County Sheriff’s 911 Center received a call of a man down in a field off the Pask Road. C.O.V.A. Ambulance, Barre Fire Company and the Clarendon Fire Company Off Road Unit responded to the area.
The male victim was located approximately ¾ of a mile south of Pask Road in an open field. The 30-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene by Orleans County Coroner Rocky Sidari. (Victim not identified at this time pending notification of family members.)
The initial investigation indicated that the victim was an experienced skydiving instructor with over 700 civilian jumps. Witnesses report that the victim and another skydiver, both members of the WNY Sky Diving Club, left the Pine Hill Airport and made what is referred to as a “Sport Jump” at about 7 p.m. The second sky diver, upon arriving on the ground, could not locate the victim and immediately began a search for the victim. The jump plane took off from Pine Hill Airport to assist in the search.
At this time, the cause of the accident is unknown. The Sheriff’s Office is working with the F.A.A. and the Monroe County Medical Examiners’ Office in an attempt to determine the facts leading up to this tragic event.
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the New York State Police, Barre Fire Company and the Clarendon Fire Company.
