LAKE ELSINORE: Man visiting from S. Korea dies during first, solo parachute jump
LAKE ELSINORE — Officials are investigating after a parachutist died after suffering a “hard landing,” Wednesday, Sept. 27. According to officials, the victim was making his first, solo parachute jump when the fatal accident happened in an open field, north of Skylark Field Airport, in Lake Elsinore.
Skydive Elsinore operates from the airport, which is west of Cereal Street and north of Corydon Road. According to the company’s website, they have been in operation for over 57 years and they are the oldest and longest running drop zone in Northern America.
Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Lake Elsinore Police Station and other emergency first responders were dispatched to the scene of the accident about 1:37 p.m., Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant Luke Torres explained in a written press release after the accident.
When they arrived, deputies “located an unconscious male and began administering life saving measures,” said Torres.
When paramedics arrived they took over efforts to save the critically injured man and transported the victim by ambulance to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead by hospital staff.
The victim’s identity has not been released, pending notification of his family.
Anyone with additional information about this accident and investigation is encouraged to contact Riverside County Sheriff’s officials at (951) 245-3300 or after hours at (951) 776-1099. Callers can refer to incident file number L172700085 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 27 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 14 grandchildren.