Man who died in New Jersey skydiving incident identified; described as experienced jumper
"He was coming down and he was swirling down, it almost looked like he wasn't awake," said one witness.
MONROE TOWNSHIP, New Jersey (WPVI) -- The man who died while skydiving on Wednesday afternoon was an experienced skydiver, a spokesperson with Skydive Cross Keys said in a statement.
Action News has learned the man who died was Timothy Joseph Slachta, 48, of Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania. The organization said he had over 700 jumps to his credit and had been skydiving for over a decade.
The Gloucester County Prosecutor's office is investigating what it calls a "parachute failure."
Skydive Cross Keys said Slachta's parachute did deploy.
"His parachute was deployed at normal altitude upon exiting the airplane and appeared to be fully inflated. All further details are pending investigation," the statement said.
Neighbors of the Stirling Glen Development in Monroe Township, New Jersey witnessed the incident around 1:25 p.m.
"He was coming down and he was swirling down, it almost looked like he wasn't awake," said Larry Guagenti.
When the skydiver hit the ground, Guagenti and a neighbor said they ran over to help. But when they got there, there was nothing they could do.
"Debbie and I, we ran over there, she's a nurse and she was trying to find some vitals and there was no vitals to be found," he recalled.
Neighbors in Monroe Township say skydiving near them is not a new phenomenon.
"It's constant, they're just constantly jumping. As soon as the plane goes back it picks up more," said Carol Miller from Monroe Township.
In fact, Action News has covered three skydiving incidents out of the airport in 2011, 2014, and 2019.
READ | Skydiver in fatal Washington Township accident identified (2014)
"Skydive Cross Keys' staff and community are deeply saddened by the loss of a loved and respected member of our community," the organization said in a statement.
The investigation is ongoing.
