Skydiver Hits Bridge in Colorado, Dies

AP via Yahoo! ^ | Oct 6, 2003 1:03 AM ET | AP

[hattend]

Skydiver Hits Bridge in Colorado, Dies Mon Oct 6, 1:03 AM ET Add U.S. National - AP to My Yahoo!

CANON CITY, Colo. - A skydiver attempting a stunt was killed Sunday when he hit a 1,000-foot-high bridge and fell onto the rocks below, police said.

Dwain Weston, 30, died following the inaugural Go Fast Games, in which he and other parachutists had jumped off the 1,053-foot-high Royal Gorge Bridge, said Heather Hill, a vice president of event sponsor Go Fast Sports & Beverage Co.

Weston, of Australia, had jumped from an airplane with another parachutist. They were supposed to free fall until they reached the bridge, at which point Weston was to go above the bridge and the other athlete would go under it.

Weston, who was traveling an estimated 100 mph, miscalculated his distance from the bridge, the world's highest suspension bridge. He struck a railing and fell onto a rock face roughly 300 feet from the bottom of the gorge.

"I really couldn't believe it. All I ever heard was he was the best in the world, and he had skill to do it," Hill said. "Of course he always understood the risk and consequences of what he did. He was somewhat of a showman in his sport."

Weston was wearing a "wing suit," which has fabric extending below the arms to the body, with more fabric between the legs, allowing a skydiver to catch the air and travel more horizontally.

There were about 200 people on the bridge at the time of the accident, said Royal Gorge Bridge and Park executive director Mike Bandera. The bridge was shut down for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Before the accident, Weston had participated in the Go Fast Games, jumping off the bridge with about 40 other BASE jumpers — athletes who skydive from fixed objects.

The Royal Gorge is narrow for maneuvering parachutes, and winds are tricky, according to Go Fast Parachuting Director Jimmy Pouchert.

Hill said the accident would not affect future Go Fast Games, which also include rock climbing and BMX jumping.

[hattend]

[Support Free Republic]

Let's keep the Dem's on the run!
Click the Pic!

[facedown]

That'd pretty much ruin your whole day.

[SJSAMPLE]

Somebody's GOT to have a video of this tard and his last moments. I wonder if there was a bloom when he hit the bridge.

[martin_fierro]

Before the accident, Weston had participated in the Go Fast Games, jumping off the bridge with about 40 other BASE jumpers — athletes who skydive from fixed objects.

All your base are ... oh, you know the drill.

[tall_tex]

"Better put some ice on that"... William Jefferson Clinton

[Dog Gone]

Sounds like he never pulled the ripcord.

[MD_Willington_1976]

Once again..proof that gravity works...

[hattend]

He was still in winged/glide mode probably waiting to pass the bridge before pulling the ricord...oops!

[martin_fierro]

"All I ever heard was he was the best in the world, and he had skill to do it"

"Was" being the operative word here.

[hattend]

Somebody's GOT to have a video of this tard and his last moments. I wonder if there was a bloom when he hit the bridge.

Frome the story: There were about 200 people on the bridge at the time of the accident, said Royal Gorge Bridge and Park executive director Mike Bandera

You just have to know there are probably 20+ videos of this accident out there. Not sure I would want to see the one that's really close up and personal, though.

[ElkGroveDan]

I've been there..it's a pretty wild setting.

If he was supposed to come screaming past the bridge and then pull his cord afterward, that would have been quite a show. Let me tell you there is very little room down there between those cliffs.

[Jim Cane]

Somebody's GOT to have a video of this tard and his last moments.

Wjem accelerating rapidly, you want to avoid stationary objects. Call it a hard and fast rule.

[hattend]

The only time I've been to the bridge was when I was about 10 years old. I had an inner ear infection and when dad drove across that bridge...well, I can't describe the intense vertigo I experienced.

Plus, my screaming from the backseat of the family truckster made the trip across the bridge much faster than my dad wanted...LOL!

I have to go back someday.

[Poohbah]

32.2 feet per second per second.

It's not just a good idea, it's THE LAW!

"I fought the law and the law won..."

[John Beresford Tipton]

"Once again..proof that gravity works..."

And we all know that gravity is Darwin's friend.

[Monty22]

I saw a show about BASE jumping, and the credits was an obiturary for every one of the (at least 5) people they interviewed.

I just hope they realize their hobby is a certain death wish.

[Poohbah]

Adds a whole new spin to our mothers' question:

"If all the other kids wanted to jump off a bridge, would you join them?"

[Izzy Dunne]

The bridge was shut down for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Is THAT what they built this bridge for?

[Servant of the 9]

"Once again..proof that gravity works..."

And we all know that gravity is Darwin's friend.

I used to believe that, but I have been converted.
I aknowledge that Darwin was in error.

This is obviously the result of Inteligent Design.

So9