News Summary
Upson County is reeling after two fatal skydiving incidents occurred within 24 hours. The accidents claimed the lives of Jasmine Black and Jeanna Rene Triplicata, leaving the community in shock. Both incidents are currently under investigation by the FAA as local authorities respond to the grief and loss experienced by families and friends of the victims.
Thomaston, Georgia – Tragedy struck over the weekend in Upson County as two fatal skydiving incidents occurred within a 24-hour period, claiming the lives of two individuals and leaving the local community in shock.
The first incident took place on Saturday at around 4:22 p.m. at Skydive-Atlanta, located at the Thomaston-Upson County Airport. Emergency responders arrived on the scene following a report from Upson County deputies, who discovered a deceased skydiver on the tarmac. The victim was identified as Jasmine Black, a 48-year-old woman from Locust Grove, Georgia.
Authorities revealed that as Black was approaching the landing zone, her parachute collided with another skydiver’s parachute at a low altitude. In an attempt to regain control, Black tried to “cut away” her main parachute and deploy her emergency chute. Unfortunately, due to the low altitude, the emergency parachute did not deploy successfully.
Jasmine Black was an experienced skydiver, having completed over 160 jumps during her skydiving career. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently involved in the investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding this tragic accident.
Just a day later, on Sunday, a second fatal incident occurred. This accident involved 18-year-old Jeanna Renee Triplicata and her instructor, 35-year-old Nick Esposito. Jeanna, who had recently graduated from Northgate High School, had made plans to jump with her grandmother, who successfully landed safely while Jeanna and her instructor did not.
Reports indicate that the primary parachute used by Jeanna malfunctioned and failed to open correctly, resulting in a dangerous spin during descent. Although an emergency parachute was deployed, it was too late to avert disaster, as it did not fully open before impact.
In response to the grief surrounding these incidents, a GoFundMe page has been established to assist the Triplicata family with funeral expenses for Jeanna. Community members have rallied support for the families affected by both tragedies, which have left local authorities and residents mourning the loss of life.
Skydive Atlanta is actively cooperating with local investigators and the FAA to thoroughly review the circumstances of both accidents. The recent events have left the community grappling with a profound sense of loss and disbelief as they honor the memories of those who perished in these skydiving mishaps.
As investigations continue, the families of both Jasmine Black and Jeanna Triplicata hope to find solace in the joy captured during their loved ones’ final moments. The local skydiving community and the broader Thomaston area are coming together to remember the lives of those lost and support one another in this difficult time.
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