Skydiver killed at Lost Prairie

A 27-year-old Washington man died Saturday afternoon while skydiving at the Lost Prairie Boogie near Marion, according to the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office.

The man’s parachute never deployed, and he was pronounced dead at the scene early Saturday afternoon, Sheriff Chuck Curry said.

The incident is under investigation, and the Federal Aviation Administration is expected to have personnel in the area tomorrow.

Curry said an autopsy likely will be conducted in the coming days. The man’s name has not been released as authorities were attempting to contact family members, he said.

Skydive Lost Prairie owner Fred Sand directed questions to Meadow Peak Skydiving. A message left with the company, which sponsored the 44th annual event and operates on property owned by Skydive Lost Prairie Inc. was not returned Saturday night.

Curry said details of the fatal fall are under investigation and that additional information could be released in the coming days.

Saturday’s death followed that of a Colorado man at the event last year. Garl “Mike” Newby died when his parachute became entangled with another jumper’s equipment during a formation dive on July 28, 2010.

Five people, including Kalispell resident Joel Atkinson, 25, died at the airfield located about 30 miles west of Kalispell when a skydiving plane crashed shortly after takeoff May 12, 2007.

The nationally recognized Lost Prairie Boogie was expected to draw about 250 skydivers this year with additional jumpers taking part in tandem jumps meant for newcomers. The 10-day event wraps up on Monday.