LAKE ELSINORE, CALIFORNIA – A highly touted and experienced skydiving enthusiast died in a unfortunate skydiving accident in Riverside County on Wednesday. The 40-year-old man was “wingsuiting” that afternoon, having jumped from a De Havilland Otter aircraft near Lake Elsinore. A wingsuit is fabric stretched between a skydiver’s legs and arms to the torso which create a surface similar to an aircraft wing. The suit resembles an inflatable mattress when in use.
The man had decided to go for a relaxed sunset jump on the evening of November 11. Tragically, his wingsuit inflated too soon. That caused Harrington to rise up and hit the tail of the aircraft. He landed on the driveway of a Murrieta home. It was unclear whether he had died before or after he hit the ground. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
The skydiver was a renowned member of the wingsuiting community. He had just set a national record earlier during the week of his death for the largest wingsuit formation. All skydivers must have at least 200 jumps in 18 months before they are able to try out a wingsuit. Initial reports indicate that all of the skydivers involved in setting the record had at least twice that much experience.
Our hearts go out to the victim’s family. It is unclear what caused this tragic accident. Since initial reports say that the suit inflated prematurely, it is possible that it was a faulty product that caused the fatal injuries. If the accident was the result of a product malfunction, his surviving family may have a case for wrongful death where they would be able to recover some damages to offset their loss, and event promote change to prevet further incidents like this from happening to others.
The attorneys at Berman & Riedel, LLP have handled many complicated wrongful death cases. In addition, we have handled products liability cases. Our lawyers consistently obtain the best possible results for our clients. If you think you may have a personal injury or wrongful death case, you can visit www.bermanlawyers.com to learn more about personal injury law. In addition, contact our firm to set up a case consultation to discuss your options.
