GAINES COUNTY, Texas (KCBD/Gray News) – A Colorado father died in a skydiving accident in Texas last week, officials confirmed.
According to the Gaines County Sheriff’s Office, 36-year-old Jacob Glenn Todd died in the accident on Oct. 15.
Deputies said they responded to a call about a parachute accident at the Seagraves Airport. When they arrived, first responders attempted lifesaving measures on Todd, but he later died at the hospital.
According to a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for funeral expenses, Todd leaves behind a daughter.
“Most important to Jake was being an extremely loving father to his daughter, Jeune,” the page reads. “Together they loved to go on adventures like rock hunting, going to theme parks, and sky diving. If you knew Jake, you knew Jeune was always attached at his hip.”
Todd was a resident of Elizabeth, Colorado. He was an experienced skydiver who traveled to Seagraves, Texas with a group to host a three-day event.
Pete Lutz with Skydive West Texas said the “Epic Ring of Fire Boogie” event would allow new and experienced jumpers opportunities to skydive during the peak of the solar eclipse.
Lutz said Todd helped pack parachutes for the event.
“He was a fully experienced skydiver. He knew what he was doing. His pack jobs were first-rate,” Lutz said.
Lutz said Todd had made a handful of solo skydives that weekend and was jumping again on Sunday morning when the accident happened.
“It appears that a very small mistake was made that ended up having very dire consequences,” Lutz said. “It was a small maneuver that was done too close to the ground that caused this accident to happen.”
Lutz said he does not believe there was an issue with Todd’s parachute.
The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the cause of the accident
