Authorities identified a man who fell from the sky after plummeting to earth in a skydiving accident over Lake Elsinore California on Saturday afternoon as 62-year-old skydiver Ken Oka of Mira Loma.
ABC News reports that after a preliminary investigation, authorities have concluded that Oka was unable to dive properly as a result of a failed attempt at a multiple person mid-air maneuver that occurred over Riverside County.
When parachutes opened so that everyone involved could control their fall and make it to the ground safely, Oka became entangled in one. He attempted to free himself form the entanglement but was unable to do so resulting in his plummeting to earth.
A little after 3 p.m. police responded to a backyard of a home on Sweetwood Lane near Grand Avenue where they discovered Oka. He was found apparently still alive and was immediately taken to a local area hospital where he was pronounced dead not too long after that time.
Residents of the local area were reported to have been in a commotion after the body hit the ground with many confused as to what had happened and others wondering what had actually happened. It is, after all an unusual case for a man to fall from the sky into a residential neighborhood.
The number of other skydivers involved in the multiple person mid-air maneuver is unknown. No other injuries have been reported in the area so far. The incident is believed to be an accident. Exactly what kind of mid-air maneuver the group of skydivers was trying to do is also unknown at this time.
UT San Diego reports that the local police and the Federal Aviation Administration are both conducting investigation into the skydiving mishap. Both of the investigations will be separate and independent of one another. More information will likely come as these investigations continue to develop.
