Basejumper.com - archive

Saw this on the news this morning:
ARLINGTON, Va. - Around 10:30 Wednesday night, someone in an Arlington neighborhood called police after seeing someone parachuting from the sky.

Michael Jones says his two dogs went crazy around that time.

"He was running back and fourth to the door and wouldn't stop barking for some reason," Jones says.

Police say five people climbed up the WETA TV tower in Arlington to BASE jump.

48-year-old Kristin Stewart of Connecticut parachuted off the tower.

"It's foolhardy decision without property owner’s permission and also it's dangerous in a residential area where there are power line and trees," says Detective Crystal Nosal of Arlington Police.

Stewart and her parachute ended up crashing into a tree. She was dangling in the tree right next to Kevin Smith's back yard.

"I'm totally shocked this is the first I've heard of anything as crazy as this happening in this area," Smith says.

She was stuck in the tree, tried to cut herself free to climb down, but ended up falling.

A witness says from the front steps of his house he saw some men carrying an injured woman out of the park and put her into a car. Then he saw some others come out of the park with loads of gear. A few minutes later, police found the people in a nearby shopping center.

She was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Mark Krasinksi, Katherine Sanpedro, Robert Morgan and Justin Miller didn't jump, but they were all charged with trespassing.

"I'm just surprised that, one, they could get access to it cause it is fenced in. The second question I have is why someone would take that risk - it baffles me?" Smith says.

It turns out all five were members of a BASE jumping group that travels around the country BASE jumping.

"It's a little shocking. I would never have thought someone would parachute off a tower, especially this one." Jones says.

Read more: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/local/jumper-parachutes-off-weta-tv-tower-121511#ixzz1ghglruck

How bad were her injuries?

 

"I'm just surprised that, one, they could get access to it cause it is fenced in. "

I had a very similar situation to this, minus the injuries. We were not able to get the canopy out of the tree that night. After the impact with the tree, my friend climbed out of his harness & was hanging from his leg straps 8 or so feet in the air. Upon letting go, the limb sling shotted his rig about ten or so feet higher up into the tree. We called everyone to come help us get it down, but at 2am there was no one awake. We had to wait until the following day to retrieve the canopy. A 180 in the dark on an unfamiliar tower with many obstacles. Lessons learned, none really, it was power lines or a tree, my buddy chose the better of the two options. To my knowledge the tower is still being jumped.

I hope she heals up fast & that the Law is not too hard on you guys.

A comment here from someone claiming to be her brother, says she's in intensive care. Hope she's ok.

She's a good friend of mine and she's doing ok. She had one hell of a night but is expected to make a full recovery. I'll let her (or someone else who was there) post the details if she wants to. I know she appreciates the concern and caring from everyone in this amazing sport.

glad your friend is going to be ok. just curious, how high up in the tree was she? did she cut away?

Sure officer! We didn't jump I swear! Just watching our friend jump. :) I hope she gets to feeling better, and I hope the coppers don't give you guys too much trouble.