Tragedy struck the skies over Eloy, Arizona, on Saturday when 46-year-old Shawn Bowen died in a skydiving accident. Bowen, a Gilbert resident, was using a wingsuit when his parachute failed to deploy, resulting in a fatal impact upon landing near Hanna and Tweedy Road. The incident occurred around 11:40 a.m., leaving authorities and the skydiving community in shock.

This devastating event marks the second parachuting fatality in Eloy within just eight days. On January 24th, 55-year-old Ann Wick, a Minnesota resident, lost her life in a separate incident at Skydive Arizona. While her parachute reportedly deployed correctly, witnesses observed complications during the descent, with the canopy turning and no apparent corrective actions taken by Wick.

The Eloy Police Department is actively investigating both incidents, working in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Interviews with witnesses are underway, and an autopsy for Bowen is scheduled to help determine the factors contributing to the accident. Bowen's wife has been notified of his passing.

These back-to-back tragedies raise concerns about skydiving safety and have left the community grappling with the loss of two experienced jumpers. The investigations will hopefully shed light on the circumstances surrounding both incidents and help prevent future accidents.