2 skydivers injured after hard landing in Lake Wales: Police

LAKE WALES, Fla. - Two skydivers were injured after making a hard landing in Lake Wales on Monday afternoon, according to the Lake Wales Police Department.

According to Polk County Fire Rescue, there were two separate calls within Lake Wales Fire Department's jurisdiction reporting the two falls.

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The first call was dispatched at 2:57 p.m. near the intersection of Dr JA Wiltshire Avenue E/Scenic Hwy N in Lake Wales. 

A FOX 13 viewer, David Clemons, said that a skydiver crashed on his street, which is the same street PCFR was dispatched to. Clemons heard a commotion and ran outside to help. 

"I walked down the street expecting to see a car wreck, and it was someone laying down with a very tangled up shoot. I knew it was a bad, hard hit," said Clemons. "This is a close-knit group of skydivers. People come from all over to jump from this place. I’m glad she’s alive and will recover, and she will never forget that jump."

Courtesy: David Clemons

Emergency personnel found three skydivers, according to police. One skydiver was able to land without injury. However, officials say the two others sustained non-life threatening injuries.

PCFR says they responded to the scene and transported one patient via AEROMED.

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The second call was dispatched around 3:05 p.m. near the intersection of Seminole Ave E/1st St N, according to authorities. PCFR also transported one patient from the scene via AEROMED at that intersection.

Witnesses told Lake Wales police that two of the skydiver’s parachutes were fully open, and the third appeared to be partially tangled. 

Investigators discovered that the skydivers were among a group of 14 people who jumped from a skydive plane at an altitude of 14,500’ to practice crew formations. According to officers, the plane departed from and landed at the Lake Wales Airport, located at 450 S. Airport Rd. Lake Wales, FL 33859.

"We stood around and actually prayed for her because we knew she was hurting pretty bad. We are thankful for our fire department here," Clemons added. 

Police say a few other skydivers landed a little off course in nearby pastures, but there were no other injures.

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