Conflicting reports on skydiving death

NEW SPRINGFIELD — There are conflicting reports as to what caused the death of a 65-year-old Saxonburg, Pa., man while skydiving.

The Mahoning County Coroner’s office today identified the man as Robert P. McQuiston and said he was an experienced skydiver.

McQuiston was skydiving at Skydive Rick’s about 1 p.m. Sunday when his parachute didn’t open.

The coroner’s office said it has “conflicting witness accounts” that either McQuiston’s leg was caught in the parachute lines “implying that he fell to his death. Others report the possibility of a cardiovascular event that left Mr. McQuiston unconscious as his emergency parachute deployed.”

Few injuries are noted in the emergency room records of St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital, where McQuiston was taken after the accident, according to the coroner’s office.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday. An investigation into the death is ongoing.