Delaware County Mayor Dies In Gloucester County Skydiving Accident
WILLIAMSTOWN, N.J. (CBS) -- The mayor of a Delaware County borough is dead following a parachuting accident this afternoon in Gloucester County.
The tragedy happened just before 4:30 Friday afternoon in Williamstown, New Jersey.
According to police, Carter Scott Shields, 45, died when his main chute failed to open. Carter, who worked as an attorney in Media and was the acting mayor of the Borough of Rutledge in Delaware County, was an experienced skydiver.
Walt Hunter reports...
Police say Shields apparently did not deploy his main parachute, and witnesses said his emergency chute, which opens automatically, never fully inflated.
Shields, an avid skydiver who piloted his own plane to the Free Fall Adventures skydiving school, had been jumping with other skydivers during the time of the incident.
Free Fall Adventures is a Williamstown based company that specializes in teaching first time skydivers.
Rutledge Borough Council President Greg Lebold released the following statement:
"On behalf of the residents of Rutledge, our thoughts and prayers are with Scotts daughters, Deborah, Olivia and Alexis. We also extend our condolences to Scotts family and friends. In tribute to Scott, the Borough will be having a memorial service in the very near future. Scott lived and played hard, his value to the Borough and his presence will be missed."
Reported by Ben Bowens, CBSPhilly.com
