Marine Who Died In Parachute Accident In Coolidge Identified

COOLIDGE, AZ – A United States Marine died during a parachute accident at the Multi-Mission Parachute Course in Coolidge. He had been training at the U.S. Marine Corps School of Infantry West.

The Marines identified him as 22-year-old Alejandro Romero of Carson, California.

He was performing a type of jump known as double-bag static line. In those jumps, a line is tied from one of the plane to the other and when the member of the service jumps out of the plane, the line pulls the member's deployment bag, causing the parachute to inflate.

While the incident is investigated by the Corp's Safety Investigation Board, that type of jump has been suspended.

Area residents saw him fall from the sky entangled in his parachute. They called 911 and tried to resuscitate him. He died at the hospital.

His family has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the funeral expenses.

They say that while the Marines " will generously be providing a set amount, which will go towards burial expenses...not all expenses will be covered.

"Currently all surrounding National cemeteries available within a reasonable distance are full, and we as his family, would like to have him close to us, so that we can visit him. He has a lot of family and we want everyone to have access to his final resting place."

Photo via GoFundMe