Crime & Safety
Medford Man Killed in Skydiving Accident
Gary Messina, a New York City correction officer, died in accident at Skydive Long Island Wednesday afternoon.
Photo (via Google Maps): Skydive Long Island is located in Calverton.
The person killed in Wednesday’s skydiving accident in Calverton has been identified as Gary Messina, of Medford, according to a New York Times report.
Messina, who would have turned 26 on Thursday, died on impact and had been attached to an instructor during a tandem jump at Skydive Long Island.
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The incident occurred at about 4 p.m. The instructor was airlifted to Stony Brook University Hospital and was listed in critical condition, officials said.
A Riverhead police spokesperson said the accident was caused by “dust and weather conditions,” the New York Post reported.
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Messina, a New York City correction officer, graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School in 2006, according to his Facebook profile. He had a 5-year-old son.
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