Skydiver Killed In Tragic Accident At East TN Football Game

The identity of the man who was killed in a skydiving accident before an East Tennessee football game has been released. The incident happened Friday night in Jonesborough before the game between Daniel Boone and David Crockett High Schools, in what is commonly referred to as the Musket Bowl. The skydiving company Jump Tennessee, headquartered in Greeneville, had been hired to perfrom during pregame festivities Friday night. One of their skydivers was 55 year old Richard Sheffield of Elizabethton. According to a representative with Jump Tennessee, nothing was unusual about Sheffield’s jump and his parachute deployed. They say that Sheffield was an experienced skydiver with over 1500 jumps to his credit. It is not known what went wrong but Sheffield was airlifted to the Johnson City Medical Center after he crashed onto the football field around 6:30 Friday night. He died from his injuries early Saturday.

The two high schools decided to go forward with the game Friday night, but counselors are on hand at both schools today for both students and staff.