Midair collision kills skydiver, injures another

A New Jersey skydiver who had logged 6,000 jumps died Friday night after colliding in midair with another parachutist in Williamstown, Gloucester County, police said.

Matthew D. Sarsfield, 33, of Williamstown, crashed into Brian S. Roberts, 26, also of Williamstown, minutes after both jumped from a plane above Freefall Adventure, a skydiving school, according to Monroe Township police.

Sarsfield suffered a broken neck, broken ribs, and internal injuries in the accident, which occurred about 8 p.m., and died at Cooper University Hospital's Trauma Center, police said. Roberts, who had jumped 2,900 times, was treated for a broken jaw and released.

The death was under investigation but Lt. Howard Wiemer Jr. said it appeared to be an accident. - John P. Martin