SAN FRANCISCO — A skier and thrill jumper who regularly appeared on an MTV show about extreme sports was killed after crashing into a tree during a skydiving stunt at a Northern California golf course, authorities said.
Erik Roner, 39, of Tahoe City died Monday as he performed with other skydivers before a golf tournament in Squaw Valley, about 5 miles from Lake Tahoe’s northwest shore, Placer County sheriff’s Capt. Dennis Walsh said.
Roy Tuscany, a friend of Roner’s, said he watched as two other parachutists landed safely on the golf course’s fairway but then looked on in horror as Roner slammed hard into a tree about 25 to 30 feet above the ground.
He said Roner’s parachute got tangled in the tree and Roner dangled there while many on the ground rushed to find ladders and other means to get to him. At one point, several people tried to stand on one another’s shoulders to reach him.
Authorities were not able to quickly remove Roner from the tree, and he died at the scene, Walsh said.