Demo Fatality LaCrosse Wisconsin

[Taykalo Family]

Any one Know what happened? My prayers to all who knew her.

Tim

[Renate]

From www.lacrossetribue.com

Memorial held for skydiver

By ANASTASIA MERCER
Of the Tribune staff

A scheduled sky diving act turned into a memorial on Sunday as Riverfest
organizers gathered to remember the parachutist who was killed in an
accident on Saturday night.

Elizabeth H. Whitmer, 39, of Louisville, Ky., died from injuries sustained
after going through the roof of the Popcorn Tavern at 308 S. Fourth St. The
accident occurred during the Aerial Allstars Skydiving Team act just before
the 10 p.m. Fourth of July fireworks at Riverside Park.

Two other parachutists, including Whitmer's husband, James Bedway, finished
the act which consists of the parachutists lighting and throwing fireworks
as they approach the ground. La Crosse Police Sgt. John Ruegg said the other
two team members were not aware of the accident until they finished their
act. ``All they knew was that she didn't land with them,'' Ruegg said.

Whitmer was found tangled in parachute cords in the rafters of the roof in
an attic area above a second-story apartment. Police said no one was in the
apartment at the time of the accident. The estimated speed of her fall was
120 miles an hour.

``It must have been some type of main chute malfunction,'' said Ruegg.

Whitmer was equipped with fireworks and was seen falling as she went through
the roof. Witnesses said they could hear her screaming as she fell.

``They could hear the flapping of the chute against the wind and hear her
screaming,'' said Police Lt. Gary Uting.
A news release from the La Crosse Fire Department said the chute malfunction
may have been caused by the pyrotechnic tube devices attached to her body.
Firefighters used a cherry picker to reach the roof and disarmed the
still-intact devices with the help of a team member. An autopsy will be
performed this week.

Bruce Sherman and Ken Schaefer, who live in one of the two apartments above
the tavern, said they were not home at the time of the incident but came
back after a friend called and told them what happened. They did not know
who owned the building but said the apartments are managed by La Crosse
Property Management.

Riverfest president Sue Cox said the team members went back to Kentucky
Sunday morning. Cox said Whitmer's daughter was camping in a remote area and
was not yet aware of her mother's death.

A noon Allstars show scheduled Sunday became a memorial for Whitmer - a
woman Riverfest board members had grown to love in the three years the group
has been performing for the festival.

``She's just like part of our Riverfest,'' Cox said. ``We've become very
good friends.''

About 70 Riverfest staff members and board members formed a large circle on
Veteran Memorial Drive and held hands as the local airplane pilot who was
working with the Allstars flew over the park. The flag flew at half-mast and
a few fireworks were shot from Pettibone Park as people hugged each other
and cried.

The other two Allstars performances at 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday were canceled.

According to the Aerial Allstars Web page, Whitmer made her first skydive
six years ago and had accumulated 1,000 parachute jumps. Whitmer had a
bachelor of the arts degree in English and history and worked for a fire,
safety and security company. She met her husband while skydiving and their
first kiss was in freefall at 120 miles an hour.

Bedway has been skydiving for 21 years and has made 3,500 parachute jumps.
He is also a freefall photographer and has participated in world record
attempts at building the largest formation in freefall. Bedway and Dale
Gumm, team leader for the group, have been jumping together for 22 years.

Taykalo Family wrote in message
<6np0hm$p23$1...@Oak.Internet-Connections.net>...

[Pat]

Liz Whitmer(Bedway) Bardstown / Green County Kentucky. Married to Jim
Bedway. Jumped for Aerial AllStars Demo Team . Dale Gumm.
Night Pyro jump. Witness said they saw her entangled in main. Hit top of 3
story bld.
No kids. Great, Great Lady.
Please keep all the KY skydivers and friends of Liz, Jim and all in your
prayers...
Thanks