Coweta teen killed in tragic skydiving accident

(Thomaston, GA) — A recent graduate of Northgate High School in Coweta County was one of two killed in a tragic skydiving accident Sunday in Thomaston, GA.

Jeanna Renee Triplicata

Upson County Sheriff Dan Kilgore confirmed to the Griffin Daily News that the accident took place at the Thomaston-Upson County Airport.

Nick Esposito, 35, of Warner Robins, and Jeanna Renee Triplicata, 18, of Newnan, were both killed in the accident that took place around 12:45 PM.

Deputies arrived to find the two skydivers in a field on Rocky Bottom Road near the airport.

Nick Esposito was an employee of Skydive Atlanta, which operates out of the Thomaston-Upson County Airport.

Esposito, an experienced skydiver, was conducting a “tandem jump” in which he and Triplicata, an inexperienced skydiver, were attached to a tandem parachute rig.

Upon exiting the aircraft, the primary parachute failed to open properly and went into a spin. The emergency parachute did not deploy until extremely low altitude and did not fully open.

Both Esposito and Triplicata were fatally injured and pronounced dead at the scene. Auhtorities say the accident is still under investigation.

A gofundme page has been set up for the Triplicata family.

“Jeanna was a fearless, loving, and beautiful daughter who had recently graduated from Northgate High School and was about to begin her college life at the University of North Georgia specializing in education,” a statement on the page reads. “While there is nothing that we can do to bring back this sweet soul nor replace her spirit, we are all speechless and looking for a way to support the Triplicata family.”