Home

Steamboat Springs — Steamboat Springs City Manager Jon Roberts' condition continues to improve in a California hospital after a Saturday skydiving accident that is under investigation.

Lauren Mooney, a spokeswoman for the city and Roberts' assistant, said the city manager is "alert, talking and anxious to get out of" the intensive care unit at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, Calif. Mooney said Tuesday that she spoke with Roberts' wife, LeAnn Roberts, who said she expected Jon Roberts to be moved to intermediate care Tuesday or today.

Jemelle Ambrose, spokeswoman for the hospital, said Roberts' condition was listed as serious Tuesday, an improvement from Monday, when his condition was listed as critical.

"He's just getting better all the time," Mooney said. Roberts' family is "just thrilled that everything is moving in the direction it is."

Medical privacy laws prohibited Ambrose from releasing more than a one-word condition. She said Roberts' family members did not wish to comment. Roberts damaged the thoracic artery in his chest in the skydiving accident Saturday near Perris, Calif., and had surgery to repair the artery.

Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, general manager of Perris Valley Skydiving and a safety and training advisor with the U.S. Parachute Association, said Roberts' main parachute failed to deploy during his jump. Brodsky-Chenfeld said Roberts' reserve chute deployed close to the ground, but "it opened high enough for him to land safely." However, Brodsky-Chenfeld said Roberts landed by a large hangar and "over one of the very few congested areas" near the Perris Valley drop zone. He said Roberts was "avoiding obstacles and wasn't able to have the ideal landing approach and setup."

It is unclear why Roberts' main parachute did not deploy. Brodsky-Chenfeld said an investigation into the accident continues and that he expects a report from the parachute riggers this week. Brodsky-Chenfeld said he also needs to speak with Roberts about what happened.

"We investigate them pretty thoroughly," Brodsky-Chenfeld said, "and we're doing that at the moment."

Ian Gregor, Western-Pacific Region spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, said Tuesday that the FAA investigates skydiving accidents but had not been made aware of Roberts' accident. Gregor said that while the FAA regulates parachute rigging, "there is no requirement for a skydiving school to report an accident to us unless it involves the aircraft itself."

Now aware of the accident, Gregor said the FAA would begin an investigation.

Jon Roberts began serving as Steamboat's top administrator in February, after serving in the same position for the city of Victorville, Calif. He previously told the Steamboat Pilot & Today and At Home magazine about his active lifestyle and passion for activities including hiking, scuba diving and skydiving.

Deputy City Manager Wendy DuBord said Monday that she already is assuming city manager roles in Roberts' absence and is prepared to do so until his return.

"He came in and really got up to speed quickly, and I've been really, really happy with how he's doing so far," City Council President Pro tem Cari Hermacinski said of Roberts. "I think he and Wendy make a very good team."

Mooney said there has been no talk about when Roberts might return to work and that the emphasis now is on his recovery.

"He needs to rest, so everything can heal," Mooney said.

- To reach Brandon Gee, call 871-4210 or e-mail bgee@steamboatpilot.com