US

Mayor of Suburban Philadelphia Town Dies in Freak Skydiving Accident

The mayor of a suburban Philadelphia town has been killed in a skydiving accident in southern New Jersey.

The Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office says 45-year-old Carter Scott Shields was killed when his main parachute failed to open and his emergency chute did not fully deploy. Shields was an attorney and mayor of the borough of Rutledge, Pa., about 10 miles west of Philadelphia.

Mayor of Suburban Philadelphia Town Dies in Freak Skydiving Accident

Prosecutor’s spokesman Bernie Weisenfeld says Shields landed in a wooded area near Cross Keys Airport in Monroe Township.

According to Philly.com:

Shields listed himself as single on his Facebook page, which had numerous photos of him skydiving.

His biography on his law firm website said he had three daughters. He was serving his second term as mayor of Rutledge, which has fewer than 800 residents, according to the 2010 Census.

Shields graduated from Haverford High School in 1983. He earned his law degree from Widener University in 1993.

On Friday night, his Facebook page was filled with stunned comments from family and friends, many repeating a reference to his love of skydiving: “Blue skies.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Comments (128)

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  • SilentReader
    Posted on March 27, 2011 at 6:02am

    So sad. My condolences go out to his three daughters and his family and friends. RIP.

    Report Post » SilentReader  
  • Slowman101
    Posted on March 27, 2011 at 2:42am

    @Dick Blitskreig- You are one sick piece of human waste. He left 3 children behind. People like you cause emotional harm for no reason. I can’t really say what I want to about you on here, I would have cops knocking at my door. Your disgusting. Maggot.

    Report Post »  
  • 1956Danelectro
    Posted on March 27, 2011 at 1:19am

    Just like John Lennon being dead and Charlie Manson being alive, its a travesty that this good man is dead and Dick Blitzkrieg is alive.

    Report Post » 1956Danelectro  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on March 27, 2011 at 12:56am

    @NoSycophant:

    My sympathies for the loss of your friend; I wish you and your community the best ahead.

    @Dick:

    Forget it, anything I wish to say here in answer to you would both be deleted and a waste of time.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on March 27, 2011 at 12:23am

    It’s a crazy sport. I pray for his family. Shame is, thanks to sky diving, his daughters now have no dad. As if driving and other innocuous trivial pursuits weren’t bad enough, sky diving?

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
    • ADNIL
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 7:38am

      I remember watching a documentary a number of years ago called “living with risk”. It compared the risks we take with the various activities we participate in from sky diving, base jumping, flying, downhill skiing, drug taking, you name it. And surprisingly enough, statistically, the NUMERO UNO risk we take is the mundane activity of getting in our cars every day and driving to work! Buckle up.

      Report Post »  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:47pm

    back in the day, they would call this natural selection, but now , with all the laws and rules designed specifically to protect stupid people, they tend to procreate and exasperate the problem

    sad for the family, but he took the risk himself, sadly, the consequence is usually shared

    im sorry if i sound cold, but ive been researching U.N. policy and its implementation in the states, and the involvement of our politicians to transform the world into microcosms of communes to “ save the planet” from us evil humans and it got me grouchy ……………..my condolences to the family, but i mourn not the loss of a politician

    Report Post » Psychosis  
    • Grandmadar
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 12:16am

      You mourn not the loss of a politician? Sorry to hear that. Sounds like he was a good politician. Maybe the word is an oxymoron (sp?) Anyway, sounds like he was an awesome Mayor and lawyer. Anyone these days who supports the The 2nd Amendment has to be great indeed. Sorry for this loss.

      Report Post »  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 2:04am

      @ grand

      i know nothing of this politician, but as it is almost impossible to know the good ones from the bad, my patience is wearing quite thin

      maybe if more take a stand against the insane left ideologs and grow a backbone i wouldnt be so jaded

      i apologize if i came off as cold, but my point is was made

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • daynalynn.ck
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 6:12pm

      if you don‘t mourn the loss then maybe you shouldn’t be posting here where everyone who knew him could see. k? thanksbye.

      Report Post »  
  • NotDoneYet
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:43pm

    Sad.
    Hurts to lose a good man.

    Report Post »  
  • pattybbb1
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:32pm

    Very sorry to hear of his death. We never know when our time is up on this Earth. Prayers for the family and friends. That includes you Nosycophant. Sounds like he was a good guy.

    Report Post »  
  • Fina Biscotti
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:17pm

    God Bless him…..Blue Skies!

    Report Post »  
  • nosycophant
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:07pm

    Scott was a strong defender of the second amendment just ask Mayor Nutter of Philadelphia, C Scott Shields was his nightmare and Scott was a defender of the constitution and represented the NRA in several landmark cases again unpaid but because he was a patriot and a generous person and attorney.

    Report Post »  
    • AmeriCat
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 4:01am

      Now I am heartsick even more. Prayers to his daughters and family.
      Given his courageous and successful legal actions, a meticulous investigation IS warranted.
      His defeated enemies are liberals, and Union thugs are vicious there…I know.
      Wonder if someone drugged him….sorry. Very sad for his family and for America.

      Report Post »  
  • ISeeDanger.com
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:48pm

    You can’t shut down your life, but I think you do have to “add” kids into your decisions and actions. I love to ride motorcycles, but will only do it again when my kids don’t “need” their dad as a dad. Doing what you love is important, but also sometimes “putting it off” for those you love, is more important.
    Tough call, and a personal decision we all have to make.
    Hope the family and kids can find peace.

    http://www.ISeeDanger.com

    Report Post » ISeeDanger.com  
    • kickagrandma
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 7:54am

      @ISEEDANGER.COM ~~~

      Thank you for your post. Your comments are so right on many different levels. Your actions are called “taking responsibility” for your own life (TA-DA!) when we are responsible for others’ lives (our children). The left hasn’t caught on yet. GOD BLESS and thanks for all your posts.

      Report Post »  
  • hersey10
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:45pm

    You are a dick , Dick .

    Report Post » hersey10  
  • Robert-CA
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:43pm

    A loon on the loose watch out for Dick .

    Report Post » Robert-CA  
  • 82dAirborne
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:41pm

    @nosycophant

    Very sorry for the loss of your friend. Unfortunately I know how you feel.

    I can’t write what I think about Dick. I trust you know already.

    Report Post » 82dAirborne  
  • GBMBulletsSKNRD
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:40pm

    I am glad you, Dick are no one of importance.

    Report Post »  
  • nosycophant
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:33pm

    You look like a wanna be sheriff or something from Media, Scott was a friend and more than you will ever be.

    Report Post »  
  • BellaMia7
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:27pm

    Does the risk equal the reward? I think not.

    Report Post » BellaMia7  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:37pm

      Actually it does.

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • nosycophant
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:47pm

      You would be surprised.

      Report Post »  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:08pm

      People say that about riding a motorcycle. Someone who is a serious rider and student of motorcycles never thinks about risk/reward. You make it as safe or dangerous as you want.

      Personally, for me, I feel totally safe riding a m/c. I also raced as an amateur and never thought about getting hurt, though I knew I could have been.

      Godspeed to Scott.

      Our society has become obsessed with safety, always not wanting to do anything that could be dangerous. Insurance companies have tried and succeded at times in making certain activities non-insurable. That’s very dangerous for freedom.

      I always say, take away my freedom to ride motorcycles if you want, but someDAY, someONE will come after someTHING you do that they think is unsafe.

      Report Post »  
    • daynalynn.ck
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 6:06pm

      it does.

      Report Post »  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:26pm

    Gee, Dick must have had a bad day.

    Me no jump out of plane unless problem with plane.

    Report Post »  
  • nosycophant
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:24pm

    Scott was a personal friend of mine I dont know what you are glad about but you look like some wanna be policeman or something your web site is untrusted and apparently you must be a liberal wussy, I will find you out and publicize your comments, Media is a small town you fool and I am sure you pale in comparison with accomplishment and you are a nothing or maybe a military failure or a loser along the lines of being kicked out perhaps and I am sure even if a alias your first name suits you to a “T” wait and see loser.

    Report Post »  
  • BubbaCoop
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:21pm

    I can’t imagine a scarier last 60 seconds of life.

    Report Post »  
    • chips1
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:39pm

      Obama has lasted more than 60 seconds. God has the mayor, Muslims have us. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride”.

      Report Post »  
    • randy
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 1:12am

      I can. I still can’t stop thinking about what went through the minds of people that crashed into the World trade center. the pentagon, or the field in Pennsylvania. Thought I feel sorry for this guy and God Bless him and his daughters, When he stepped out of that plane, he knew there was a chance he would die.

      Report Post » randy  
    • ADNIL
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 7:30am

      If it is any comfort to anyone, I have heard it reported by a few people I know and others that I don’t, that when faced with what they thought was imminent death, they were overcome by an inexplicable sense of peace and calm.

      Report Post »  
    • daynalynn.ck
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 6:10pm

      it wasnt scary, scott was doing what he loved, its a sin he passed and we’ll miss him a ton but its beautiful in that he was doing what he loved

      Report Post »  
    • arx
      Posted on March 28, 2011 at 9:34pm

      “Beautiful in that he was doing what he loved”? My arse. Tell that to his kids. They have a lifetime of loss and suffering ahead of them, because he placed his own enjoyment over their welfare. Similar to others’ comments above, after my wife became pregnant I will not jump, ride a bike or take flight lessons.

      Report Post » arx  
  • Showtime
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:14pm

    Really, really sick.

    Report Post » Showtime  
  • marine249
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:11pm

    He died doing what he loved.

    < but you know what they say, 10
    attorneys going over a cliff? a start

    Report Post »  
    • nosycophant
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:39pm

      Another loser with a untrusted web address, Scott did plenty for veterans including Pro-Bono work were you really a Marine or does it just seem cool?

      but you know what they say 10 yellowbelly marines in a foxhole? fire in the hole.

      Report Post »  
    • marine249
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:44pm

      NOSYCOPHANT
      you would not a poor pimple on a good marihe ass

      YES I was a MARINE before you were a dim light in your daddys eye

      may stratement had nothing to do with Scott

      So as a good MARINE up yours

      Report Post »  
    • marine249
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:51pm

      My MARINE and my were goofs
      when your pi$$ed you make soom goofs

      Report Post »  
    • nosycophant
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 12:03am

      @marine249
      I guess I hit a nerve, take your meds and go to bed.

      Report Post »  
    • nosycophant
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 12:14am

      @marine249
      Sorry just wasn’t ready for lawyer joke at the moment, “Semper Fi”

      Report Post »  
    • randy
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 1:09am

      This loser is NOT a Marine.

      Report Post » randy  
    • marine249
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 1:27am

      NOSYCOPHANT
      I will take the Semper Fi and end this now

      RANDY

      As of yet you are not in this so back off because
      you act like you don’t know what a good MARINE is

      Report Post »  
    • SFYMP
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 3:00am

      You’re not even a good poser, Maggot.

      Report Post »  
  • Dale
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:11pm

    You’re sick!

    Report Post » Dale  
  • randy
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:04pm

    Never understood why people jump out of perfectly good airplanes….
    May God bless him and pray for his daughters

    Report Post » randy  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:07pm

      When I was in college one of my good friends had the same thing happen to her – I heard about it over the radio! My prays to this fellows daughters!! http://wp.me/pYLB7-Nx

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • Charles
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 9:28am

      I went to the airport to watch my skydiving friend. I had said something about possibly just riding in the plane to see them jump out. When I saw the plane they were jumping from I agreed with him when he said “you really dont want to ride on that plane unless you have a parachute. Its safer to jump out than to take youre chances it will land without killing you” He was right. It was one beat pile of nuts & bolts. Not a “perfectly good airplane”.

      Report Post »  
    • insanecycle
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 12:38pm

      The fun of it is so intese that you find many ways to justify it. I haven’t jumped since a few months before 9/11, but the sport dominated much of my life choices during the preceding 12 years.

      Report Post »  
  • Katayno
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:00pm

    It always makes it worse when you read he left 3 children. God bless and comfort his girls.

     
    • Showtime
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:13pm

      Hate to read that. His daughters could not have been very old. Very sad for them.

      At least it was not Bush’s fault.

      Showtime  
    • joe conservative
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:15pm

      How sad. Thoughts and prayers to the family.

      Report Post » joe conservative  
    • 82dAirborne
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:27pm

      Extremely sad. Literally a one in a million deal. In civilian “skydiving” (jumping) you pack your own equipment. You get exactly one mistake.

      @Dick Blitskreig
      I’d be happy to pack your chute.

      Report Post » 82dAirborne  
    • hersey10
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:44pm

      My heart goes out to his family and staff , has the NTSB banned all skydiving yet ? I can smell a new skydiver’s tax brewing , I know it‘s early but it’s not a joke . Never let a crisis goto waste .

      Report Post » hersey10  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:53pm

      God keep his girls in peace and comfort, may they remember the father they have lost with loving memories and the joy he brought to them, and the joy they especially gave to him in turn. Keep them and comfort them in this time Lord.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • nosycophant
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:57pm

      The family is awaiting autopsy reports Scott had over a hundred jumps, thought is he did not pull the cord because of a possible heart attack or some other incapacitating incident and the backup deployed and did not fully open because he may have been tumbling which is the main cause of such a thing.

      @hersey10 yes I dont doubt a skydiving tax is coming, hopefully Scott wont be the cause, we always flew in the planes that made the most carbon and dropped CFL bulbs along the way.

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:58pm

      Who packed those parachutes?

      My dad was a private pilot and of course hanging out at airports met “jumpers’ ..they tried to get him to go.. he always said “I’m not jumping out of a perfectly good airplane” …

      Sad for the three daughters he left behind ..and all the things he will miss. RIP

      Report Post »  
    • Anti_Spock
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:17pm

      Another misleading headline. When chutes fail to deploy it is a malfunction, not a “freak” accident.

      Now lets say he deployed his chute, got struck by lightening, and died before landing. That would be a freak accident. Heck, for all we know this could be a homicide.

      Media can’t even get a headline straight.

      Report Post » Anti_Spock  
    • Showtime
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:47pm

      The Daily Mail that said this:

      An initial investigation has revealed that Mr Shields’ main parachute failed to deploy and his emergency chute – which opens automatically – did not open fully. Some witnesses claim Mr Shields did not open his main chute.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      They’re going to take a look at his main parachute to see why it did not open.

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • zippo
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 11:51pm

      I will be praying for God to keep his family safe, and for him to comfort them.

      Report Post » zippo  
    • Anti_Spock
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 1:49am

      SHOWTIME: Some witnesses claim Mr Shields did not open his main chute.

      Suicide?

      Report Post » Anti_Spock  
    • home_of_the_brave
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 2:33am

      just came back from a wedding tonight, such a sad thing to read. Gods speed!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Showtime
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 3:02am

      @Anti_Spock
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 1:49am
      SHOWTIME: Some witnesses claim Mr Shields did not open his main chute.

      Suicide?
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      I didn’t say that, but I thought that might be a possibility. I read “upstairs” that the family is waiting for the autopsy report, to see if he’d had a heart attack. Could be that his heart burst, up that high. My brother-in-law’s did, and he was in his home.

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • Showtime
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 3:06am

      @82dAirborne
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:27pm
      Extremely sad. Literally a one in a million deal. In civilian “skydiving” (jumping) you pack your own equipment. You get exactly one mistake.

      @Dick Blitskreig
      I’d be happy to pack your chute.
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Hi, 82dAirborne –
      Good to see you.

      @Dick Blitskreig –
      You have to be kidding!
      Would you like for me to pack your chute? No.

      Would I use one that 82ndAirborne had packed?
      I would before I’d jump with one that I had packed!

      Report Post » Showtime  
    • rappini
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 10:44am

      Hey 82nd, in the old days of circular shutes, failed to open could mean two things Roman candle or he left the holding pin in back pack when he closed it up. It looked like he had enough AGL for his reserve to deploy. I’m by no means an expert just curious.

      rappini  
    • mrdbcooper
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 11:04am

      blue skies

      Report Post » mrdbcooper  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 11:24am

      Despite the ‘statistical’ safety record of skydiving, it has an element of self destruction that far exceeds the day to day level of driving a motor vehicle. I have skydived. And enjoyed it. But having done it a few times, I can say it requires a level of devotion beyond normal capacities for LCD living. One slip, and forget it. That is living on the edge, by choice.

      Sorry he victimized his family. I pray they are ok with his decision to risk his life for his pleasure.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • insanecycle
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 12:31pm

      Sad, but this can happen when you throw yourself out of a functioning airplane.

      My wife and I prioritized our life around the kids and quit jumping when we got pregnant. Even the risk of death from a hobby, I think, sends the wrong message to the kids about priorities and what they should value.

      It is sad that his kids will now miss him, but also sad that he put himself in that position. The standard jumper thought is that they learn from mistakes and that this won’t happen to them… until it does.

      Sad story.

      Report Post »  
    • 101
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 4:04pm

      .
      This link has more info…[try this link]

      http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/03/25/news/doc4d8d320415997663735818.txt

      Report Post »  
    • U-R-Busted
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 4:42pm

      My wife and I use to take extended Motorcycle trips before our first child was born. We then realized that the higher risk of one or both of us becoming seriously injured and possibly disabled and even dead was not a responsible thing to do as parents. We stopped riding Motorcycles then and never did again while our children were still our responsibility. For a parent to willfully be involved in any such risky behavior is being irresponsible as a parent in our view.

      Report Post » U-R-Busted  
    • 101
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 11:18pm

      .
      @U-R-BUSTED
      Being irresponsible is the soccer moms dealing with the kids in the back seat, or the person texting/ talking on the phone & playing with the electronic devices, the people driving under the influence, the people that are always running late and speeding thru traffic, these are the people not paying attention and killing the innocent, THOSE ARE THE IRRESPONSIBLE ONES… NOT THE MOTORCYCLIST, NOT THE SKYDIVER!

      You’re 17 times more likely to die in an automobile accident than skydiving…check the statistics!

      Blue Skies Scott!

      Report Post »  
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