25/01/2026
On September 26, 2019, what was meant to be just another jump from the Skydive Lodi Parachute Center turned into one of the most shocking skydiving tragedies in U.S. history. 🌪️
28-year-old Maria Robledo Vallejo, an experienced skydiver from Colombia with 150+ jumps, leapt from the plane with six others around 2:15 p.m. near Jahant Road — but something went horribly wrong.
Instead of landing in the field, Maria was **blown off course toward busy Highway 99. 🚚💥 As drivers barreled southbound, she collided mid-descent with the rear of a big rig, then slammed into the highway shoulder — fatal on impact.
Witnesses described the moments as surreal and terrifying — a parachutist fought the wind too close to speeding traffic. 🛣️😢
This wasn’t just a statistic — Maria was cherished by her community, a seasoned jumper loved by friends, and her loss raised urgent questions about safety, wind conditions, and how a skydiving operation sits right next to a major freeway.
