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WEST ADDISON, Vt. (AP) — Authorities say a 68-year-old man who died in a skydiving accident in Vermont was an experienced jumper.

State police said Joseph Crossley died Monday in West Addison after he jumped out of a plane and made a hard landing in a field.

Police tell WCAX-TV (http://bit.ly/1NsRJy2 ) that the East Hardwick man was also an instructor with Vermont Skydiving Adventures, which operated the jump.

Crossley had been an avid skydiver for 49 years.

Vermont Skydiving Adventure owner Ole Thomsen told WPTZ-TV that by the time Crossley landed, some type of medical condition occurred.

A preliminary investigation reveals that Crossley’s parachute at least partially opened on his jump. Results of his autopsy report are pending.

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Information from: WCAX-TV, http://www.wcax.com