A student with Air Indiana Skydiving Center LLC, based at Flora Municipal Airport, was killed Sunday when the parachute he was wearing failed to open successfully. He fell to his death from approximately 11,000 feet above the ground.

According to Flora Police Chief Paul Redmon, Cpl. Daniel Drust, an Elkhart police officer, was making his 18th jump when the accident happened. The preliminary investigation indicated he experienced a malfunction with the primary parachute and became entangled in the secondary emergency parachute, which prevented its deployment.

Redmon said his department was notified at 4:40 p.m. and officer Randy Larimore made the scene immediately. Carroll County EMS was already present at the accidentsite along with the Carroll County Sheriff's Department and the Indiana State Police. The victim sustained major trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The 36-year-old Drust was a six-year veteran with the Elkhart Police Department. He also worked for the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department and the Mishawaka Police Department. According to a press release from the Elkhart police, Drust was married with no children.

Redmon said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was at the airport Monday for the investigation. He said the Carroll County portion of the investigation was concluded.

An autopsy was performed in Lafayette Monday as well. The body of Cpl. Drust was released to his family Tuesday.

Air Indiana Skydiving Center LLC is owned and operated by George Capitanio Jr. of Rossville and Terry Plank of Kokomo.