Bigger Than Woodstock: Summer Jam 1973

10. One Death

Despite the overwhelming peace vibe of the event, one tragedy befell the Summer Jam Festival in 1973. A daredevil skydiver, Willard “Smitty” Smith, suffered an accident attempting to skydive near the event. “There were all kinds of aircraft… making flyovers that day,” reported one witness in glenphotos.com. “… I saw a parachute open and pink smoke swirling in the sky.” Smith had been carrying a pink flare as he jumped. In mid-air, the flame caught his suit on fire. The trail of smoke was Smith burning to death on the way down. Talk about a buzzkill.



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