DELAND, Fla. — Bob Hallett, 74, the president and owner of Skydive DeLand and a key figure in making DeLand a hub for the skydiving industry, died Tuesday morning in a two-vehicle crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).
The crash occurred shortly before 8 a.m. at the intersection of West State Road 44 and Shell Road. FHP investigators said Hallett was driving a 2018 Toyota Tacoma southbound on Shell Road when he attempted to turn left onto State Road 44. His vehicle entered the path of a westbound 2023 Dodge Ram, which struck the driver’s side of Hallett’s truck.
Hallett was pronounced dead at the scene.
The FHP stated Hallett failed to yield at the stop sign before making the left turn. The driver and a passenger in the Dodge Ram sustained what appeared to be minor injuries and were transported to AdventHealth DeLand for treatment.
The collision was witnessed by another driver not involved in the crash. The Ram’s occupants also contacted emergency services to report the incident.
State Road 44 was closed in the area from approximately 8 a.m. until 11:16 a.m. as authorities investigated the scene. The crash remains under investigation.
Hallett was instrumental in the growth of DeLand’s skydiving industry, which centers around the DeLand Municipal Airport. According to the Skydive DeLand website, the local skydiving sector supports about 25 companies and employs more than 600 people in manufacturing, sales, technology, and education.
Hallett’s legacy leaves a lasting imprint on the community he helped build and elevate to global prominence in skydiving.