Residents near Big Walnut Park report being surprised by odd noises around 10:30 last night. When they checked outside, they discovered that someone had apparently performed a parachute jump off the WETA television tower.
The woman is believed to be a BASE jumper, which is the sport of using a parachute to jump from fixed objects.
BASE is an acronym that stands for the four categories of objects from which one can jump; building, antenna, span, and earth.
The jumper reportedly became tangled when she landed in a tree in the 5200 block of N. 19th Rd. Onlookers say they saw her detach from her parachute and attempt to climb down the tree. She fell and was taken to the hospital for her injuries.
Police charged five people with trespassing for climbing the tower: Kristin Stewart, 48, of Litchfield, Conn., who reportedly was the jumper; Mark Krasinski, 48, of Somers, Conn.; Katherine Sandpedro, 30, of Alexandria, Va.; Robert Morgan, 25, of Fairfax, Va. and Justin Miller, 30, of Annandale, Va.
The parachute remained in a tree, which is in a residential backyard. It was unclear how it would be removed.
