Jimmie Johnson's brother-in-law died in a skydiving accident

NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson’s brother-in-law died in a freak skydiving accident it has emerged days after his wife’s parents and nephew were killed in an apparent murder-suicide.

Jordan Janway, 27, had been an experienced skydiver with almost 1,000 jumps to his name when he collided with another jumper in San Diego, California, in 2014.

Janway was knocked unconscious mid-air and was subsequently unable to release his parachute.

The tragic twist for Johnson's family comes days after his parents-in-law Jack and Terry Lynn Janway were found dead along with their grandson Dalton, 11, on Monday evening at their home in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

All three suffered from gunshot wounds as police confirmed they were investigating the incident as an apparent murder-suicide committed by Terry.

Jordan Janway, 27, was killed in a skydiving accident in 2014 when he was knocked unconscious mid-air when he was not not wearing an automatic parachute

Jimmie Johnson and his wife Chandra are pictured at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series awards in Las Vegas, November 30, 2017

Jimmie Johnson, 47, will not race this weekend after his mother-in-law shot her husband and grandson dead

Jordan had just made a jump at 13,000ft to practice a maneuver called tracking when it is understood that he collided with his jump partner.

The clash, which happened between 10,000 and 6,000ft, is understood to have rendered him unconscious and he was then unable to pull open his parachute.

READ MORE: 'Tell me this isn't really happening': NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson's sister-in-law breaks her silence after losing parents in 'murder-suicide'

An automatic chip would have usually been deployed in an emergency at this point, but the chute was undergoing maintenance. As a highly proficient skydiver, Jordan was not required to take this with him and he decided he would jump without it.

The other jumper involved in the collision was not injured and was able to make a safe landing.

Following the incident, the owner of Skydive San Diego, Buzz Fink, where the collision took place, told NBC San Diego: 'We do well over 100,000 jumps a year, and we pride ourselves on our safety and everything we do as far as our equipment, our airplanes.

'However, it is skydiving and things can happen and generally you do everything we can to prevent it.

'I liken it to driving down the road. You have a safety belt, an air bag. The bottom line is, you're still at a risk if someone crosses that line and hits your car.'

Paying tribute to his brother-in-law at the time, The Oaklahoman reported, Johnson said: 'He was a free spirit. He was a very adventurous guy - base-jumping and parachuting and wearing the squirrel suits, like you see the guys flying along the cliff sides, that's what he did. He's in a lot of those videos shooting that footage.

'A tragic death, for sure. But he was doing something he loved. He was very passionate about it.

'He never met a stranger, very warm, caring young man and he's definitely going to be missed.'

Jack and Terry Janway, parents of Johnson's wife Chandra Janway (pictured with Jimmie) were found dead shortly after 9pm on Monday night

Investigators believe Terry Janway shot and killed her husband and grandson before shooting herself

The bodies of Jack Janway, 69; his wife Terry Janway, 68; and their grandson Dalton Janway, 11, were discovered Monday at a home in Muskogee, located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southeast of Tulsa

Jimmie Johnson looks on with his family during the 100th anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the Circuit de la Sarthe June 10, 2023 in Le Mans, France 

Following the 2014 death, a statement on Jimmie Johnson's website said: 'The Johnsons are saddened by the tragic passing of Chandra's brother, Jordan Janway, 27.

'Jordan was an incredible son, brother, uncle and friend and will be dearly missed. Please keep the Janway family in your thoughts and prayers. The family asks for privacy at this time.'

On Monday evening, when officers arrived at the scene they found Jack dead in the hallway inside of the home, and Terry and Dalton in the residence.

Moments before making that grim discovery, they heard a single gunshot ring out.

Muskogee Police Officer Lynn Hamlin confirmed that there was no threat to the community after the triple shooting.

She said: 'It's looking very likely that it's a murder-suicide. At approximately 9:05pm, dispatch received a 911 call from a female caller who stated that there was a disturbance and someone had a gun and then hung up.'

Legacy Motor Club also confirmed the seven-time NASCAR Cup champion will not race this weekend.

'Legacy Motor Club has elected to withdraw the No. 84 Carvana Chevrolet from this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series event in Chicago,' a statement read.

'The Johnson family has asked for privacy at this time and no further statements will be made.'

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