Two experienced skydivers die in midair collision over Southern California
The experienced jumpers’ parachutes became entangled as they prepared to land at Skydive Elsinore.
This parachutist ran into the scoreboard of Lane Stadium during an attempted landing at a Virginia Tech spring game in Blacksburg on April 18. First responders helped him safely to the ground.
Two licensed skydivers were killed after colliding midair and falling to the ground during an organized jump in Southern California last week.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office confirmed to AccuWeather in an email that the two victims were identified as Georgia Jean, a 56-year-old resident of Box Elder, South Dakota, and Levi Pimentel, a 29-year-old resident of Aurora, Illinois.
The accident occurred on Friday, Nov. 6 at 11:45 a.m. PST at Skydive Elsinore, a skydiving center located in Elsinore Valley. According to a statement from the company, the freefall part of the jump was "normal and uneventful," but the two skydivers collided at about 150 feet above the ground as they prepared to land.
"The collision caused their parachutes to become entangled, and both sustained critical injuries when they reached the ground," Skydive Elsinore said.
The Riverside County Fire Department said both patients suffered "traumatic injuries" and were transported to a local hospital in critical condition. They were later pronounced dead, the sheriff's office said.
File photo: Skydiver lands on his parachute at Swakopmund, Namibia. (Photo by Oleksandr Rupeta/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Skydive Elsinore, which is the longest running skydiving operation in North America, added that there is no indication of any equipment malfunction. Both individuals were experienced, licensed skydivers visiting from out of town to participate in the event.
"Skydive Elsinore extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of both skydivers, and is grieving alongside all those affected," the company said.
The Federal Aviation Administration was notified and will collect the skydivers' parachutes for additional investigation, sheriff's office added.
According to AccuWeather meteorologists, conditions were sunny throughout much of the day in Lake Elsinore on Friday. While it has not been confirmed if weather contributed to the collision, upsloping winds into the Elsinore Mountains may have led to turbulent winds near the surface of the mountain range. This is due to the topography of the range and the prevailing wind direction.
The United States Parachute Association reported 16 skydiving fatalities in 2025 and an estimated 3.47 million jumps. Approximately 5.6% of members reported experiencing an injury that required medical treatment in 2025, with ankle injuries from landings being the most common.
The organization explained that most skydiving accidents are a result of "simple human error." Many of the incidents occur because the skydiver, often an experienced jumper who pushes the limits, makes a mistake in judgment while landing a functioning parachute.
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