Midair crash kills two skydivers
Two experienced jumpers died after their parachutes tangled 150 feet above the ground during a training camp in Lake Elsinore.
By Jillian Foster ·
Two skydivers lost their lives on Friday after their parachutes became entangled during a jump in Southern California. The accident occurred at Skydive Elsinore, a facility located near Lake Elsinore, roughly 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles. The incident ended the lives of two experienced, licensed jumpers who were visiting the site from out of town.
Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a field next to the drop zone at 11:50 a.m. following reports of an air emergency. Lt. Deirdre Vickers, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, confirmed that authorities found two individuals on the ground receiving immediate medical attention. Both victims were in critical condition and were transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where they were later pronounced dead.
The collision took place during a training camp specifically for women, according to a representative for Skydive Elsinore. The company reported that the free-fall portion of the jump proceeded normally and that both skydivers deployed their parachutes at the correct altitude. However, the canopies struck one another approximately 150 feet above the ground. The impact caused the lines to tangle, leading to critical injuries when the jumpers hit the dirt.
Skydive Elsinore stated that there was no indication of equipment malfunction in the incident. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is currently investigating the midair collision. The company, which describes itself as the longest-running skydiving operation in North America, operates several locations across the state of California.
