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Two experienced skydivers die after parachutes tangle over California
Developed over time first seen 1 day ago
Two experienced skydivers, Levi Pimentel, 29, and Georgia Jean, 56, died after colliding in mid-air during a jump in California. Their parachutes became entangled about 150 feet above the ground, making the accident a fatal reminder of the risks involved in canopy formation skydiving.
The women were taking part in an organised event at Skydive Elsinore on 6 November, where participants hoped to form a 19-person formation and surpass a 12-person record. The centre described both as experienced, licensed skydivers and said there was no indication of equipment problems; it is co-operating with local authorities. Gusts of up to 20mph were reported nearby, but investigators have not established whether weather contributed.
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In short
- Two experienced skydivers died after their parachutes tangled.
- The collision happened about 150 feet above the ground.
- Investigators have not determined whether weather played a part.
How this story developed
- 12 hours ago Newly added details identify the two skydivers as Levi Pimentel, 29, of Illinois, and Georgia Jean, 56, of South Dakota. They died after their parachutes collided and became entangled about 150 feet above the ground during a jump in California.
- 18 hours ago Two experienced, licensed skydivers died after their parachutes became entangled in a collision about 150 feet above the ground in California. The deaths occurred during an organised skydiving event at Skydive Elsinore, and local authorities are investigating.
- 18 hours ago Two experienced skydivers, Levi Pimentel, 29, and Georgia Jean, 56, died after colliding in mid-air during a jump in California. Their parachutes became entangled about 150 feet above the ground, making the accident a fatal reminder of the risks involved in canopy formation skydiving.
Full account
Two experienced skydivers died after a mid-air collision during an organised jump at Skydive Elsinore in Lake Elsinore, Southern California, on Friday, 6 November. The women were identified as Georgia Jean, 56, of Box Elder, South Dakota, and Levi Pimentel, 29, of Aurora, Illinois.
The centre said the freefall and parachute openings proceeded normally before the women collided at about 150 feet (46 metres) above the ground. Their parachutes became entangled, and both suffered critical injuries on landing. They were taken by ambulance to hospital and later pronounced dead. An eyewitness account reported by one outlet also described the jump as uneventful until the collision.
Skydive Elsinore said both women were licensed and experienced, and had travelled to the area for an organised skydiving event. Pimentel worked as a lead instructor at an Illinois indoor skydiving centre, according to her LinkedIn profile; Jean had completed more than 1,700 jumps, according to her website. The centre said it had no indication of equipment problems and was co-operating with the investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating, while the Riverside County Fire Department reported that the women had suffered traumatic injuries.
The centre expressed condolences to the women’s families and others affected. The reports do not establish what caused the collision. One also noted that it was unclear whether weather played a part; neither report provided a conclusion on that question.
Where outlets differ
From the full account, which is AI-written from the sources:
The first report foregrounds an eyewitness description and says weather’s role is unclear. The second gives the women’s hometowns and professional skydiving backgrounds, quotes the fire department’s description of their injuries, and says the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating. Both describe the parachutes becoming entangled after the collision and say equipment problems were not indicated.
Explained simply
Skydiving involves jumping from an aircraft and using a parachute to slow the descent before landing. Experienced jumpers steer their parachutes, known as canopies, and may fly in groups during organised events.
Skydive Elsinore is a skydiving centre in California. The US Parachute Association records deaths and injuries in the sport; its figures show that fatalities are rare, while collisions between parachutes are among the leading causes of death.
Local authorities are investigating the collision. The centre says there was no indication of equipment problems and is co-operating with investigators; whether weather played a part has not been established.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Two female skydivers die after colliding in mid-air when their parachutes became tangled”.