“The collision caused their parachutes to become entangled, and both sustained critical injuries when they reached the ground,” Skydive Elsinore said in a statement regarding the midair accident.
Two experienced skydivers died after colliding midair above Lake Elsinore last Friday, according to reports from ABC7 and KTLA.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office identified the victims as 56-year-old Georgia Jean of South Dakota and 29-year-old Levi Pimentel of Illinois.
The incident occurred around 11:45 a.m. during an organized skydiving event at the Skydive Elsinore facility.
While the freefall portion of the jump appeared normal, the situation turned fatal as the women prepared to land, ABC7 reported.
The two skydivers collided approximately 150 feet above the ground, causing their parachutes to tangle.
A professional skydiver from Arizona, who was part of the same training group, told the Los Angeles Times that the women held hands during the jump.
Two licensed skydivers died after a landing-approach collision at Skydive Elsinore in California on November 6, 2026. The operator says they collided about 150 feet above the ground, tangling their parachutes. Both skydivers were experienced and had traveled from out of town for… pic.twitter.com/P7EIAQqHUB
That witness noted that the first minute of the freefall was uneventful before the two women became too close to one another, leading to the parachute entanglement.
Skydive Elsinore stated there was no indication that any equipment malfunction contributed to the collision.
Riverside County sheriff’s deputies responded to the 20000 block of Cereal Street at approximately 11:47 a.m. following reports of an air emergency, according to KTLA.
Responders found the two women on the ground receiving medical aid.
"Two Skydivers Confirmed Dead Following Midair Emergency in Lake Elsinore"#California ➡️ Riverside County Sheriff's deputies & emergency medical responders rushed to the 20000 block of Cereal Street in Lake Elsinore, California, at approximately 11:47 a.m. on Friday after 911… pic.twitter.com/1XIBDgSwx7
Both women were transported to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar, where they were later pronounced dead.
Data from the Riverside County coroner shows the timing of the deaths was closely sequenced:
| Victim | Age | Location | Pronounced Dead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Jean | 56 | South Dakota | 12:26 p.m. |
| Levi Pimentel | 29 | Illinois | 12:29 p.m. |
The victims were not merely recreational jumpers; they were highly skilled athletes traveling from out of town for a specific purpose.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the women had been training to set a new California state skydiving record.
Their goal was to establish the largest formation performed by women in an upright orientation.
Georgia Jean was a veteran of the sport, having completed more than 1,700 jumps according to her biography.
Skydive Elsinore expressed its condolences to the families and friends of both women and confirmed it is cooperating fully with local authorities.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the specific circumstances surrounding the collision.