LAKE ELSINORE, CA. (THECOUNT) — Two experienced skydivers, Levi Pimentel, 29, of Aurora, Illinois, and Georgia Jean, 56, of Box Elder, South Dakota, were killed Friday after their parachutes became tangled during a midair collision near Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, California, east of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.
The collision occurred around 11:47 a.m. as the women approached the landing area at Skydive Elsinore. According to the skydiving center, the two parachutists collided approximately 160 feet above the ground, causing their parachutes to become tangled.
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Both women fell to the ground and suffered traumatic injuries. Emergency crews transported them to Inland Valley Medical Center, where they later died.
Skydive Elsinore said both women were experienced, licensed skydivers. The company reported no equipment failures and said the freefall portion of the jump appeared normal, with both women deploying their parachutes at the expected altitude.
Strong winds were reported in the area, with gusts reaching approximately 20 mph. Investigators have not determined whether weather conditions contributed to the collision.
Pimentel was from Aurora, Illinois, and had worked for nearly five years as an instructor at iFLY in Naperville, an indoor skydiving facility offering simulated skydiving experiences. Her experience in the sport made the fatal collision particularly devastating to those familiar with her work.
Jean was from Box Elder, South Dakota. Both women were participating in the skydiving event when the collision occurred.
Skydive Elsinore expressed sorrow over the deaths and extended condolences to the women’s families, friends and loved ones.
The U.S. Parachute Association reported that its members completed approximately 3.47 million skydives in 2025, with 16 fatalities recorded that year, according to the Associated Press. The figures provide context for the risks involved in the sport but do not establish the cause of Friday’s collision.
The fatal incident occurred at Skydive Elsinore near Lake Elsinore, a city in Riverside County in Southern California, approximately 70 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
Approximate Google Maps location: Skydive Elsinore, Lake Elsinore, CA
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