A California skydiving instructor and student died Aug. 2 when a routine parachute jump resulted in tragedy, FOX 11 reported.
When preparing for landing, instructor Devrey LaRiccia and her student Kayla Kieko Black, both 28, ran into a “dust devil,” hitting the ground hard and sustaining injuries that led to their deaths, according to FOX 11.
LaRiccia’s husband said that Black and his wife, an instructor at Skydive Perris, safely glided away from an initial dust devil, but a second one tossed them into an “uncontrollable spin,” FOX 11 reported.
The woman, identified by family as 28-year-old Kayla Kieko Black, was killed following the Aug. 2 skydiving accident alongside her instructor, 28-year-old Devrey LaRiccia. https://t.co/CplaxTC7JJ
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“Eyewitnesses report that the tandem pair experienced a normal free fall and parachute deployment,” Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld, manager of Skydive Perris, said in a statement. “All aspects of the equipment and skydive was normal without any reported issues until the landing sequence. While preparing for landing, the tandem pair hit disturbed air known as a ‘dust devil.’ The interaction with this sudden disturbed air caused turbulence and a hard landing for both individuals.”
LaRiccia and Black died after they were taken to a local hospital, FOX11 reported.
Dust devils form when the ground is hot and typically when there are light winds and clear skies, according to the National Weather Service. (RELATED: Teenager And Skydiving Instructor Reportedly Fell To Their Deaths After Both Parachutes Failed)
A GoFundMe page was set up to assist Black’s family with funeral expenses. Black was remembered on the page as a woman with an “infectious smile and boundless enthusiasm for life” who “was deeply cherished by her family and friends.”
“In this time of immense sorrow, we find solace in knowing that Kayla’s legacy will live on through her selfless decision to be an organ donor. Her generosity will provide hope and new beginnings for many individuals and families in need,” The page reads,
A GoFundMe page was also set up for LaRiccia to help raise money to bring her body back to her native state of Maine for burial.
Local authorities are investigating the accident, and Skydive Perris is cooperating, according to FOX 11
Skydive Perris is located at the Perris Valley Airport, about 71 miles east of Los Angeles, the outlet reported.
