Two skydivers die after midair collision at Southern California skydiving center
Skydive Elsinore says the women's parachutes opened normally and tangled about 150 feet up, and it saw no indication of equipment malfunction.
Two skydivers died on Friday after colliding in midair during an organized event at Skydive Elsinore in Lake Elsinore, Southern California. Georgia Jean, 56, from South Dakota, and Levi Pimentel, 29, from Illinois, were the people who died. Skydive Elsinore said both were experienced, licensed jumpers visiting from out of town.
The company said the free fall and the opening of both parachutes were normal, but the two collided about 150 feet above the ground as they prepared to land. Their parachutes became entangled, and both were critically injured when they reached the ground. The company said there was no indication of equipment malfunction.
Riverside deputies found the two on the ground receiving medical care. They were taken by ambulance to a hospital and pronounced dead there. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office said it is investigating.
According to a company spokesperson, in a report first published by The New York Times, the collision took place at a women's training camp run by the company. UPI, citing the Orange County Register, reports the two were among 20 experienced skydivers at the event. Citing the Associated Press, the New York Post reports the Federal Aviation Administration has been informed and will retrieve the parachutes.
Fox News says the agency is investigating.
- 20 experienced skydiverstook part in the event, per the Orange County Register as cited by UPIUPI
- approximately 12,500 feetaltitude of the jump, per the Orange County Register as cited by UPIUPI
- up to 20 mphwind gusts present at the time, per the New York PostNew York Post
Three sides of the story
10 news outlets reported this
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Liberal4 outlets
The company's account of how the collision happened
The Independent opens with two experienced skydivers dying at Skydive Elsinore and relays the company's statement that both were licensed, with a normal free fall and parachute openings. It adds the collision came about 150 feet up and then recalls the June skydiving plane crash in Missouri that killed 12. The Boston Globe, running a New York Times report, starts with authorities and the host company.
It cites sheriff's spokesperson Lt. Deirdre Vickers, says the event was a training camp for women and quotes the company calling the jumpers "experienced, licensed skydivers visiting from out of town." Yahoo News adds that the county coroner's office identified the victims as Levi Pimentel and Georgia Jean, and notes the company saw no evidence of equipment malfunction. The New York Times reports, citing the host company, that the parachutes opened but became entangled after the collision.
- The Independent: Two skydivers die after midair collision in California
- The Boston Globe: 2 skydivers die after midair collision in Southern California
- Yahoo News: 2 licensed skydivers die after a midair collision in California
Center2 outlets
Who the victims were and what authorities confirmed
UPI opens with the two experienced skydivers killed after colliding, their parachutes tangled about 150 feet up, "authorities said." It names Georgia Jean and Levi Pimentel, citing the sheriff's office. It adds that, per the Orange County Register, the two were among 20 skydivers at the event and jumped from about 12,500 feet.
It also relays Lt. Deirdre Vickers saying both were taken by ambulance to a hospital and pronounced dead, along with a company statement obtained by CNN. Newsweek starts with the company's description of a "normal and uneventful" start to the descent shortly before noon. It says the skydivers had not been publicly identified, quotes the company saying there is "no indication of any equipment malfunction" and says the company is cooperating fully with local authorities.
Newsweek labels it a developing story.
Conservative4 outlets
The victims' backgrounds and unanswered questions
The New York Post runs three pieces. The first, "Two skydivers collide in freak midair SoCal horror," quotes sheriff's Lt. Deirdre Vickers and says witnesses told KTLA the collision was about 50 feet up. A later one, "Disturbing new details," names the women and quotes company representative Josh Hall.
It notes wind gusts of up to 20 mph and says it is unclear if they contributed. A third looks at the women's histories, including a 2015 blog post in which Jean wrote about fearing she was a "deathwish time bomb." It says Pimentel was a lead instructor at iFLY Naperville and that the FAA will collect the parachutes.
Fox News names both skydivers, says Jean had more than 1,700 jumps, per her website, and says the FAA is investigating.
- New York Post: Two skydivers collide in freak midair SoCal horror
- New York Post: Disturbing new details emerge in deaths of 2 skydivers in SoCal as victims identified
- New York Post: Jump history of 2 skydivers killed in tragic midair collision revealed after victim’s haunting ‘deathwish’ post
- Fox News: Two experienced skydivers die after midair collision entangles their parachutes
- Liberal outlets did not mentionThe Federal Aviation Administration was notified or is investigating Reported by New York Post, Fox News
- Centrist outlets did not mentionThe Federal Aviation Administration was notified or is investigating Reported by New York Post, Fox News
Which side made the stronger case?
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- Height of the collision above ground
- The Boston Globe, UPI: about 150 feet
- New York Post: about 50 feet, according to witnesses who spoke to KTLA
All sources: 12 articles from 10 outlets
Liberal (4)
- The Boston Globe: 2 skydivers die after midair collision in Southern California
- The Independent: Two skydivers die after midair collision in California
- Yahoo News: 2 licensed skydivers die after a midair collision in California
Center (2)
- Newsweek: Skydivers Die After Colliding About 150 Feet Above California
- UPI: 2 skydivers killed after midair collision in Southern California
Conservative (6)
- Breitbart News: Two Highly Skilled Female Skydivers Die After Chutes Become Entangled over Southern California
- Fox News: Two experienced skydivers die after midair collision entangles their parachutes
- New York Post: Jump history of 2 skydivers killed in tragic midair collision revealed after victim’s haunting ‘deathwish’ post
- New York Post: Disturbing new details emerge in deaths of 2 skydivers in SoCal as victims identified
- New York Post: Two skydivers collide in freak midair SoCal horror
- The Epoch Times: 2 Licensed Skydivers Die in California After Their Parachutes Become Entangled
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