Two highly skilled female skydivers died in a tragic accident over Southern California this weekend when their parachutes became entangled, sending them plummeting approximately 150 feet to the ground. The victims, identified as George Jean, 56, of South Dakota, and Levi Pimentel, 29, of Illinois, were both experienced professionals in the sport.
Details of the Accident
The fatal incident occurred during an organized dive at Lake Elsinore, about 75 miles southeast of Los Angeles. According to the Riverside County Fire Department, both women were rushed to a hospital in critical condition but were later pronounced dead. The accident happened around noon on Friday, with no immediate signs of mechanical failure in their equipment.
Highly Experienced Divers
Despite the tragic outcome, neither woman lacked experience. Pimentel was a lead instructor at iFLY Naperville, an indoor skydiving facility in Illinois, where she had worked for eight years. Jean, a former comedian turned competitive skydiver, had completed more than 1,700 jumps and even won a bronze medal in a 2024 mixed formation skydiving event.
Foreshadowing Tragedy
Jean had once struggled with the sport, failing her initial skydiving training three times before overcoming her fears. In a 2015 blog post, she reflected on her early difficulties, writing, ‘Whether my instructor was right or not about limitations my body/mind had… I was able to overcome them.’
Company Response
Skydive Elsinore, the company operating the jump, confirmed that both parachutes had deployed correctly at the intended altitude. Strong winds, with gusts up to 20 mph, were present at the time, though it remains unclear if weather played a role. The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified and will investigate the incident.
The company released a statement expressing condolences: ‘Skydive Elsinore extends its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of both skydivers, and is grieving alongside all those affected.’
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2026/11/08/34117027two-highly-skilled-female-skydivers-die-after-chutes-become-entangled-over-southern-california/