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A tragic skydiving accident in California claimed the lives of 28-year-old Kayla Kieko Black and her instructor, Devry LaRiccia Chase, after they were caught in a "dust devil," a small, strong whirlwind.
A tragic skydiving accident in California claimed the lives of 28-year-old Kayla Kieko Black and her instructor, Devry LaRiccia Chase, after they were caught in a “dust devil,” a small, strong whirlwind.
The incident occurred on Friday when Black, a skydiving student, and veteran instructor Chase, both from Skydive Perris, encountered the dust devil during their descent. This whirlwind caused an uncontrollable spin, leading to their fatal crash.
Eyewitnesses reported that the free fall and parachute deployment were normal until the landing sequence. The sudden turbulence from the dust devil disrupted their landing, resulting in a hard impact. Both were rushed to a local hospital, but they did not survive.
Black’s family expressed their grief on a GoFundMe page, highlighting her kindness and generosity and noting that her decision to be an organ donor would provide hope to many. The instructor’s family also set up a GoFundMe to fund her return to Maine for burial, raising over $59,000.
Freddy Chase, Devry’s husband, expressed his sorrow and was reassured that there were no equipment malfunctions before the incident, emphasizing the unfortunate nature of the accident.
