Tragedy Strikes at Perris Skydiving Center, Claiming Lives of Instructor and Student
On August 2nd, last Friday, tragedy struck at the Perris Valley Airport in Riverside County, California, as a sudden burst of chaotic air turbulence, known as a “dust devil,” caught a skydiving instructor and a female student off guard at the Skydive Perris center, leading to a fatal accident that ultimately resulted in their deaths.
Skydive Perris is known as one of the most established and largest skydiving drop zones in the United States, hosting over 100,000 jumps annually. Among the victims of this tragic incident was Devrey LaRiccia Chase, one of the 22 instructors at the center.
The female student who lost her life was identified as Kayla Kieko Black, described by family and friends as a kind-hearted woman. Both victims were only 28 years old.
Following the accident, center manager Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld stated in a press release, “The skydiving community is small and tightly knit, and this tragedy has had a profound impact on the Perris skydiving community.”
On the day of the incident, Devrey’s husband Freddy Chase took to Instagram to share that his wife and a student were skydiving in tandem when they encountered the air turbulence approximately 40 feet (about 12 meters) above the ground. They faced two dust devil occurrences, managing to escape the first but losing control during the second, resulting in a fatal fall.
According to eyewitnesses on the ground, both the free fall and parachute deployment processes seemed normal. The Perris Skydiving Center confirmed that there were no irregularities in the equipment or the skydiving procedures, attributing the accident to the interference caused by the turbulence.
Despite being rushed to medical care, both Devrey and Black succumbed to their injuries. The skydiving center is collaborating with local authorities to handle the aftermath of the tragic event.
The center expressed that Devrey had a deep passion for skydiving and was dedicated to introducing others to the sport, extending their condolences to Devrey and the student’s family and friends.
To transport Devrey’s remains back to Maine for burial, a GoFundMe campaign has raised nearly $60,000. The fundraising page is currently closed to new donations.
On the 5th, Devrey’s family announced that the remaining funds from the funeral expenses would be donated to charities she supported.
The family was amazed to discover the global impact Devrey had as a skydiving instructor, with an outpouring of support and love from individuals worldwide reaching out to offer assistance during this difficult time.
Located at the Perris Valley Airport, approximately 75 miles from downtown Los Angeles, the Perris Skydiving Center received a $5,000 donation from the airport through the GoFundMe page to help return Devrey home.
Freddy Chase, Devrey’s husband, shares her passion for skydiving. His Instagram account boasts a following of up to 418,000, showcasing his thrilling jumps from planes, bridges, and cliffs.