2nd Victim In RivCo Tandem Skydiving Accident Dies, ID'd As OC Woman

PERRIS, CA — After Riverside County officials identified the Menifee skydiving instructor killed last week in a hard landing following a tandem jump, the family of the student she was diving with have confirmed their loved one has also died.

Kayla Kieko Black was pronounced dead Aug. 4 at a Riverside County hospital, her father, Bill Black, confirmed to KTLA. The 28-year-old woman was a Buena Park resident. On Thursday afternoon, the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner Bureau also confirmed her death at Riverside University Health Systems - Medical Center, though the agency listed her as a La Habra resident.

An investigation into the tragic accident began at about 2:37 p.m. Aug. 2, Riverside County sheriff's deputies were called to the 2000 block of Goetz Road in Perris regarding "an air emergency," according to Sgt. Wenndy Brito-Gonzalez.

Once at the scene, deputies found two people who were severely injured, the sergeant said.

The skydivers were sent to a local hospital. According to the coroner's bureau, Devrey LaRiccia, 28, of Menifee was pronounced dead at Wildomar's Inland Valley Hospital less than an hour after the hard landing.

There was no evidence of foul play found during an investigation into the incident, Brito-Gonzalez said.

LaRiccia worked at Skydive Perris as a tandem instructor and videographer, and the company issued a statement detailing what was known about the incident.

"Eyewitnesses report that the tandem pair experienced a normal free fall and parachute deployment. All aspects of the equipment and skydive [were] 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," Skydive Perris manager Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld said.

Dust devils are dust-filled vortices created by strong surface heating and are generally smaller and less intense than a tornado, according to the National Weather Service. They are common in hot, dry areas like Perris and can be damaging.

The Federal Aviation Administration was notified about the accident. According to an emailed statement from the agency, it is investigating the packing of the main and reserve parachutes, and the rules of flight for the pilot and aircraft. If the FAA does not find any evidence of a regulatory violation, it will defer further investigation to local law enforcement. The FAA will not determine the cause of the incident, the agency statement said.

Black, a restaurant worker who was loved by her regulars, dreamed of renovating an RV she had purchased and then traveling in it "wherever she wanted to go," her father told KTLA. "I know it’s not glamorous but that was her dream. She loved to venture out and try different activities, such as skydiving … ."

A GoFundMe established for Black's family had raised more than $33,000 as of late Thursday morning.

"Kayla was a vibrant and loving 28-year-old woman whose spirit touched everyone she met," the GoFundMe page reads. "Her infectious smile and boundless enthusiasm for life brought joy to her family, friends, and all who knew her."

Similar condolences have poured out for LaRiccia. A GoFundMe page in her name raised nearly $60,000 as of Thursday morning. In an updated post, a person who identified as a family member, wrote, "We knew that Devrey was well-loved among the skydiving community, however, what we couldn't foresee was her impact across not only the U.S, but oversea's as well. Since creating this, our phone's have been buzzing non-stop with support and love for our angel, people from all over asking how they can help our family during this time."

In a statement to Fox 11, Brodsky-Chenfeld said LaRiccia was beloved.

"The skydiving community is small and tight-knit, and this tragic loss has profoundly affected the Skydive Perris community," he explained. "Devrey LaRiccia lived fully and inspired all of her colleagues. She was passionate about introducing others to the sport of skydiving. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of both Devrey and the student."

Located at 2091 Goetz Road, Skydive Perris is touted as one of the largest dropzones in the world.