'Her last jump of the day': Skydiving teacher dies after hitting dust devil, student injured

A skydiving instructor caught in a short-lived whirlwind was killed Friday after crashing into a Southern California field.

A student on a tandem skydive with the instructor was hospitalized with major injuries after the reported accident in Perris, a city in Riverside County, officials confirmed.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Office, who responded to the scene, identified the skydiving instructor who died as Devrey LaRiccia, 28, of Menifee.

According to sheriff's officials, about 2:30 p.m., deputies were dispatched to Skydive Perris, one of "the largest, most state-of-the-art, and highly-respected dropzones in the world," according to the business' website.

The business is located in an area known for skydiving about 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 80 miles north of San Diego.

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Two skydiving victims taken to hospital

At the scene, deputies located two people suffering from major injuries in an open field, according to a sheriff's office release.

Both victims were taken to a hospital where, according to a coroner's report, LaRiccia died.

The skydiving student was not identified by officials and her condition was not immediately known Wednesday.

USA TODAY has reached out to the sheriff's office and Skydive Perris.

Sheriff's officials said foul play is not suspected in the case, and notified the Federal Aviation Administration who they reported is handling the investigation.

USA TODAY has reached out to the FAA.

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'Her last jump of the day'

According to her partner of five years, Freddie Chase, LaRiccia worked for Skydive Perris, and went to work "happy as ever" the day she died.

Chase, who lives in Perris and met LaRiccia skydiving, told USA TODAY LaRiccia and her student were on a tandem skydive on her last jump of the day when they collided with a “dust devil” causing them to crash to the ground.

"There was no malfunction, there was no plane incident, she was turning her canopy on final to come land safely on the grass, like she has done hundreds of times," said Chase, 32. "She noticed what we call in the industry 'dust devils' small little tornados that are dangerous in the sport."

What are dust devils?

Dust devils are "a common wind phenomenon" that occur worldwide, according to the National Weather Service.

The rapid rotating wind is filled with dust created by strong surface heating, and are generally smaller and less intense than a tornado, NWS said. They have an average height of about 500 to 1000 feet and usually last only a few minutes before dissipating.

'An uncontrolled spin to the ground'

At about 40 feet, Chase said, she managed to avoid one dust devil, "but caught a second one."

"With dust devils going over grass they become invisible because you can't see any dust in the direction they're going," Chase said. "It sent her canopy in an uncontrolled spin to the ground."

Chase said his partner was “unconscious but breathing” after the fall before she was taken to the hospital.

"She passed when I arrived at the hospital," Chase said.

'You were too perfect for this world'

In tribute to her on Instagram, Chase wrote “Devrey Jane Lariccia... my ride or die, my everything... You were too perfect for this world.”

"Having to say goodbye to you for now will forever be the hardest thing I will ever do in my life.”

A fundraiser created by family to help with LaRiccia's funeral expenses had raised nearly $60,000 as of Wednesday.

"Our family has been overwhelmed with words of love and support from those who knew Devrey and those who just met her in passing," Marcelline LaRiccia of Maine, who created the fundraiser, wrote on the page. "We are doing as best as we can as each moment passes. Blue skies and fly high."

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.