Skydiving instructor Devrey LaRiccia and student Kayla Black die after hitting dust devils during tandem jump in Perris

PERRIS, Calif. (CNS) — Campaigns to raise money for the families of a skydiving instructor and student fatally injured in a crash landing at Perris Valley Airport generated overwhelming support Wednesday.

Devrey LaRiccia, 28, of Menifee and Kayla Black, 28, of Orange County died Friday afternoon after falling at high speed into an open field used by Skydive Perris in the 2000 block of Goetz Road.

“Kayla was a vibrant and loving woman whose spirit touched everyone she met,” according to a GoFundMe page started by friends of the Black family. “Her infectious smile and boundless enthusiasm for life brought joy to her family, friends and all who knew her.”

A separate GoFundMe campaign has been created for LaRiccia.

“Since we started this site, our phones have been ringing off the hook with our support and love for our angel,” said her mother, Karen LaRiccia. “People from all over are asking how they can help our family during this difficult time.”

She said the money was primarily needed to cover the cost of returning Devrey’s remains to Maine for burial.

“If there is any money left over after all, we will donate the remaining amount to Devrey’s favorite charities,” LaRiccia said.

The victim’s husband, Freddy Chase, and longtime Skydive Perris executive director Dan Brodsky-Chenfeld released statements via social media regarding the losses.

According to the men, LaRiccia and Black were performing a tandem jump around 2:30 p.m. Friday and descending normally over the airport to about 40 feet from the surface when they encountered several dust devils.

Devil’s whirlwinds are like mini-torpedoes and are not uncommon during heat waves in the desert southwest, stirred by convection.

LaRiccia managed to get away from one of the devils but was caught by her twin, at which point a violent gust threw her and the student out of control to the ground, witnesses said.

The victims were transported to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar in serious condition. Both succumbed to their injuries Friday afternoon.

LaRiccia was one of 22 skydiving instructors at Skydive Perris, and Brodsky-Chenfeld called her loss a “tragic loss.”

“Devrey lived life to the fullest and inspired all of her colleagues,” he said in a statement. “She was passionate about introducing others to skydiving. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of Devrey and the student.”

Over the years, fatal accidents have occurred during jumps at the airport. In 1992, Brodsky-Chenfeld himself narrowly survived one of the worst fatal accidents involving skydivers on record.

Sixteen people were killed when the twin-engine plane he and 21 others were on crashed after departing Perris Valley Airport due to a malfunction.

The skydiving champion detailed the tragedy and its aftermath in a 2011 book, “Above All Else.”