RIVERSIDE COUNTY, Calif. — Two skydivers died Friday after colliding in mid-air during a jump, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Firefighters were dispatched to the scene of what the department described as "traumatic injuries involving two skydivers." The collision occurred on Cereal Street near Corydon Road, where the two individuals reportedly struck each other approximately 50 feet above the ground.
In a post on X, the Riverside County Fire Department wrote, "Both patients suffered major injuries and were transported by ground ambulance for further care."
The skydivers were taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar, where they died from their injuries, according to TMZ.com. Their identities have not been released.
The incident marks a rare but fatal outcome in a region that hosts active skydiving operations. A collision at such a low altitude — roughly the height of a five-story building — would leave little margin for reserve parachute deployment. The Riverside County Fire Department has not released additional details about the circumstances leading up to the collision, and it remains unclear whether either skydiver was under a functioning canopy at the time of impact.
Local authorities have not indicated whether the deaths are under investigation by any additional agency. The Riverside County Fire Department's initial statement did not specify the skydivers' experience levels or the aircraft from which they jumped.