Napa County paragliding crash sends 1 to hospital

The pilot of a paraglider that crashed near Lake Berryessa in Napa on Saturday was airlifted to a Vacaville hospital, officials said.|
KERRY BENEFIELD
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

One person suffered major injuries in a paragliding crash Saturday afternoon on the shore of Lake Berryessa in Napa County, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Paragliding is a sport in which the pilot sits in a harness and is suspended by a curved fabric wing. There is no engine and steering is done by pulling handles.

Specific details about the crash and the injured paraglider were not immediately available Sunday.

Officials did, however, say that emergency personnel from the Cal Fire station at Spanish Flat on Knoxville Road were dispatched at 12:32 p.m. to a medical emergency call at the lake.

According to a post made on the official Facebook page of the CHP-Golden Gate Division Air Operations, firefighters called for help from that agency shortly after their arrival at 12:35 p.m.

** Medevac-paraglider accident** This afternoon CHP H-32 responded with Cal Fire, Napa County Fire, Napa Sheriff and...

Posted by CHP - Golden Gate Division Air Operations on Saturday, July 8, 2023

The CHP helicopter, H-32, arrived at 12:53, according to Cal Fire.

The helicopter, headed to Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center, left the shore with the patient at 1:12 p.m.

You can reach Staff Columnist Kerry Benefield at 707-526-8671 or kerry.benefield@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @benefield.

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