Upper Lake man killed in hang-gliding accident

A 67-year-old Upper Lake man died Saturday of injuries suffered in a hang-gliding crash, according to autopsy results released by the Lake County coroner?s department.

Ambulance crews were dispatched Saturday afternoon to an area six miles north of Upper Lake after another hang glider reported his friend had crashed.

When ambulance and fire personnel arrived they found William Vogel lying unresponsive near his hang glider on the bank of a creek off Elk Mountain Road.

Several witnesses had already tried to revive Vogel with no success, sheriff?s Capt. James Bauman said.

A friend of Vogel?s, Vincent Endter of San Jose, was hang gliding with Vogel and was still in the air as he watched Vogel descend for a landing, Bauman said.

Endter told authorities he saw Vogel approaching power lines as he came in for a landing. As he banked left to avoid the lines, Vogel?s wing tip clipped a small tree and he crashed.

While in the air, Endter yelled to another man who was tending to his property on the ground to help Vogel and then Endter called 911 before landing.

Vogel and Endter were both reported to be experienced hang gliders, Bauman said. Endter told authorities that Vogel?s hang glider had no apparent mechanical problems and that he was traveling at about 35 to 40 mph when he crashed.