Man Dies Following Walnut Creek Paragliding Accident

WALNUT CREEEK (KCBS)— A paraglider fell to his death in a remote area of Walnut Creek on Sunday.

Walnut Creek police Sgt. Joe Donleavy told KCBS that the man fell shortly before 6 p.m. in an open space area south Ygnacio Valley Road.

"It's a very remote location. It's on the eastern edge of the city, behind the Boundary Oak Golf Course up in what we call the Lime Ridge Open Space. It's a popular area for hikers," he said.

The victim was extracted from a steep hillside with the help of a California Highway Patrol helicopter and taken to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek where he died.

Other paragliders who witnessed the fall said it looked like the victim's sail collapsed sending him spiraling to the ground. No foul play is suspected, Donleavy said.

The victim's identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the Contra Costa County coroner's office.

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