Paragliding instructor killed in mid-air crash with hang glider, Utah police say

A mid-air collision between a hang glider and a paraglider killed a paragliding instructor, Utah police reported.

The accident took place at Salt Lake County Flight Park in Draper just after 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, Lt. Mike Elkins of the Draper Police Department told McClatchy News in an email.

Paragliding instructor Joshua Ellison, 44, died in the crash, Elkins said. His passenger, a woman, was airlifted to a hospital with critical injuries.

The hang glider also was hospitalized with serious injuries, Elkins said.

Police are continuing to investigate the crash and have not determined how it occurred, Elkins said. He said such incidents are rare.

A paraglider “looks like a parachute but can be piloted,” Elkins said. A hang glider “looks like a large wing or kite with a rig below for the pilot,” he said.

Draper is about 20 miles south of Salt Lake City.

This story was originally published October 18, 2023 at 2:24 PM with the headline "Paragliding instructor killed in mid-air crash with hang glider, Utah police say."