A Eugene man died Saturday, July 1, after a paraglider on which he was a passenger plunged into the Willamette River near Peoria.
According to the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, a 56-year-old man from Eugene was operating a Fenix AirTap Paramotor paraglider when it crashed into the river. According to BCSO, the pilot and passenger had taken off from Irish Bend Park, flew north following the direction of the river, and were traveling back when the aircraft crashed into the Willamette.
The 51-year-old male passenger from Eugene was still underwater when first responders arrived and determined to be deceased.
Two fishermen on a boat helped rescue the pilot, who was then transported to the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis by the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Jeff VanArsdall said the case had been referred to the Benton County District Attorney’s Office and that he was not releasing the names of the victims.
Impairment is not believed to have been a factor in the crash at this time. The investigation remains open.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) with oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is further investigating the incident.