LAKE COUNTY ? A 67-year-old hang glider from Upper Lake lay unresponsive on the bank of a creek bed about 1:20 p.m. Saturday north of Upper Lake after a crash that caused his death.
Witnesses tried without success to revive William Vogel, who was declared dead at the scene off Elk Mountain Road about 6 miles north of Upper Lake, said Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff”s Office. The North Shore Fire Protection District responded and a CALSTAR Air Ambulance touched down, but personnel found Vogel dead and called a deputy coroner to investigate, the sheriff”s office reported.
Vincent Endter of San Jose was hang gliding with Vogel and watched his friend crash, the sheriff”s office reported. Vogel was coming in for a landing, banked to the left to avoid power lines and the left tip of his hang glider clipped a small tree. He then crashed into the bank of the creek bed going about 35 to 40 mph.
From the air, Endter called to a man on the ground, who was tending his property, to help Vogel, the sheriff”s office reported. Endter called 9-1-1 from the air before he landed.
Vogel and Endter were experienced hang gliders, the sheriff”s office reported. Endter didn”t suspect Vogel”s hang glider had mechanical problems. Another hang glider was with the pair and was not hurt, Bauman said. The coroner found internal bleeding due to injuries Vogel received upon impact caused his death, the sheriff”s office reported. Bauman did not know if Vogel was wearing protective gear.
