Paraglider Injured After Hitting Hilltop North Of San Jacinto

SAN JACINTO, CA — A paraglider pilot soaring over the Soboba Indian Reservation Friday struck a hilltop and was injured, requiring a helicopter rescue operation.

The crash was reported about 5:20 p.m. northeast of Soboba Road, on the edge of the reservation, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. The unidentified paraglider was circling when he struck the hill, but the nature and extent of his injuries were not immediately known.

Firefighters drove as close to the location as possible but were not able to reach the pilot, prompting a call for a sheriff's or Cal Fire helicopter crew to perform a hoist rescue. As of 6 p.m., the operation was in the works.

The pilot had departed from Soboba Paragliding, it was unclear exactly when or whether he was a seasoned hand or amateur.

Soboba Paragliding requires training before allowing visitors to helm their own rigs, which consist of an overhead wing-like chute that enables users to soar, relying on rising air columns known as thermals, as well as winds, for lift.

—City News Service