UPDATE, 10/18, 4:43 p.m.: Draper Police identified the man who died as Joshua Ellison, 44. Ellison was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
The pilot of the hang glider has been reported in critical condition today. While it was initially reported that the hang glider pilot had minor injuries and was treated on the scene, police later learned his injuries were severe.
Ellison’s female partner, age 30, is also reported in critical condition this afternoon.
ORIGINAL POST: DRAPER, Utah (ABC4) — A man died and a woman was seriously hurt Tuesday evening after a paraglider and hang glider collided in midair over Draper.
Sgt. Mike Elkins, with the Draper Police Department, said the collision happened around 5 p.m. at the Salt Lake County Flight Park on 15300 Steep Mountain Drive.
The pilot of the tandem paraglider, 44-year-old Joshua Ellison, died at the scene, Elkins said.
Ellison’s passenger, a woman, suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to a hospital.
The pilot of the hang glider suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene.
While the collision appears to be a tragic accident, it remains under investigation, Elkins said, adding that it is rare for such a thing to happen in the flight park.
According to the U.S. Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, hang gliders are made of aluminum or carbon fiber with a stainless steel cable while paragliders are made with much lighter material that can be folded up into a backpack. Hang gliders are also capable of faster speeds and can fly in stronger conditions due to their build.
