A midair collision between a paraglider and a hang glides in the Aspen Mountain area forced a rescue effort from Mountain Rescue Aspen (MRA) on Sunday, August 16th.
According to the rescue group, Pitkin County Regional Emergency Dispatch Center received a report of two injured individuals following the midair collision. MRA mobilized rescue personnel to assist with the evacuation, and an Aspen Mountain ranger was able to make contact with the patients at approximately 10:56am.
Individuals Rescued After Crash
One of the individuals involved sustained minor injuries and was able to walk uphill to the road, declining further medical care after an ambulance evaluation. The second subject was evacuated from the site using a litter and rope system. The individual was brought uphill to the road before being loaded into a side-by-side vehicle for transportation to an ambulance for further medical care.
34 Mountain Rescue Aspen team members assisted in the rescue operation that had wrapped up at approximately 1:22pm.
Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office reminds those participating in paragliding, hang gliding, and other mountain aviation that maintaining appropriate distance from other aircraft is vital. Additionally participants are required to carry reliable communication and safety equipment and should be ready to manage injuries and other emergencies until assistance arrives on scene.
“The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the all volunteer team of Mountain Rescue Aspen, Aspen Fire Department, Aspen Mountain Rangers and Aspen Ambulance for their assistance during this rescue.“