FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

A Florida man is a patient at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, W.Va., after he crashed his Paraglide in the Rarden area Sunday night. The Portsmouth Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the crash which occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m.

Christopher L. Montgomery, age 60, of Jacksonville, Fla., was operating a Fresh Breeze Paraglide in the Rarden area just east of the Adams County Line. Inclement weather had moved into the area and the high winds forced a failure of Montgomery’s parachute. The failure forced him to crash in an open field located approximately 90 feet north of Ohio 73. A witness estimated that Montgomery fell from approximately 50 to 75 feet.

Montgomery was transported to Southern Ohio Medical Center then later transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol says that type of aircraft does not fall under FAA (Federal Aeronautics Administration) regulations and they are not involved in the investigation. The Portsmouth Post says the crash is still under investigation.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications.com