Man Seriously Injured In Powered Paraglider Crash Near Fond du Lac

Deputies from the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office along with Mt. Calvary Fire and rescue and Town of Calumet Fire and First Responders were paged to the area of 151 and County Highway K Monday, August 28, 2023 for a man who called the Fond du Lac County Communication Center saying he was flying a powered paraglider and crashed into a cornfield, possibly breaking both his legs.

Deputies immediately converged on the area and found the man in a cornfield near a grove of trees along the Peebles Trail, just southwest of Taycheedah.

Local firefighters used a pick-up truck to drive to the location of the man and bring him out to a waiting ThedaStar helicopter that was waiting for the patient.

As the man was loaded onto a stretcher, he was conscious and alert, talking to rescuers.

The 34-year-old Fond du Lac man was wearing a helmet during the crash. Witnesses reported to have observed the man losing altitude over the cornfield after hearing engine sputtering. County Highway K between Highway 151 and the Peebles Trail was closed for approximately 30 minutes while Thedastar Medical Helicopter was on scene.

Engine failure does appear to be a factor in the crash, which remains under investigation by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office.