SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA – Thomas Richard Mayer died after his hang glider broke during an aerobatics event. He fell 300 feet to the ground after the break. Mayer was 60 years old and was from Carpinteria. He was performing a loop at Andy Jackson Air Park around 6:45 p.m. Saturday when the wings of his glider collapsed and he was unable to deploy his parachute.
Megret Olewiler, president of the Crestline Soaring Society, said that he was a 38 year veteran of hang gliding and loved doing loops. Something just went tragically wrong on this occasion. Firefighters from the San Bernardino City Fire Department were at the scene for an unrelated reason at the time of the accident. They responded to Mayer’s fall. Just minutes late, Bill Soderquist, another hang glider, crashed after a similar situation. Soderquist, however, was able to deploy his parachute before he hit the ground.
Teri Lay, an investigator for the San Bernardino County coroner’s office, said that Mayor was taken to Community Hospital of San Benardino, where he died less than two hours later. Soderquist was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center for treatment of several broken ribs. The Crestline Soaring Society is a nonprofit club for hang glider and paraglider pilots. Saturday’s event was the first aerobatic competition hosted by the club.
Our hearts go out to Mayer’s family and friends following this tragic accident. We also hope that Soderquist will recover from the injuries he sustained in his accident. Some activities are inherently dangerous and those who participate in them assume the risks. However, in situations where equipment does not perform as intended and expected, the surviving family members of the person killed may have a claim against the manufacturer.
Plaintiff’s law governs this kind of situation and it can often be very confusing. The lawyers at Berman & Riedel, LLP in San Diego, California, have a great deal of experience in this kind of law and are happy to talk to you and evaluate your case. There is no charge for your first meeting. You may also visit www.bermanlaywers.com to learn more about the firm and plaintiff’s law.
