Paramotorist cited after crashing into power lines

Published 11:45 am Wednesday, October 28, 2020

A Bend man crashed his motorized ultralight glider into power lines above the Deschutes River near Tumalo on Tuesday night, knocking out power to several nearby houses.

Brad Daniel Devert, 41, survived the crash but was cited by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office with criminal mischief for damaging the power lines, according to a press release from Sgt. Jayson Janes, a sheriff’s office spokesman.

At around 5:49 p.m., a person called 911 to report someone was hanging from power lines above the Deschutes River near Otter Run Lane. Deputies say Devert had been flying just above the water when he became entangled in the lines. He was uninjured and able to free himself from his craft.

Pacific Power removed the 2-stroke 185cc Parajet Paramotor from the power lines and restored power to the nearby houses.

Paramotoring differs from paragliding in that paramotorists fly using a motor and propeller stuck to their back, where paragliders fly free with the wind.

Local paragliding instructor Kimberly Phinney, owner of White Owl Paragliding, said licensed paragliders receive far more training than paramotorists, who she said receive only three days.

Licensed paragliders are forbidden to fly in congested areas, which Tumalo could be considered, Phinney said.

The sunset on Tuesday was about 6:15 p.m.

“It’s not ideal to be up that close to sunset, when the wind and conditions are changing,” Phinney said.

A message left for Devert was not returned.