UPDATED WITH VIDEO
HOOPER - Horrified parents rushed onto a grassy field at Hooper Park to rescue their children Monday after an engine-powered parachute plunged into crowd of about 300 people.
The mishap that injured six occurred around 3 p.m. at the annual Hooper Tomato Days festival.
Children and adults had converged on the field to gather candy and numbered sponges that could be redeemed for prizes dropped from an experimental aircraft that flew about 40 feet overhead, said Lt. Lonnie Eskelson of the Weber County Sheriff's Department.
However, the engine-powered parachute piloted by Mike Higley of Hooper and also carrying his 17-year-old son lost power, plummeted into the crowd and rolled about 50 yards, Eskelson said.
Higley could not be reached for comment Monday night. The aircraft he was flying consists of a open cockpit cage tethered by a parachute with a propeller in the back.
Higley and his son, whose name wasn't released by authorities, weren't hurt in the crash but a half dozen people on the ground were injured.
They included two girls, ages 4 and 5, who were transported by medical helicopter to Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City, said Eskelson. The 4-year-old was expected to be released Monday night from the hospital and the other girl was being treated for a leg fracture, he said.
Another 3-year-old girl was also being treated Monday night at the children's hospital and details about her condition weren't known.
Maureen Bingham, 50, and Steve Cutler, 28, were hurt in the crash and taken to McKay-Dee Hospital where they were treated and released. Loretta Julander, 57 was also injured and was taken to Ogden Regional Hospital where she too was treated and released, Eskelson said.
Lee Watts, a captain with the Roy Fire Department who was with a paramedic crew on standby for the Tomato Days rodeo held Monday night, witnessed the crash.
"It (the engine-powered parachute) was losing power and dropping into the crowd," he said Monday afternoon on the edge of the field where the mishap occurred.
Pandemonium erupted on the field immediately after the crash with people scrambling for safety and parents running toward the accident site to save their children, Watts said.
"When you have that many spectators out there and something falls out of the sky, it gets chaotic," he said.
Watts, a 24-year veteran of the Roy Fire Department, said he rushed to the crash site and immediately began to triage the victims, which means prioritizing the casualties based on the severity of injuries.
"Most people run away from fires and accidents, I'm one of those crazy firemen who runs to them," he said, adding his years of training kicked in.
Watts and other Roy paramedics soon had plenty of help.
Within minutes of the crash, two more ambulances from Roy, another ambulance from Clinton, a paramedic squad from Ogden and two fire engines from the Weber Fire District arrived at Hooper Park.
Jay Herzog, 17, of Hyrum, who was taking tickets at a giant inflatable slide just a few yards from the crash site, said he also saw the aircraft fly over the field and knew right away it was in trouble.
"It came in low," Herzog said. "I thought it was going to hit the power lines."
After the aircraft struck the ground, its parachute wrapped around a Toyota Tundra parked behind the slide.
Josh Fitzgerald of Millville, who was operating a climbing wall near the inflatable slide, said the engine-powered parachute seemed to make a low swoop before it hit the ground causing chaos on the field.
"All the parents ran over there looking for their kids," he said.
Watts said a slow-moving aircraft like an engine-powered parachute flying over a large crowd is a recipe for disaster.
"It's an accident waiting to happen," he said.
Hooper Mayor Glenn Barrow said a similar flyover was held at Tomato Days two years ago without incident, but town officials will review whether it should be continued at future festivals.
"Any time you get people hurt at an event it's regrettable," he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration has been notified about the crash, said Eskelson.
Updated 10:49 p.m.
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Engine powered parachute crash at Hooper's Tomato Days
HOOPER — Six people were injured Monday when an engine-powered parachute crashed into a crowd of about 300 people at Hooper’s Tomato Days festival.
Those injured in the 3 p.m. mishap at Hooper Park included three juveniles and an adult male and female, said Lt. Lonnie Eskelson of the Weber County Sheriff’s Department.
A 4-year-old girl and 5-year-old girl were transported by Life Flight helicopter to Primary Children’s Hospital, said Eskelson. The 4-year-old was set to be released Monday night from the hospital and the other girl was being treated for a leg fracture, he said.
Another 3-year-old girl was also being treated Monday night at Primary Children’s Hospital and details about her condition weren’t known.
Maureen Bingham, 50, and Steve Cutler, 28, were injured and taken to McKay-Dee Hospital and treated and released. Loretta Julander, 57, was taken to Ogden Regional Hospital and released after treatment.
None of the injuries appear to be life threatening and included cuts, bruises and broken bones, said Captain Lee Watts of the Roy Fire Department, who was one of the first emergency responders on the scene.
The powered parachute, which consists of a parachute attached to a small cage with an engine in the back, was piloted by Mike Higley of Hooper, said Hooper Mayor Glenn Barrow. The pilot’s 17-year-old son, who was not identified, was also board. Neither was injured.
The crash occurred when the powered parachute was flying west about 40 feet above the crowd dropping candy and numbered sponges that could be redeemed for prizes, said Eskelson. The aircraft lost lift, fell into the crowd and rolled about 50 yards.
The cause of the crash has not been determined and the Federal Aviation Administration has been notified.
Updated 7:53 p.m.
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HOOPER -- Multiple severe injuries were reported today, most of them involving children, when a gyroplane crashed into a crowd during Hooper Tomato Days.
A dispatcher from Weber County said two medical helicopters transported children to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City.
The dispatcher said people in the plan were throwing candy out for the kids.
She said reports from the scene were that six or seven people were injured in the 3 p.m. plane crash. At 4:15 p.m. ambulances and law enforcement officials were still on the scene.
The dispatcher said it is possible that several were seriously injured. Check back with standard.net for more details as they become available.
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