South Dakota mayor, two children involved in paraglider crash that killed 8-year-old
Close-up of a paraglider wing and blue sky in the background.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - A South Dakota mayor and his two children were involved in a paraglider accident Wednesday that left his 8-year-old child dead and injured the mayor and his 10-year-old child, according to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office.
Dig deeper:
Aberdeen Mayor Travis Schaunaman suffered serious injuries that were not considered life-threatening, while his 10-year-old child sustained minor injuries. His 8-year-old child was pronounced dead at the scene.
Brown County Communications received a 911 call reporting the accident northeast of Aberdeen on Aug. 19. Witnesses in the area and multiple emergency agencies responded, including the Brown County Sheriff’s Office, Frederick Fire Department, Aberdeen Medics, Careflight and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
Officials have not released additional details about what caused the accident.
What's next:
The Brown County Sheriff’s Office and South Dakota Highway Patrol are continuing to investigate the crash in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.
What they're saying:
In a Thursday update, the sheriff’s office offered condolences to the family and asked the community to respect the family’s privacy.
"The Brown County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our condolences to the family and pray for the community to come together and allow the family privacy during this tragic time," the agency said.
The Source: The information in this story came from a news release issued by the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. This story was reported from Los Angeles.