Paraglider pilot killed after crashing onto highway east of Chelan

A man operating a paraglider was killed Sunday when he crashed onto a highway just east of Chelan, according to Washington State Patrol.

Ryan E. McRoberts of Garden Valley, Idaho, hit the pavement on Highway 97 at about 8 p.m. after jumping off of Deer Mountain, a few miles east of Lake Chelan and northeast of the small town.

Trooper Brian Moore, spokesman for WSP, said the man crashed onto the highway but no vehicles were involved. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“It’s one of those things you just don’t ever expect,” he said. “He must have just lost control or something.”

Moore said it was unknown why McRoberts crashed, whether it was mechanical failure or operator error.

“I don’t know if we’ll ever know, to be honest,” he said. “For some reason he lost control and went right into the ground.”