2 paragliders who collided and died are ID’d as men from Orange County and Carlsbad

Carlsbad resident Glenn Johnny Peter Bengtsson, 43, and Raul Gonzalez Valerio, 61, of Laguna Hills, were identified by the county Medical Examiner’s Office on Sunday night as the two men who died in a paragliding collision Saturday at the Torrey Pines Gliderport in La Jolla.

The solo pilots crashed into each other about 35 feet in the air, became entwined and plummeted onto the steep cliff face, about 45 feet below the edge, San Diego Lifeguard Lt. Rich Stropky said.

Bengtsson was certified to fly on his own; Valerio was working on his certification but had flown 20 to 25 times, Stropky said.

The incident occurred at 2:41 p.m. at the popular cliffside launching point for paragliders and hang gliders off Torrey Pines Scenic Drive.

Stropky said the less experienced pilot was flying south when he made a hard right turn, into the path of the northbound pilot. The lines leading from their harnesses to their canopies entangled.

One canopy kept some air in it for moments, but the men fell straight down for 75 feet, Stropky said. They caught on a knoll on a vertical section of north-facing cliff, stranding them in a precarious position.

Authorities did not know whether the fatal injuries were caused by the initial impact or the cliff crash.

Lifeguards were assisted by a San Diego Fire-Rescue Department helicopter. One medic rappelled down the slippery, deeply gorged sandstone. The helicopter then hoisted the medic and one body at a time to the top of the cliff. Medics and firefighters carried the bodies on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.

Bengtsson was declared dead at 3:20 p.m. Valerio was declared dead at 3:25 p.m., the Medical Examiner’s Office reported.

Kragen writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.

pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com