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L V Page A4 ♦ THE CANADIAN STATESMAN ♦ August 9,2006 durhamregion.com Hang-gliding death a 'tragic accident' Experienced glider became entangled and burned in wires BY ERIN HATFIELD AND CRYSTAL CRIMI Staff Writers PICKERING - Durham police have ruled it 'a tragic accident' and not faulty equip ment that claimed the life of a 44-ycar-old Niagara man in last week's hang-gliding accident in north Pickering. It is not known how Jim Freer, who was an experienced member member of the High Perspective Provincial help From page 1 The Province's plan is much stronger, Mayor Parish said, in accomplishing this. He said the Region needs to be more aggressive in marketing Durham as place for industry and jobs to locate. "You attract jobs by having a quality of life that is second to none," Mayor Parish said. Limiting sprawl and intensify: ing development, which the provincial provincial plan encourages, accomplishes accomplishes this, he said. "The Green Belt and the Places to Grow set out clearly what path, planning should take for the next few years," Mayor Parish said. "I just think it is an extreme waste of time and staff to rail against that." '■ He said the basic direction of the provincial plan is the right one, as it aims to curb sprawl and preserve agricultural and environmental environmental lands. By concentrating on major ar terial terial corridors, growth is promoted there, which increases the effectiveness effectiveness of transit. "The way we have been growing growing over the past decade is not sustainable," he said. These areas provide food, clean air and water, Mayor Parish said, ' without which we would be lost. "It is a health issue and a quality of life issue," he said. On Sept. 13 Regional council will consider the Official Plan," provided the planning committee first approves it. 'We're all in shock here. We've never had an incident like this in 37 years.' -- Michael Robertson hang-gliding club and school located across the road from the accident, became entangled in the hydro wires along Hwy. 7 and Sideline 26. Emergency personnel were called to the scene just before noon; on Friday, according to Sergeant Paul McCurbin of the Durham Regional Police. Upon arrival, he said Mr. Freer was found to be. on fire and in extreme distress. Michael Robertson, of High , Perspective, was answering the phone Friday afternoon in case the man's family called. He confirmed Mr. Freer was an advanced student at High Perspective. "Such a super guy," said Mr. Robertson in a wavering voice, adding lie was not yet able to give an interview. "We're all in shock here. We've never had an incident like this in 37 years." OPP and York and Durham . I.H||lltlii HilùVMtilu ilm » I Durham Region Media Group Pickering firefighters lower the ' eiwtipi ^Bder that struck the hydro lines on Hwy 7 just west of Brock Road at approihw*iy*w on Friday. EMS crews were on scene and worked to get Mr. Freer down from the wires, while two heli- ' copters buzzed overhead. Pickering , fire- a fighters used For on this story morgue. ÂlthoBgV<votcemait message at-tii^ktFeh^eCtive said, "We É»;âMlting.4(^ra for the day, the winds have picked more up and are unflyable," Sgt. McCurbin said he ladder truck to i ogi. mv^uium m. reach him and he . 1*4 WATCH VIDEO] was unable to confirm if durhmreflion.eom that was a factor in the incident. was lowered to the ground shortly after noon. , Sgt. McCurbin said Mr. Freer was pronounced dead at the scene and was taken directly to the "I am sure the investigators investigators are looking into that," he said at the time. Mr. Robertson described the accident as "inconceivable" and wondered how Mr.,Freer ended up in the power lines. "My students are like my kids," he said. "It's still a smiling smiling face." . It was nearly one hour before the hang gliding apparatus was removed from the power lines. It was loaded onto a flatbed truck and ushered off by (police. Emergency crews worked into the afternoon to restore power in the area of the incident. Since 1978 the Sleep Factory 'Monday to Wednesday 10-6 HOURS Thursday to Friday 10-9 i Saturday 10-6 & Sunday 11-4 OVER 40 FACTORY OUTLETS ACROSS ONTARIO INCLUDING. 79 TAUNTON RD.W, 905-433-1052 1 BuRiTIBE L_ Si y I DON CHERRY'S ■ J I HMKWeST.E* MS-436-1311 PRICE CHOPPER HIGHWAY #2 1 » This Week Exbntige Œtmea- fournal News- • Advertiser Canadian Statesman PORT PERRY STAR I- <D 1 E e » tr !§ g p O 0) x <D CL (/)