'Parachute' mystery resolved

A wind blade, similar to this one, was mistaken by a witness for a parachute tangled in a tree Tuesday in Corralitos. (Contributed photo).

WATSONVILLE — On Tuesday the Register-Pajaronian reported that local firefighters were dispatched to a report of a pair of parachutists that were possibly marooned atop a stand of tall trees somewhere near Freedom Boulevard at Corralitos Road at 12:10 p.m. The report came from a woman on Vallecito Lane who said she saw two parachutists become entangled in the sky before lodging in the tree.

Firefighters never did locate a parachute or any victims, but rather, a wind blade — a type of flag that was mounted on the ground, not in a tree, said local parachutist Volker Haag.

“I had put up a wind blade (flag) that I had gotten as a gift on Monday morning,” Haag said. “Around 11:30 a.m. I conducted a recreational parachute descent.”

Shortly after Haag’s jump the fire department received the report of a parachute in tree.

Firefighters eventually learned that once the flag was taken down the "mystery parachute in the tree" instantly disappeared.”

The R-P erroneously reported that the parachute was a test parachute.



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