South Dakota Mayor, Two Children Involved in Paraglider Crash that Killed 8-Year-Old
Authorities said the crash killed the mayor’s 8-year-old child and injured the mayor and his 10-year-old child as investigators examine the cause.
- On Wednesday, Aberdeen Mayor Travis Schaunaman and his two children were involved in a fatal paraglider crash near Westport, South Dakota, killing his 8-year-old child.
- Schaunaman founded the marketing agency Production Monkeys in 2007 and was re-elected in 2024, focusing his mayoral platform on community growth and entrepreneurship in Aberdeen.
- Brown County Communications received a 911 call reporting the accident on Wednesday, prompting response from The Brown County Sheriff, Frederick Fire Department, Aberdeen Medics, Careflight, and the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
- Aberdeen Public Schools Superintendent Becky Guffin expressed condolences, while Aberdeen City Manager Dave McNeil requested privacy, stating, "No details regarding this tragic event will be shared at this time."
- The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the Para-Ski powered parachute crash, though a Federal Aviation Administration spokesperson stated the agency is not involved because the aircraft does not require federal registration.
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Two taken to hospital after paraglider crash near Aberdeen
By Anna Ballweber ABERDEEN, S.D. (Valley News Live) – Two people were taken to the hospital and one of them was found unresponsive after a paraglider crash northeast of Aberdeen, according to the Brown County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office said they received a 911 call about the crash on Aug. 19, 2026. Witnesses in the area reported the accident and first responders from several agencies were sent to the scene. Two people were taken to t…
Aberdeen mayor injured in paragliding crash that kills son
Aberdeen Mayor Travis Schaunaman was seriously injured Wednesday night in a paragliding accident that also killed his 8-year-old son, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office announced.The accident also injured his 10-year-old daughter. The injuries were minor.The Brown County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call Wednesday evening to report the crash northeast of Aberdeen.
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