California kite surfer hit by auto after wind pushes him onto highway

Preliminary information at this time is the pedestrian, a para-sail surfer, was setting up his board when a gust of wind carried him into the southbound lane of traffic where he was ultimately struck by a vehicle.

“He was down by the water getting his stuff prepared together with his girlfriend, however there was simply an excessive amount of wind”, Sutherland informed the San Francisco Chronicle.

San Francisco Police responded to a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian crash around 3:12 p.m. on the Great Highway just south of Sloat Blvd. “You definitely need to be more of an expert level when you come out in a wind like this today”, Alex Lowe, a kite surfer of seven years told KPIX. Police said the Great Highway was shut down for several hours as authorities investigated the accident. “So if one of his lines crossed, the kite will spin uncontrollably and it will drag you at the wind speed”.

Cort Larned, co-owner of 101 Surf Sports in San Rafael, California, said accidents in the sport are rare but usually happen in the same circumstances, with heavy winds at the water’s edge.

Medics transported the kite surfer to a general hospital.