This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Authorities say a Colorado man was killed in eastern Utah when strong winds dragged him off a cliff where he was going to take off to go hang gliding.
The San Juan County Sheriff's Office said in a news release Tuesday that 50-year-old Craig Pirazzi died Monday east of Canyonlands National Park near Moab, Utah. Strong winds came up at 6:30 p.m. while Pirazzi was trying to take off, forcing him to spiral out of control for 300 feet.
Two other people who were with him rappelled down the cliff and tried to resuscitate Pirazzi but he died from head and body trauma.
Pirazzi was from Paradox, Colo.