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ROME CITY, Ind. (AP) — The leader of a northeastern Indiana town says he's lucky he survived a glider crash in a remote part of northern Utah.
Rome City Town Council president David Abbott tells The (Kendallville) News Sun (http://bit.ly/1P6dSBd ) he suffered a compressed disc in his neck, a back vertebrae fracture, and a broken rib and leg from Sunday's crash.
The 63-year-old Abbott says the glider he was flying hit a strong downdraft near a mountain and crashed into a tree. Crews rescued him by helicopter and he was taken to a hospital near Salt Lake City.
Abbott says he might need neck surgery but doesn't have any nerve damage or paralysis.
Abbott says he's been flying gliders for about six years and was attending a mountain soaring camp for the first time.
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Information from: The News-Sun, http://www.kpcnews.com
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