LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lakeport Police Department is investigating a case in which a man visiting a Lakeport park was hit in the head on Friday morning by a remote controlled model airplane.

Lakeport Police Chief Dale Stoebe told Lake County News that his agency took a report on the incident, which he said was reported to police about five hours after it occurred.

He said the 73-year-old victim was at Westside Park practicing golf when he was struck in the head by a remote controlled plane.

“The remote pilot was identified as a male with a thick European accent,” Stoebe said.

Stoebe said the plane operator checked on the victim, “refused to identify himself, and fled the scene, possibly in a white SUV.”

He added, “The victim drove himself to the hospital and received staples and stitches to several head lacerations. The matter is still under investigation.”

Facebook posts by the victim’s daughter said her father was left with serious head injuries that led to him getting 11 stitches to keep his ear attached and three staples in his head. A CT scan found he suffered a brain bleed.

In describing the situation with the plane operator fleeing the scene, she wrote, “How could someone just do that and leave?”

Anyone with information about the case can contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or through the agency’s Facebook page.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.