PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. — Four people were killed and a fifth was seriously injured when a hot air balloon crashed in Pinal County Sunday morning.
The incident happened around 7:50 a.m. in a rural desert area about eight miles north of town, Eloy police said.
Mayor Eloy announced that there were 13 people on board the balloon, including eight skydivers, four passengers, and one pilot. The skydivers exited the gondola before the crash. Witnesses told officials that the balloon was flying straight up and down before the strong impact.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other three died at the hospital. One person is in critical condition at a Valley hospital.
The victim's identity has not yet been released, pending notification from next of kin.
The family, who responded to ABC15, said that one of the victims was Katie Bartrom, 28, a regular nurse from Indiana. Bartrom's mother said she loved skydiving and adventure.
Jennifer Hubert
Eloy police are working with federal agencies, including the NTSB and FAA, to investigate the crash.
NTSB officials stated that the balloon crashed due to an unknown cause of the outer skin.
This incident is still under investigation.
