Published:Saturday, October 11, 2008 6:14 AM PDT
Serving the South Coast of Oregon

Man killed when balloon crashes in NM
Saturday, October 11, 2008 6:14 AM PDT

BERNALILLO, N.M. (AP) — A hot air balloon crashed into power lines and burst into flames Friday during Albuquerque’s annual balloon fiesta, throwing both men on board to the ground and killing one of them.

Witnesses said that winds had picked up a bit and that many of the balloons were flying low right before the crash.

Kathie Leyendecker, a spokeswoman for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, did not know whether it was the pilot or the passenger who was killed when the Wings of Wind balloon crashed in Bernalillo, just north of Albuquerque.

One man was found dead at the scene; the second man was unconscious, Rio Rancho Fire Battalion Chief Paul Bearce said. He was in critical condition at University of New Mexico Hospital.


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