BURLINGTON, Wis. (WFRV) – The three people who were transported to Froedtert Hospital after their hot air balloon was hit by a train on June 1, have been released and are recovering.
According to a release, the pilot reported that when the gondola touched down, the balloon became entangled with a Northbound Canadian National train.
The pilot was affiliated with the Lake Geneva Balloon Company, which owned the hot air balloon.
The three individuals were also identified in a release from the Burlington Police Department:
- Jimmy Winder (pilot)
- Nikolay Veltchev (passenger)
- Elena Petrova (passenger)
Original Story: Two people in Wisconsin airlifted to hospital after hot air balloon collides with train
THURSDAY 6/2/2022 – 6:44 a.m.
BURLINGTON, Wis. (WFRV) – Three people have life-threatening injuries after a hot air balloon was reportedly hit by a train in Wisconsin.
According to the Burlington Police Department, on June 1 around 8:15 p.m. first responders were sent to the 400 block of Calumet Street for a report of a hot air balloon that was hit by a train. Three people in the hot air balloon reportedly had life-threatening injuries.
Two people were airlifted to a local hospital, and an ambulance took a third to the hospital. Witnesses reportedly told authorities that the hot air balloon looked in distress and collided with the train.
The Burlington Police Department is doing an investigation with the National Traffic Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration, Canadian National and the Wisconsin State Patrol. The investigation is active.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call 262-342-1104.
No additional details were provided, Local 5 will continue to update this story.
