A BALLOON PILOT AND HIS BALLOON CREW CHIEF ARE BEING TREATED FOR BURNS AFTER WEDNESDAY MORNING'S HOT AIR BALLOON ACCIDENT IN RIO RANCHO. AND ONE … 66 YEAR OLD CREW CHIEF DANIEL LOVATO … HAD TO HAVE HIS LEFT ARM AMPUTATED. RIO RANCHO POLICE SPOKESPERSON JANET GARCIA TELLS 770 KKOB THE BALLOON SLAMMED INTO POWER LINES NEAR MEADOWLARK LANE AND SARA WAY JUST BEFORE 8:30 AM. SHE SAYS IT LOOKS LIKE THE SANDBAGS THAT HANG OVER THE GONDOLA GOT ENTANGLED IN THE POWER LINES.
GARCIA SAYS THE BALLOON FELL 30-TO-35 FEET TO THE GROUND. ONE OF THE MEN SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL ELECTRICAL BURNS TO HIS FACE, CHEST AND ARMS. THE OTHER SUSTAINED BURNS TO HIS HEAD. THE PILOT WAS 59 YEAR OLD MARK KILGORE.
