Six people were hurt in four separate hot-air balloon accidents Saturday morning in Boulder and Jefferson counties when strong northerly winds drove the aircraft into crash landings.
No one was seriously injured in any of the crashes, but six people complained of ankle, neck and/or back pain, said Chief Mike Tombolato of the Rocky Mountain Fire District. No names of the victims have been released.
“We had some really wicked winds,” said Jacki Kelley, spokeswoman for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.
About 8 a.m., a cold front swept into Boulder and Jefferson counties from the north, with gusts reaching 30 mph, said Kyle Fredin, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Boulder.
A cluster of about seven or eight balloons, which normally head east, were driven south by the wind, Tombolato said.
At 8:20 a.m., a balloon crashed in Arvada onto Colorado 72 about a quarter-mile east of Colorado 93, said Scott Pribble, Arvada fire spokesman. He said the balloon dragged on the highway for about 100 yards before coming to a stop.
“They were probably going 20 or 30 mph, and they were real close to the ground,” said Devin Rourke, 26, a Centaurus High School cross country coach who was about to start running with students when he spotted the balloon. “At that time, the wind was definitely gusting.”
One of three people in the balloon was treated for injuries and released at a local hospital, Pribble said. The other two people were not hurt.
A second balloon crashed near the Rocky Flats entrance and Colorado 93 about 8:30 a.m., said Capt. David Herr of Rocky Mountain Fire District.
“It was pretty crazy,” he said.
Two of seven people aboard that balloon complained of back and spine pain and were taken by non-emergency ambulance to a hospital.
At 8:45 a.m., a third balloon, this one with a pilot and 10 passengers, crashed in a field north of Colorado 128 about a half-mile east of Colorado 93. One person complained of an ankle injury and was driven to a hospital in a personal car.
Nine minutes later, a balloon owned by Hot Air Balloon Rides crashed in the Kelsall Open Space, about 1 mile southeast of state highways 93 and 128, according to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. A pilot and 11 passengers were on board.
The pilot was trying to land in windy conditions when the balloon struck the ground hard, “stripping the wild grasses,” according to Boulder sheriff’s Deputy Mitch Rosebrough.
The basket dragged on the ground about 50 yards.
Two women were taken to Boulder Community Hospital with possible neck and back injuries.
Rangers from the Boulder Parks and Open Space ticketed the pilot and a company driver who drove onto the protected grass habitat.
Kirk Mitchell: 303-954-1206, or
