PARK COUNTY, Colo. — A woman who was injured following a hot air balloon incident in Park County Friday morning has died, Park County Emergency Management officials said in an updated press release about the incident.
The woman was flown to Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs by first responders from Flight for Life following the hard landing of the hot air balloon, officials said.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation, the press release states. Her identity will be released once her family has been notified.
According to Peter Knudson with the National Transportation Safety Board, the hot air balloon was carrying 11 people — 9 passengers, and 2 pilots — when it came to a hard landing in the Hartsel area of Park County.
Knudson said the flight, operated by Colorado Hot Air Balloon Rides, was scheduled and had been in the air for about an hour. He said the balloon collapsed upon landing.
The NTSB is investigating, and a preliminary report about what led to the incident should be released in a couple of weeks.
