Transportation Safety Board to investigate hot air balloon crash in B.C.

VERNON, B.C. – The Transportation Safety Board says it will investigate after a hot air balloon taking part in the winter carnival in Vernon, B.C., crashed on Friday.

Police say a wind draft may have caused the balloon to strike a rock face, then collide with power lines near the highway south of Armstrong.

There were seven people on board and no one was hurt, but the balloon was destroyed.

Capt. Chris Bridgeman with the Armstrong fire department says the balloon wasn’t moving quickly, and it briefly hit the power lines before coasting to the ground as it deflated.

Bridgeman said there was no risk of fire.

The balloon was one of several that took off in Vernon and floated towards Armstrong for the first day of the 10-day winter carnival.

(CJIB, The Canadian Press)