a woman dies from falling from a hot air balloon

[almaty 19]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A woman has died in a hot air balloon crash on Monday morning, the third day of the city's annual October balloon fiesta, Albuquerque police spokeswoman Trish Hoffman said.

The crash occured near the intersection of Vassar and Comanche in the northeastern part of Albuquerque, N.M.

Albuquerque police spokesman Andrew Tingwall said the pilot was trying to land the balloon and had thrown out a tether line, which ground crews had attached to a truck. The tether line snapped, flipping the gondola and causing the woman to fall out just as balloon began to rise again. Witnesses said the woman fell approximately 50 feet.

The balloon struck some fiber optic lines near Montgomery Drive and Interstate 25, not power lines, as originally reported, according to PNM.

Tingwall said people on the ground tried unsuccessfully to revive the woman before emergency medical technicians arrived moments after the incident. The woman, who has not yet been identified, was transported to the hospital, where she died.

A pilot and four passengers remained in the balloon basket after the woman fell. The balloon kept travelling with the four people still inside. Three of them were treated when they eventually landed.

State police have taken over the investigation, Hoffman said.

The Balloon Fiesta began in 1972 and now operates from the custom-designed, 365-acre Balloon Fiesta Park with a 78-acre launch field. It is the world's largest ballooning event with an average of 700 balloons participating, and is the world's most photographed event.

i have been there 7 times..most of the times when i lived in new mexco..seems like there is a accident every year

[Mary Lou 682]

Wow, so tragic and sad.

[ChristinaM 0]

That's a bummer

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Tragic.

I'm amazed at the stories of skydivers who've lived even after their parachute didn't open, falling thousands of feet. This poor lady died from a 50 ft fall.

[Marilyn. 340]

Tragic.

I'm amazed at the stories of skydivers who've lived even after their parachute didn't open, falling thousands of feet. This poor lady died from a 50 ft fall.

I guess it depends on how you land...

[almaty 19]

i think she landed on a road

[sparkofcreation 0]

I'm amazed at the stories of skydivers who've lived even after their parachute didn't open, falling thousands of feet. This poor lady died from a 50 ft fall.

I forget why and I don't have time to look it up, but I believe it's supposed to be easier to survive a fall that's more than 100 feet than one that's less.

The wind was crazy here this morning, that's probably part of the problem. I was a little surprised they launched, then all the balloons blew straight over downtown. Where they are not supposed to be, obviously.

[Nagishkaw 510]

How tragic !

[Jasman0717 9]

That sucks

[isleta521 5]

I'm amazed at the stories of skydivers who've lived even after their parachute didn't open, falling thousands of feet. This poor lady died from a 50 ft fall.

I forget why and I don't have time to look it up, but I believe it's supposed to be easier to survive a fall that's more than 100 feet than one that's less.

The wind was crazy here this morning, that's probably part of the problem. I was a little surprised they launched, then all the balloons blew straight over downtown. Where they are not supposed to be, obviously.

Yes, it was pretty windy. I live just southeast of downtown and I was surprised to see balloons flying near our house and the velocity that they were moving.

[JODO 2]

sad