Lexington Man Killed in Hot Air Balloon Accident
A Lexington man was killed Saturday when he fell from a hot air balloon
after it struck power lines.
Gordon Wirt, 53, fell when the basket became separated from the balloon
after it hit the power lines, Kentucky State Police said.
Wirt was transported to the University of Kentucky Hospital in Lexington,
where he was pronounced dead. The cause of the death was blunt force trauma
to the chest, police said.
Wirt was alone in the balloon, police said.
A witness told a Lexington television station that Wirt was taking off in a
field Saturday afternoon and the balloon didn't elevate quickly enough and
hit the power line.
State police are continuing to investigate. The Federal Aviation
Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were notified
of the crash.
No other details were immediately available
