No win no fee news
10/10/2007

Balloon accident claims life of US woman

The family of an American woman could be in a position to make a fatal accident claim for compensation after she was killed whilst travelling in a hot air balloon.

The 60-year-old was riding in the balloon during a festival in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, when she tumbled from the basket and fell 50ft to the ground. She suffered serious personal injuries in the fall and died in hospital shortly afterwards.

Exact details of the incident are not yet known but it is thought the Californian woman was thrown from the balloon when a tether line attached to a truck snapped, flipping the basket onto its side. Five other people managed to cling on but could do nothing as the woman plummeted to the earth.

A full investigation into the woman's tragic death is now underway and it is believed her family are waiting for the outcome before deciding whether or not to launch an accident claim for compensation.

The company responsible for the balloon involved in the incident released a statement saying, "We take great pride in the pilots and the balloons that we bring to the world's largest balloon event, and we do everything we can to make sure it is the right people and the right equipment to represent the world's largest event."