3 injured in hot air balloon accident in Arizona

An out-of-control hot air balloon in Arizona left numerous people injured and caused significant damage to property and power lines when an unexpected gust of wind caused the balloon to take off.

On Saturday, July 6, at 11:48 a.m. local time, a hot air balloon crashed in northern Arizona, injuring three people, including an 8-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy, according to a Williams police news release.

“Williams Police responded to a hot air balloon accident at the Ramada Inn hotel. The incident occurred during preparation for balloon operation. The pilot, identified as Dwayne Osborne, reported that the initial wind speed was approximately 7-8 mph, but a sudden thermal air gust increased the wind to 40-50 mph, causing the balloon to become detached from its anchor point and collide with nearby buildings and vehicles,” the release said.

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Williams police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Although there were no passengers in the hot air balloon when it was carried away by the strong winds, the three people injured in the crash were taken to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment, Williams police said.

Injuries sustained include “a broken thumb and rope burns to the 8-year-old female and back and neck injuries to the 15-year-old male,” while “the adult female suffered abrasions,” the press release said.

Pedestrians weren’t the only ones affected by the speeding hot air balloon. It also caused severe damage to surrounding vehicles and property damage to canopies and tables before knocking down a light pole at the Ramada Inn, authorities said.

After securing the area and collecting evidence of the collision, Williams police said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified and will now further investigate the incident.