Three Injured in Napa Balloon Accident

A hot air balloon ride left three people with serious injuries in Napa County on Monday, April 1, 2019. Officials have reported that one of the injured individuals suffered serious trauma. Reports also stated that all three people were taken to a hospital so that they could receive emergency treatment. The conditions of the injured individuals have not been reported so far.

Accident Details

Cal Fire Captain Aaron Loscar told reporters that the balloon struck a power line close to the small city of Yountville at about 8:00 a.m. The massive, 20-person balloon, had been traveling over wine country carrying an unreported number of passengers. The balloon was attempting to land when it struck a power line.

Witnesses said that the balloon dragged along the power lines for a short distance. The wires eventually cracked and arced electricity, leaving one woman with severe burns across her torso and arm. The balloon was ultimately able to land safely but left two more people with electrical burns during the process.

Response

Cal Fire responded to the accident. Medical officials at the crash site found the seriously injured woman and called for a helicopter ambulance. The helicopter transported the woman to the UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento so that she could receive immediate care for her critical injuries. The other two injured individuals were transported to the Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa for care. No further injuries were reported.

PGE said that workers were sent out to the accident site to fix the downed power line as well as a broken pole and other problems caused by the accident. Reports stated that the downed lines affected 13 agricultural pumps in the area.

Passenger Statement

One of the passengers on board told reporters that he warned the operator of the balloon about the power lines before the accident happened. Authorities of the Napa County Sheriff’s Office said that federal aviation regulators would be contacted about the incident.

Electrical Burns

Burn injuries are dangerous, and electrical burns often cause the most severe injuries. Electrical arcs can create flash burns that exceed heats of 4000 degrees Celsius and can cause severe damage to deep body tissues including vital organs. Treating these injuries can be difficult and recovering from an electrical burn is often a long, painful process. In many cases, electrical burns cause complications like cataracts, heart issues, kidney failure, and more.

Because these injuries are so severe, people often face serious personal and financial issues after an electrical accident. If you have suffered an electrical burn during an accident, it is best to contact a Napa personal injury attorney so that you can get information about how you might be able to recover money for your injuries from negligent parties.

More Articles Written by Napa Personal Injury Lawyer, Ed Smith

Napa Personal Injury Lawyers

I’m Ed Smith, a Napa personal injury lawyer. Accidents are often traumatic. If you were injured during a crash, get in touch with me for free, friendly advice by calling either (800) 404-5400 or (707) 564-1900.

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Image: “balloon” by Walter Lee Olivares de la Cruz through unsplash

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Three Injured in Napa Balloon Accident