4 hurt in S. California hot air balloon explosion

Nov 10, 2013, 2:35 AM

KTAR.com

TEMECULA, Calif. (AP) – Officials say a hot air balloon exploded after landing in Southern California wine country leaving four people hospitalized, one of them with severe burns.

The Riverside County Fire Department says the balloon was carrying five people when it landed Saturday morning in vineyards near Temecula and an explosion occurred.

Fire officials say one person was severely burned. Two others had serious injuries, one had minor injuries and one person walked away safely.

Names and details about those on board were not immediately released.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident as they do most aircraft crashes.

Hot air balloons often dot the sky on weekends in the area 60 miles north of San Diego.

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