BURLINGTON, Wis. — Three occupants of a hot air balloon sustained life-threatening injuries when their craft collided with a Canadian National freight train on Wednesday night.
At 8:15 p.m. on June 1 the Burlington Police Department responded to the 400 block of Calumet Street after receiving a report that a balloon had been struck by a train. Two people in the balloon were airlifted by helicopter to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. A third occupant of the balloon was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
“Early reports from witnesses on scene indicate the hot air balloon appeared in distress and collided with a northbound Canadian National train,” Burlington Police Chief Brian Zmudzinski said in a news release.
Burlington is about 35 miles southwest of Milwaukee on CN’s former Wisconsin Central main line.
CN police assisted local first responders. CN declined to comment about the incident, which appeared to involve a merchandise train.
Burlington police, the National Transportation Safety Board, the Federal Aviation Administration, CN, and the Wisconsin State Patrol are investigating the crash.
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