Mark Culbertson says he saw the burning hot air balloon pass right over his house before it crashed to the ground.
The hot air balloon is believed to have hit power lines, burst into flames and to have crashed into the countryside 25 miles north of Richmond, Virginia Friday night. Witness heard explosions and saw the gondola and the balloon separate. The heat from the extra flames accelerated the ascent of the balloon, while the flaming gondola crashed to the ground.
Witnesses also reported seeing a person fall to the ground and also reported hearing victims screaming for help.
One body was found in the countryside. Police were searching for the other two victims in what is described as a recovery operation.
The balloon is believed to have hit power lines before soaring higher into the sky, according to police.
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