Joyce L. Miller
Lake Sun
Search and rescue crews converged on an area south of Camdenton Sunday evening searching for a hot air balloon reported to have crashed in an unknown location.
At 7:40 p.m., a resident on Jamie Drive southwest of Camdenton in Seven Trails West reported to the Camden County Sheriff’s Office that he had watched a hot air ballon plummet to the ground.
The caller reported the balloon had crashed somewhere in the Spencer Creek Road and Ha Ha Tonka area.
The caller said he had been watching the balloon through binoculars when it started losing altitude, listed onto its side and spiralled to the ground.
The caller said the flame had gone out. The balloon reportedly had an American flag on its side.
The sherriff’s office, water and highway patrol, Camden County Emergency Management and Mid-County Fire Protection District were searching on ground while the Staff For Life helicopter was conducting an aerial search. A Highway Patrol helicopter was en route.
As of 9 p.m. press time, the balloon had not been located.
