Runaway hot air balloon drags SUV into tents at Wisconsin fest

WATERFORD, Wis., July 24 (UPI) -- A deflating hot air balloon at a Wisconsin festival was caught by a gust of wind and collided with tents while dragging two vehicles behind it.

The 5th Annual Balloonfest in Waterford was interrupted Saturday morning when a storm cell moved through the area as the balloons were being deflated about 7:15 a.m. and a red-and-white checkered balloon was caught by a gust of wind.

Videos shared on YouTube show the balloon colliding with spectators and tents while dragging two vehicles -- a pickup truck and a sport-utility vehicle -- attached to it for weight during intended tethered flights.

At least one of the vehicles collided with a vendor's tent while being dragged by the balloon, while witnesses said the other broke free from the tether.

Jenifer Sustachek, 46, of Waterford, suffered minor injuries during the incident.

"Look horrible but wanted to get the word out that ballooning is SAFE!! This was a freak accident and it was the skill of pilots and crew that prevented this from being much worse," Sustachek said in a Facebook post.