Kenya Balloon Crash: 1 Dead, Several Hurt

July 12 -- A hot air balloon carrying tourists over Kenya’s world-famous Maasai Mara safari park caught fire today, killing the pilot and injuring several of those aboard — including three Americans.

The accident occurred around after the group had gone up with the pilot and several Kenyan crewmembers to view the sun rise over the vast game reserve, police spokesman Abraham Koech said. Up to 10 people were reported aboard the balloon.

“The pilot, who is a Briton, died in the accident, while three Americans...have been seriously injured,” said David Njogu, assistant manager of the Mara Sarova camp where the balloon operated from.

Senior Warden Joseph ole Kotumet of the Kenya Wildlife Service identified the pilot as Mark Lesimore, but he did not have a hometown.

The Briton’s body was taken to Narok mortuary, while the injured were flown to Nairobi for treatment, officials said.

Serious Condition, Severe Burns

“The three Americans — an 11-year-old boy, his father and another adult male — have been taken to Nairobi,” said Avril MacDonald, spokeswoman for the Kenya Tourism Federation, adding they were not in critical condition.

Both the American Embassy Nairobi and the Nairobi Hospital declined to release the names of the three Americans injured in the balloon crash. All were reported in serious condition with severe burns.

Local reports identified the injured Americans as Robert Mozelewski, Ben Mozelewski and Terry Newton, all from Texas.

As many as four Kenyans, working as crew members aboard the balloon, were also flown to a hospital in Nairobi, 125 miles east of the reserve. Two other Kenyan crewmembers were treated for superficial burns and discharged.

Sue Carr-Hartley, a matron at Nairobi Hospital, said the injured crew members still in hospital “have more facial and upper limb burns, but it is difficult to assess the degree of burns.”

“They are in stable condition at the moment,” she added.