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The pilot of a hot air balloon that crashed in the Arizona desert killing four people earlier this year reportedly had elevated levels of ketamine in his system.
Cornelius van der Walt, 37, had enough ketamine in his blood to be considered unfit to drive, according to a medical examiner’s report obtained by USA Today. The report said he did not have a prescription for the drug and that rescuers who tried to revive him did not use the drug.
Van der Walt, an Eloy resident originally from South Africa, was piloting the balloon as it carried 13 adults on January 14. Eight paratroopers jumped before problems arose with the balloon, while Van der Walt and four others remained on board. .
The balloon crashed in an empty field in a desert area 65 miles southeast of Phoenix after an “unspecified problem,” according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released Jan. 25.
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“A review of multiple cell phone videos revealed that the balloon was descending with a deflated envelope protruding from above,” the NTSB report said, adding that the burner flame was sometimes visible beneath the envelope.
Investigators also found thermal damage near the mouth of the envelope and that the sewn-in tire tape material near the top of the envelope was frayed along with several damaged panels.
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Van der Walt died along with three passengers, who were identified as Chayton Wiescholek, 28, of Union City, Michigan; Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, of Andrews, Indiana; and Atahan Kiliccote, 24, of Cupertino, California.
The fourth passenger who survived with critical injuries was identified by police as Valerie Stutterheima, 23, of Scottsdale, Arizona.
The NTSB investigation could take more than a year to complete its final report on the crash.
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