Hot air balloon crashes near Philly, killing 1

updated 10:32 p.m. ET Sept. 7, 2008

CHESTER SPRINGS, Pa. - A hot-air balloon crashed and burst into flames in suburban Philadelphia on Sunday evening, killing one person and injuring six others.

The balloon carrying seven people crashed at 6:40 p.m. ET in West Vincent Township, a Chester County Emergency Services dispatcher said.

One person died at the scene. Two victims were flown to Temple University Hospital, where a spokeswoman said they were being treated in the burn unit but declined to release their condition.

Three others were taken to Chester Crozier Medical Center, where hospital officials said one was in guarded condition and two were listed as stable. Another person was treated at an area hospital and released.

Emergency officials were unable to say where the balloon flight originated. Several companies offering recreational balloon flights are located in the Chester County area.

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