The province sues over hot air balloon crash

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The province is looking to reclaim the health care costs of four passengers who jumped from a hot air balloon which burst into flames in Surrey three years ago. The court documents were filed in B.C. Supreme Court yesterday.

The province is now suing pilot Stephen Pennock, the hot air balloon operator, its manufacturer and other third parties under the Health Care Cost Recovery Act.

The province claims the incident was caused by negligence and is going after the cost of past and future health care services provided to the passengers injured in the crash.

Just prior to takeoff a fire broke out in the basket of the balloon. One passenger suffered a brain injury when she was forced to jump from a considerable height to escape.

Two people died and eleven were injured in the August 2007 incident at the Hazelmere RV Park.