Balloon crash near Indio

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Indio (4/7/07) - A woman was killed and two others were injured Friday when a hot air balloon struck power lines and crashed in the Southern California desert amid strong winds, authorities said.

The balloon took off with winds calm about 7:30am said Allen Kenitzer of the Federal Aviation Administration. About 30 minutes later, winds picked up and the pilot lost control, Kenitzer said.

After crashing into nearby power lines, the balloon landed hard near the town of Mecca, about 10 miles southeast of Indio, Kenitzer said.

A woman was ejected, said Capt. Casey Hartman of the Riverside County Fire Department. she was taken to a hospital where she later died.

The woman was identified as Linda Dickson,56, a Canadian from London Ontario, according to the county coroners office.

One person suffered moderate injuries, while a third reported minor injuries, Hartman said.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating. The balloon was registered to the Balloon Above the Desert, which is based in Palm Desert.

A company official who answered the phone late Friday declined comment, citing the ongoing investigation.