A tragic hot air balloon crash in Eloy, Arizona, has left four people dead, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. The victims included Michigan native Chayton Wiescholek, 28, and three others: Kaitlynn Bartrom, Atahan Kiliccote, and pilot Cornelius Van Der Walt. A fifth individual, Valerie Stutterheim of Scottsdale, survived the incident but remains hospitalized.
The crash occurred early morning on January 14. After eight skydivers successfully jumped out of the balloon, something went fatally wrong for those still aboard. Upon receiving harrowing news from her son's long-time girlfriend Kinsey, Rhonda Wiescholek, Chayton's mother, immediately flew to Arizona, stating that she is not leaving without her son. In an interview with Arizona's Family, Rhonda said, 'He was just up in the balloon to be with her, and all the skydivers had jumped out of the balloon, and then something went wrong, and we still don’t know what.
Chayton, described as an outdoor enthusiast who helped on the family farm and enjoyed camping, was with Kinsey in Arizona on vacation. Still in shock from the event, Rhonda stated, "There’s not a whole bunch more you can say. You’re just broken." Kinsey, a skydiver and Chayton's partner was planning to marry him, Gary, Chayton's father, told the FOX 10 Phoenix. The couple had been together for five years.
A friend of Kinsey, Katie Bartrom was also among the crash's victims and shared Kinsey's love for skydiving. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the community has rallied in support, with a GoFundMe page set up to assist with Chayton's funeral expenses. Overcome by her son's untimely demise, Rhonda found a sliver of consolation in the belief that Chayton was happy in his final moments. "Because that’s all I’ve ever asked of my children is I want you happy and he was happy with her," she told Arizona's Family in an emotional statement.
