A group of hot air balloonists landed on the railroad tracks in Cameron around 7 p.m. Sunday after the winds altered their landing plans. Cameron Fire Department, sheriff deputies and volunteers responded to the scene to close the roadway of any traffic, so the balloon could land.
The group said this was not an emergency landing or situation.
Sean Eakin is the owner-operator and said that when they saw power lines in the way of their landing near the convenience store in downtown Cameron off Carter Street, they decided to land on the tracks.
This area is where the streets are lined with antique shops, and nothing else is in town except a convenience store. At the bottom of the hill are the railroad tracks and a convenient streetlight that aided in the quick packing of the hot air balloon to clear the tracks.
Eakin thanked his chase crew, Greg Jones and Matthew Davidson, and said that he hopes their ballooning was the only excitement the first responders would have that night.
“I am happy they were willing to help,” Eakin said, “The ideal weather is less than four to five knots in upper winds and 10 in lower. Winds dictate to a point where we land. I direct by going up and down and finding winds at different levels.”
Article and photo by Sandhills Sentinel Journalism Intern Stephanie M. Sellers.
