Balloon Fiesta spectator captures collapse of radio tower

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – When a radio tower came crashing down in Albuquerque on Friday morning, a man inside Balloon Fiesta Park recording the end of a balloon race unknowingly captured the collapse as it happened. 

Those inside Balloon Fiesta Park were left puzzled by what happened in an instant while watching the end of a balloon race. “What I thought it was, was a windsock one of those real tall windsocks that try to catch people’s eyes for advertisement because the tower was collapsing,” said Balloon Fiesta spectator Howard Sweet. 

Sweet and his wife quickly turned to a photographer standing next to them who just so happened to switch from taking still pictures to video. “I decided that really still images don’t capture the landing competition well and that’s why I switched over and tries video for a change,” said Curt Fargo who captured video of the collapse.  

Fargo from California said it was the first time that he had used the video feature on his camera and was surprised to figure out that he’d captured the moment the radio tower fell to the ground after it was hit by a balloon carrying three passengers. “I can see in the background it looked like a big stick just folding and falling to the ground and realized it was the antenna that was coming down,” said Fargo.  

“You could see what was happening but there was no noise, you could not hear a thing, the tower just came down,” said Sweet.  

Those who saw it happen from the park say they are just happy everyone is okay.  “Antennas are replaceable, balloons are replaceable, people’s lives aren’t,” said Fargo. 

 “I’m just glad that no one was hurt,” said Sweet.   

Even though it was a scary scene Friday morning, those visitors KRQE News 13 heard from said the unique situation didn’t change their minds about safety around Balloon Fiesta or coming back in the future. 

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