Chayton Wycholik, a 28-year-old man from Union City, Michigan, has been identified as one of four victims killed after a hot air balloon crash in Eloy, Arizona, on Sunday, January 14, 2024.
On Sunday morning, a hot air balloon carrying 13 adults — a balloon operator, four passengers and eight skydivers — was floating above the Arizona desert when it crashed in Eloy — a city about 65 miles south of Phoenix — shortly after the skydivers completed their planned jump. she has. From the plane.
The accident reportedly killed four people, including the pilot. A seriously injured passenger was transported to the Phoenix Trauma Center.
Following the incident, Eloy police, in a news release, identified the four victims as Chayton Wycholik, 28, of Union City, Michigan; Kaitlyn Bartrum, 28, of Andrews, Indiana; Atahan Kelicut, 24, of Cupertino, California; and Cornelius van der Walt, 37 years old.
Van der Walt, originally from South Africa and residing in Eloy, was the pilot of the plane.
Eloy was the victim of a hot air balloon crash by Chayton Wiescholek, a maintenance technician
In the wake of the Eloy hot air balloon crash, Gwendolyn Morrow, a family member of deceased victim Chayton Wiescholek, launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral costs. The fundraising page, which described the victim as an adventure seeker, has raised more than $2,800.
The fundraiser intends to raise $15,000. The page urging people to donate reads:
“During this time of grief and confusion, we ask that you please allow good memories to be shared and spoken about so his story may continue through us. Any funds raised here will go directly to support the family while the memorial and funeral services are held, which will be announced at a later date.
A Facebook page appearing to be owned by the victim revealed that Chayton Wycholick, who studied welding at Kellogg Community College, was a maintenance technician at Continental Carbonic Products, Inc. According to his Facebook account, he had worked at Continental Carbonic Products for eight years.
A friend, Holly Secord, took to Facebook and wrote an emotional tribute to honor Chayton Wycholick's memory. I wrote:
“He's gone too soon. I can't understand the family's heartache and I send them my condolences and prayers… Always happy and ready to help anyone in need. You will be missed by so many.”
Meanwhile, Eloy Police have identified Valerie Stutterheim, 23, of Scottsdale, Arizona, as the critically injured victim in the crash. Authorities added that they are working with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration in the investigation.
The NTSB, which is investigating the accident, said preliminary information indicates the accident occurred after the balloon experienced an “unspecified problem with its envelope,” CNN reported. However, the exact cause of the hot air balloon crash has not yet been determined.
