Keller offers 'condolences to the families' of those lost in Albuquerque hot air balloon accident

Tragedy hit Albuquerque last weekend after a hot air balloon collided with power lines, causing five people to lose their lives.

The accident, which happened June 26, left two women and three men dead after the Saturday morning crash on the west side of the city near Central and Unser streets, the Albuquerque Journal reported. 

"First and foremost, we offer our condolences to the families," Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said in a video released on Twitter of a press conference. "At the scene, I learned that there were many people who ran and tried to help," Keller also tweeted.

Albuquerque Fire Rescue spokesman Tom Ruiz told the Albuquerque Journal that the hot air balloon was found to have fallen 100 feet to the ground around 7 a.m. Saturday morning. 

Among two of the victims killed were former Albuquerque police office Martin Martinez, 59, and his wife Mary Martinez, 62, officials said, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Martin Martinez was currently serving as a police sergeant for Albuquerque Public Schools. Gilbert Gallegos, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman, said the other deceased ranged from 40s to 60s in age.

According to CNN, the hot air balloon accident ended up leaving nearly 13,000 without power for hours until the accident was cleaned up and power lines were restored. 

Ruiz said that the accident will continue to be investigated by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board until the cause is found.