Revised report indicates ketamine found in hot air balloon pilot’s system was administered by first responders

ELOY, Ariz. (KTVK/KPHO/Gray News) — A revised toxicology report released on Friday indicates ketamine found in the system of a hot air balloon pilot involved in a fatal crash was administered by first responders at the scene.

An autopsy report released Wednesday by the Pinal County Medical Examiner’s Office said Cornelius Petrus Jakobus van der Walt had elevated levels of ketamine in his blood. In that report, the medical examiner’s office said the drug was not given to him by rescue crews or hospital staff.

However, in a revised toxicology report released Friday, the medical examiner’s office reported Air Evac Services administered 35 milligrams of ketamine to van der Walt after the crash.

The crash happened on the morning of Jan. 14. Thirteen people had gone up in the balloon with the intention to go skydiving. Eight of them jumped, while van der Walt and three passengers stayed in the basket.

An unknown issue arose, and the balloon plummeted to the ground. Van der Walt and the three passengers, identified as Chayton Wiescholek, Kaitlynn Bartrom and Atahan Kiliccote, all died.

A preliminary report from the NTSB said the balloon’s envelope deflated before going down. Investigators added it had burn damage and that the sewn rim tape near the top of the envelope was “frayed.”

A full report on the crash will take at least a year.