The two people who were aboard the "Wings of Wind" hot-air balloon when it crashed this morning have been identified by Kathie Leyendecker, a spokeswoman for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, according to The Associated Press.

Killed in the crash was Stephen Lachendro, and the balloon's creator, Keith Sproul, was critically injured in the accident, Leyendecker said.

Leyendecker said she did not know where the victims were from, nor who was flying the balloon. The balloon was registered to a New Jersey pilot, she told the AP.

Lachendro was found dead at the scene lying on the side of a ditch, Sproul was unconscious and was flown by helicopter to a local hospital, authorities said. A hospital spokesman said Sproul was in critical condition today afternoon, the AP reported.

11:05am -- 'Wings of Wind' Balloon in Tragic Accident: One killed, one critically injured as inverted-pyramid balloon from N.J. crashes on N.M. 528.

Two people were aboard the "Wings of Wind" hot-air balloon that crashed this morning on N.M. 528, killing one person and critically injuring another, The Associated Press reported.

The tetrahedron hot-air balloon out of New Jersey was registered with the 37th Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, but Kathie Leyendecker, fiesta spokeswoman, said she didn't know whether it was the pilot or the passenger who was killed, the AP said.

Glenn Vonderahe of Rio Rancho told the AP he saw the balloon land, bounce back up in the air and hit some power lines just off N.M. 528 north of Rio Rancho near U.S. 550.

"I couldn't believe it," Vonderahe told the AP. "I saw the balloon and the next thing I knew there was a lot of fire and smoke. There was total fire under the balloon."

Vonderahe said the balloon stayed stuck in the lines for some time, then he saw the envelope float away after breaking away from the gondola, the AP said.

The yellow, brown and orange balloon, shaped like an upside-down pyramid, was among hundreds of balloons that participated in today's mass ascension from Balloon Fiesta Park.

"Wings of Wind" was built in 2004 by Keith Sproul, who is listed on the balloon's Web site, as one of three pilots. It was the third balloon built by Sproul, an amateur who enjoys tinkering with experimental aircraft, the Albuquerque Journal reported in 2005 -- the balloon's second year at the Balloon Fiesta.

8:35am -- One Killed, One Injured in Balloon Accident: Gondola breaks free, envelope catches fire after crash into power lines north of Rio Rancho.

Just two people were aboard the hot-air balloon that ran into a power line around 7:53 a.m. south of the Wal-Mar on N.M. 528 near U.S. 550, police told the Albuquerque Journal's T.J. Wilham at the scene of the fatal crash this morning.

The two men fell about 30 feet after the collision severed the gondola from the envelope, and the gondola burst into flame and disintegrated, Wilham tells ABQjournal.com.

The man who fell into an arroyo was airlifted to a hospital with critical injuries, while the man who landed on an embankment next to the arroyo was killed, police told Wilham.

The balloon was registered at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta and was from New Jersey, officials said.

Fire officials told 770 KKOB Radio's Peter St. Cyr that the burning envelope drifted northward to San Felipe Pueblo where it started a small brush fire when it landed.

The fire was quickly put out, KOB-TV reported. 

Meanwhile, an 11-year-old boy was injured in a separate balloon accident in Rio Rancho around 9 a.m., police told the Journal.

The balloon made a hard landing on Hapsburg Road, and a rope was wrapped around the boy's neck, dragging him about 20 feet, police told Wilham.

The injury is not thought to be life-threatening, police said.

One person has been killed and another person injured after a balloon crashed into power lines around 8 a.m. near N.M. 528 and U.S. 550, the Albuquerque Journal's T.J. Wilham tells ABQjournal.com.

The injured person has been airlifted to a hospital in critical condition, Wilham tells us.

Police told KOB-TV that after the balloon struck a power line, the gondola burst into flame, separated from the envelope and was completely demolished.

Four people were reportedly aboard the balloon -- a yellow, black and red inverted pyramid shape that was registered at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, but there was no report on the other occupants, according to 770 KKOB Radio. 

Commuter traffic at the heavily traveled intersection is a nightmare, according to KKOB traffic reporter Helen Wheels. Plan ahead and find some way around the scene, Wheels suggests.

N.M. 528 was closed in both directions from River's Edge to U.S. 550, KKOB reported.

Breaking at 8:18am -- Balloon Ablaze North of Rio Rancho: Emergency crews en route to N.M. 528 and U.S. 550 where gondola has detached.

A hot-air balloon is afire, with its gondola detached, following a collision with a power line near N.M. 528 and U.S. 550 north of Rio Rancho this morning, KOB-TV is reporting.

The balloon is a gold, black and red-colored inverted pyramid shape, and the envelope can be seen floating through the sky without its gondola, trailing smoke, KOB-TV's cameras are showing.

There is no word on injuries, and emergency crews from Sandoval County, Bernalillo and Rio Rancho are en route to the scene.