Cary woman hurt in rough hot-air balloon landing

A 93-year-old Cary woman was injured as she and two other passengers in a hot-air balloon got swept up in wind gusts and dragged nearly 40 feet on a Huntley golf course, Huntley police said.

The pilot wanted to land before dark in Crystal Lake, but winds blew the balloon off course Friday night. He was forced to land at Pinecrest Golf Course, 11220 Algonquin Road, Sgt. Scott Sullivan said.

Before touching down, the wind picked up again and dragged the basket across the 18th green. The basket knocked over and finally came to rest near the clubhouse about 8:20 p.m., Sullivan said.

The woman was taken to Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin as a precaution; her injuries are not considered life-threatening.

The rough landing also damaged the course's greens and several trees.