The parents of a survivor of the deadly Eloy hot air balloon crash set up a GoFundMe campaign with a $100,000 goal to help pay for their daughter’s rehabilitation and care.
Valerie Stutterheim, a 23-year-old Scottsdale resident, was in the hot air balloon Jan. 14 when it crashed in Eloy and killed four others aboard. Valerie suffered a traumatic brain injury with unknown long-term effects, according to the crowdfunding site’s page, which is signed by parents Martha and Tony Stutterheim. She also has several broken bones and has undergone multiple surgeries to repair those, with possibly more ahead, the page added.
“Her bones will eventually heal, but her ability to walk and otherwise move is uncertain,” the page reads. “She currently cannot speak to us. What we do know is that Valerie has a very long road of rehabilitation and care ahead.”
The hot air balloon’s pilot, Cornelius van der Walt, 37, and three passengers — Chayton Wiescholek, 28, of Union City, Michigan; Kaitlynn Bartrom, 28, of Andrews, Indiana; and Atahan Kiliccote, 24, of Cupertino, California — died in the crash. Operated by Droplyne Hot Air Balloon Rides, the Kubicek 85 balloon departed Casa Grande with 13 people aboard, including eight skydivers who jumped off before any issue came up.