Penguin-Shaped Hot Air Balloon Destroyed in Truck Explosion
Penguin-Shaped Hot Air Balloon Destroyed in Truck Explosion
by Contributing Editor
A man was arrested for torching a pickup truck in Cathedral City that was carrying a custom-made hot air balloon and propane tanks, causing an explosion and $100,000 in damages, police said Saturday.
The fire was reported at about 9:45 p.m. Friday at a Denny’s parking lot at 69050 East Palm Canyon Road, according to Cathedral City Police Cmdr. Paul Herrera.
When officers arrived at the scene, they said an unknown amount of propane tanks inside the truck exploded, but no injuries were reported.
A beloved penguin-shaped hot air balloon known as “Puddles” stored inside the truck was also destroyed by the flames, according to KESQ. It had been showcased at the Ninth Annual Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival prior to the fire.
Herrera said Keenon Hiler, 30, a transient who frequents the Indio area, was at the scene and allegedly identified himself as the culprit of the fire, telling police “he wanted to end his life by starting the fire.”
Investigators said witnesses saw Hiler inside the truck prior to the fire. He was arrested on suspicion of maliciously setting a fire that burned property and remained jailed in lieu of $110,000 bail.
Police said the suspect had no relationship to the truck owner.
“Puddles” was part of a family of three penguin balloons that are exhibited at events around the world.
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All credit goes to Contributing Editor
Originally published on https://mynewsla.com
