Three Katy residents feared to be among balloon crash victims

Monday, August 1, 2016
Three Katy residents feared to be among balloon crash victims
Family members fear that a Katy couple and their best friend died when a hot air balloon crashed near Austin Saturday, killing 16.

KATY, TX (KTRK) -- A balloon ride was on Tresa Owens bucket list, so her best friend Holly Huckabee and husband Joe surprised her. A week in the San Marcos area would culminate with the balloon ride they were all looking forward to.

The Owens' daughters, April and Ashley, say they are certain all three were on the balloon that crashed in a Caldwell County field Saturday. As NTSB investigators figure out what happened, the two daughters say, "We don't want the experience taken away. We know they enjoyed every second."

VIDEO: No survivors in fiery hot air balloon crash near Austin

The sisters say Tresa and Joe loved spending their free time with family. They were Nana and Papa to the grandkids. Joe would do anything to make Tresa happy. The two were married 17 years, Joe always full of laughs and Tresa a mother figure to everyone she met.

Tributes are pouring in at the Tiger Land Child Care Center in Katy where she worked for 24 years. Co-workers say she was wonderful with children and a mentor to young mothers with questions of their own.

Owens' daughters say it may be a very long time before they know what made the balloon crash, but for them they say they are making peace with their last life experience, adding, "They went out on a high."

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A hot air balloon crashed in Lockhart, killing all 16 people aboard.