Ron Paul Hot Air Balloon Causes Traffic Jam
Ron Paul supporters in South Carolina inflated a hot air balloon and placed it beside a busy highway, causing a huge traffic jam on Thursday morning.
The Ron Paul hot air balloon could be seen from a South Carolina Department of Transportation camera, WYFF 4 Greenville reported.
Drivers rubbernecking to see the balloon slowed down near Pelham Road in Greenville County, causing a four-mile backup at one point, according to WYFF.
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Once the balloon caused traffic on Interstate 85 to be backed up for miles, South Carolina officials cited the supporters of the presidential candidate and had them deflate the balloon, according to WYFF.
Sid Gaulden, spokesman for the South Carolina Department of Public Safety told News 4 that the South Carolina Highway Patrol asked Remus Toppeta, the operator of the balloon, to take it down because it was creating a hazard.
The SCHP gave Toppeta a written warning for improper lane use because the balloon was placed in the middle of the frontage road, Gaudlin added.
