2 children injured after winds pick up bounce house in Las Cruces
Update (March 17, 2025): According to a spokesperson for the Las Cruces Fire and Police Department, a bounce house was lifted by strong winds Saturday afternoon, injuring two children.
Joel Green, co-owner of Enchanted Occasions Event Rentals, was not involved in the incident but provided insight into safety guidelines for bounce houses. He explained the proper setup criteria, including the importance of secure anchoring and wind limits for safe operation.
He added that if winds are continuously between 15-25 mph, or exceed 25 mph at any point, all riders should exit the bounce house immediately for safety.
The incident involving the two children happened on the 4500 block of Red Mountain Circle, where a jumping balloon, also known as a brinca brinca, was set up in the front yard of a house. High winds carried the inflatable about 50 feet across the roadway.
Two children, ages 3 and 10, were inside at the time and are believed to have fallen from the bounce house when it was 5 to 10 feet off the ground.
The 10-year-old suffered a broken leg, while the 3-year-old sustained a head injury.
The family of the injured children, who did not want to go on camera, said a family member witnessed the bounce house lift into the air. They also shared that the children are expected to recover in the coming weeks.
(March 15, 2025): LAS CRUCES, New Mexico (KVIA) -- Two children were injured, one seriously, after high winds picked up a bounce house into the air in Las Cruces.
This is according to the Las Cruces Police Department.
It happened this afternoon at the 4500 block of Red Mountain Circle.
That's on the east mesa at the intersection of Rinconada and Parkhill.
Police say a 3-year-old and a 10-year-old were injured in the incident.
Both children were taken to a local hospital, but one of the children was then taken to UMC in El Paso with serious injuries by ambulance.
According to police, an airlift was requested for the child, but the winds were too high for the helicopter to operate.
Police also say there's no criminal investigation into this incident.
This is still a developing story.
We'll be sure to keep you updated both on-air and online at KVIA.com as soon as we learn more.
