In brief: Son, mother hit when gun goes off

Chaparral, N.M. – A Chaparral man who was cleaning his handgun Saturday accidentally shot his 4-year-old son and the bullet passed through the boy and hit the man’s mother, New Mexico investigators said.

Both are in critical condition but their wounds aren’t believed to be life-threatening, Dona Ana Sheriff’s Department investigator Bo Nevarez said.

Nevarez said the bullet struck the boy in his stomach and continued through to the grandmother and hit her in the abdomen.

Investigators regarded it as an accident but are sending the case to prosecutors to determine whether negligence played a role.

Hot air balloon, paraglider collide

Phoenix – A motorized paraglider ran into a hot air balloon in central Arizona on Saturday, sending all four people onboard the two aircraft to the hospital, authorities said.

The incident occurred during an airport open house in Cottonwood, about 100 miles north of Phoenix.

Cottonwood police Sgt. Gareth Braxton said the balloon and paraglider became entangled at an altitude of about 500 feet.

The balloon ripped open and both fell quickly. Their landing was believed to have been softened somewhat by a chain-link fence in a vacant parking lot.

Three people aboard the balloon suffered minor injuries. The paraglider pilot suffered head and spinal injuries, but the injuries weren’t believed to be life-threatening.

Candidate filed bankruptcy in ’89

Denver – GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes, who has touted his business experience, said he filed personal bankruptcy 20 years ago.

According to the Denver Post, Maes filed bankruptcy in 1989 when he was 29 years old. Maes spokesman Nate Strauch said Maes has no plans to drop out of the race.

He refused to answer any other questions.