AUGUSTA - A hot-air balloon had a near-miss with the Savannah River and a line of trees Sunday afternoon, only minutes after taking off. <br>
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The close call brought several police and firefighters out in personal watercraft. Authorities do not know who owned the balloon. <br>
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Witnesses from the shoreline said the balloon missed the water by about 2 feet. <br>
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They said they saw the red, white and blue balloon that had a Honda inscription nearly snag a tree as it crossed into South Carolina. <br>
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There were no reports later that the balloon had gone down.
