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Dread grew as messages to those on balloon went unanswered

Investigators work the scene of Saturday's hot air balloon crash near Maxwell, Texas, Sunday, July 31, 2016. A hot air balloon made contact with high-tension power lines before crashing into a pasture in Central Texas, killing all on board, according to federal authorities who are investigating the worst such disaster in U.S. history. (Edward A. Ornelas/The San Antonio Express-News via AP) Investigators work the scene of Saturday's hot air balloon crash near Maxwell, Texas, Sunday, July 31, 2016. A hot air balloon made contact with high-tension power lines before crashing into a pasture in Central Texas, killing all on board, according to federal authorities who are investigating the worst such disaster in U.S. history. (Edward A. Ornelas/The San Antonio Express-News via AP)

By Associated Press August 1, 2016 1 min read

DALLAS (AP) – Family members of some of the 16 people who were killed in a hot air balloon crash in Texas are recalling the dread they felt while holding out hope that their loved ones survived.

The crash happened Saturday morning when the balloon struck power lines near Lockhart, which is 30 miles south of Austin.

Authorities haven’t released the names of those who died, but some family members say they’ve been notified of that their loved ones were aboard the balloon.

Family members say they kept leaving voicemails and texts for their loved ones, but they got no response.

Josh Rowan says his brother and sister-in-law were among those killed. No one answered at Matt and Sunday Rowan’s San Antonio home and Matt Rowan missed a weekend volleyball game.