Three Vermont troopers have resigned following allegations they may have violated federal law by creating fraudulent COVID-19 vaccination cards.

In a news release Tuesday, Vermont State Police confirmed the resignations and announced that the Federal Bureau of Investigations has launched a criminal probe into the alleged crimes. The investigation was first reported by journalists with VTDigger.

"If these allegations are proven true, it is reprehensible that state troopers would manipulate vaccination cards in the midst of a pandemic," Col. Matthew Birmingham said in a written statement.

Former troopers Shawn Sommers and Raymond Witkowski submitted their resignations on Aug. 10, according to the agency. That came one day after another trooper notified supervisors within state police about their alleged actions.

A third trooper, David Pfindel, resigned Sept. 3 following an additional investigation by the Department of Public Safety.

The release from state police notes that the alleged creation of fake vaccine cards was "immediately" reported to supervisors and, soon after, federal authorities. Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling noted Tuesday the agency does "not believe there is anything more state police could have done to prevent this from occurring."

An investigation through FBI offices and the U.S. Attorney's Office in Burlington will continue. State police said they were unable to release the information prior to Tuesday as a result of the ongoing federal probe.

"The accusations in this case involve an extraordinary level of misconduct — a criminal violation of the law — and I could not be more upset and disappointed," Birmingham said.

Birmingham described himself as being "embarrassed" by the situation, adding it would likely result in a damaged public image for state police.

Sommers and Witkowski both joined the state police in the summer of 2016.

Pfindel joined the state police in 2014.

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BRADFORD, Vt. — The Vermont State Police say the pilot of a hot air balloon died Thursday after getting trapped underneath the basket of the balloon and falling to the ground.

Police say the pilot and four passengers took off in the balloon from the Post Mills Airport in the late afternoon and sometime later, the balloon began to descend and briefly touched down in a field.

When contact was made with the ground, police say the basket tipped and a passenger fell out.

“During this sequence, the pilot became entangled in gear affixed to the balloon as it re-ascended and ended up entrapped underneath the basket, where he eventually fell to the ground from a height,” police explained in a press release.

Police say the pilot landed in a field in Bradford, a town near Vermont’s border with New Hampshire, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

The balloon carrying the remaining three passengers continued for about 1.5 miles until it became caught in a grove of trees in Piermont, New Hampshire, and the people were able to climb down safely, according to police.

While the pilot died, none of the four passengers were injured in the incident.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) were set to respond to scene of the incident and lead an investigation into what occurred.