Las Vegas, New Mexico — 4 folks had been killed in a crash of a Bernalillo County Sheriff's Workplace helicopter that was headed again to Albuquerque after helping firefighters in one other New Mexico metropolis, authorities mentioned Sunday.
Sheriff's officers mentioned three folks from the sheriff's workplace and a county firefighter had been aboard the helicopter when it went down close to Las Vegas, New Mexico, about 123 miles northeast of Albuquerque.
Killed within the crash had been Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lt. Fred Beers, Deputy Michael Levison and county Hearth and Rescue Division Specialist Matthew King, based on sheriff's officers.
The ages of the 4 males weren't instantly obtainable.
A Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman had mentioned the Bell UH-1H helicopter crashed round 10 p.m. Saturday, however sheriff's officers mentioned it was about 7:20 p.m.
The reason for the crash is unknown and shall be investigated by the FAA and the Nationwide Transportation Security Board.
New Mexico State Police confirmed the crash and the fatalities round 12:15 a.m. Sunday. They mentioned helicopter and its crew had been helping with a wildfire within the Las Vegas space Saturday, offering bucket drops and different air logistics wanted by hearth crews on the bottom.
Aerial video from KOAT-TV confirmed the wreckage of the helicopter in not less than two items amongst some desert shrubs, the Albuquerque Journal reported.
"I'm heartbroken by the tragic lack of 4 New Mexicans whereas within the line of obligation," Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham mentioned in an announcement. "As we await extra particulars on the investigation, my workplace will provide any obtainable help and help to the sheriff's workplace and the county. State sources shall be totally obtainable to help the investigation."
CBS Albuquerque affiliate KQRE-TV reported that first responders and others lined I-25 Sunday afternoon as a motorcade carrying the 4 victims' our bodies from the crash scene to the health worker's workplace made it means by town.
"They stay heroic lives, you realize, they stay dangerously to assist us," Matthew Bugg remarked to the station as he watched the motorcade go by. "These guys and gals sacrifice a lot. You by no means know if this stuff occur to them, after they're gonna come house."
"It is like I misplaced a member of the family," Rick Sanchez mentioned to KQRE as he watched the procession drive by.
Prior to now a number of days, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Workplace used its Metro 2 helicopter to struggle a small hearth within the East Mountains close to Albuquerque and one other hearth close to Santa Fe, based on KQRE.