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Glendale,AZ
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Posted: July 27 2007,3:04 pm |
Post # 5 |
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Two helicopters crash while covering chase
02:54 PM Mountain Standard Time on Friday, July 27, 2007
Associated Press reports, azfamily.com
Two television news helicopters covering a police pursuit crashed and burned in a central Phoenix park, killing four people.
KTVK-TV Patti Kirkpatrick anchor tearfully told viewers that one of the helicopters was theirs, and that the pilot and photographer aboard were killed. KNXV-TV said the other helciopter was theirs.
The helicopters crashed in flames in a grassy area of Steele Indian School Park.
3TV 3TV helicopter pilot Scott Bowerbank and 3TV photographer Jim Cox were killed in a helicopter collision Friday. The helicopters collided while covering a police pursuit of a man in a construction truck.
KNXV-TV has confirmed Craig Smith and photographer Rick Krolak were aboard. 3TV has confirmed that Scott Bowerbank, 42, and photographer Jim Cox, 37, were on board.
3TV reporter Mike Watkiss who worked with Bowerbank throughout the years called him a "great pilot." Watkiss also referred to Cox as a "beautiful artist" and "sensitive soul," saying he was one of the best in the business. Watkiss said that both had the "fire in the belly" required to work in the competititve business of television news. Bowerbank had worked for Channel 3 since February of 2004. Cox had been with the station since Jaunary of 1995.
"Our job is to cover the news, in this case, a chase pursuit. But as a helicopter pilot, you're not only covering the news -- you're dealing with news producers in your (earpiece), you're aware of other aircraft," said 3TV helicopter news reporter/photographer Hilton Metzner.
"It's like a symphony, but there's also an element of danger. It can be overwhelming at times. (I) can't believe this. We'll try to continue doing what we do, but this is surreal right now," he said.
A witness named Charles, who didn't want his last name used, said he heard a loud gunshot-like sound and heard a really loud bang and then saw two helicopters coming straight down.
He said they burst into flames and they were 100 yards away from him.
Sgt. Joel Tranter with the Phoenix Police Department said officers were pursuing a utility-type vehicle that was reportedly stolen from Seventh Street and Mohave sometime around noon on Friday.
An officer saw the vehicle and then the suspect saw the fully marked police car and ran into the car, which is considered assault on an officer, Sgt. Joel Tranter with the Phoenix Police Department said.
A short pursuit ensued with several media helicopters also following the chase.
During that process, Tranter said, there was a mid-air collision between the two helicopters.
A perimeter has been set up around the park.
"We had a huge tragedy here of great magnitude," Tranter said. "It's terrible for us to see this type of tragedy."
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