UPDATE: One man has died, another seriously injured in helicopter crash near Prineville Airport
(Update: Police confirm one man killed, second seriously injured)
PRINEVILLE, Ore. (KTVZ) -- An 80-year-old man has died of his injuries and a 46-year-old man was seriously injured in Saturday's helicopter crash near the Prineville Airport, police said Monday.
"The Prineville Police Department can confirm that one individual has died as a result of injuries sustained in the helicopter crash," Lieutenant Tom Vollmer said in a news release.
The department did not release either victim's name, out of respect for their families.
FAA records reviewed by KTVZ News list the owner of the 3-year-old Aerocopter AK1-3 as James Scheller of Powell Butte.
Below is the initial Saturday press release from the Prineville Police Department:
PRINEVILLE, Ore. — At approximately 11:35 a.m. today, Prineville dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting a helicopter crash near the Prineville Airport. Police and fire personnel responded to the scene and located a downed helicopter south of SW Houston Lake Road in the area of the Crook County Landfill.
Emergency responders found two individuals at the crash site, an 80-year-old male pilot and a 46-year-old male passenger. Both sustained serious injuries and were treated at the scene before being airlifted to hospitals in Bend. Their current conditions are unknown.
The helicopter crashed into an open field approximately 200 yards off the roadway. No ground injuries or property damage were reported. It appears the helicopter was privately owned.
The scene has been secured, and there are no known ongoing hazards or threats to public safety. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have been notified and will take over the investigation.
CROOK COUNTY, Ore. (KTVZ) - The Crook County Sheriff's Office has confirmed they are the on the scene of a helicopter crash near the Facebook campus and county landfill.
The sheriff's office did not specify what type of helicopter was down, just referring to the incident as an "aircraft crash."
As of Saturday afternoon, SW Houston Lake Road is closed in both directions.
According to the Prineville Review's Facebook page, the crash happened near the Prineville Airport, on the north side of the campus. The Prineville Review is also reporting the FAA and NTSB has been informed of the incident.
KTVZ News has a crew on the way to scene and will provide updates once they are available.
