4 Killed After News Helicopters Collide in Phoenix

The NTSB and FAA are investigating the crash.

Salem-News.com

(PHOENIX, Ariz. ) - Two TV news helicopters following a police car pursuit collided over central-north Phoenix on Friday killing four people.

Killed in the crash were KTVK-TV pilot Scott Bowerbank and photographer Jim Cox along with KNXV-TV pilot Craig Smith and photojournalist Rick Krolak.

The crash occurred around 12:45 PM in Steele Indian School Park near Third Street and Indian School Road.

The helicopters were covering the police pursuit of a work truck.

Just before the midair collision, the driver had jumped out of the nearly disabled vehicle and carjacked another truck.

The Associated Press is reporting that KNXV reporter Craig Smith, who was among the dead, was reporting live as police chased a man driving a construction truck who had fled a traffic stop and was driving erratically, hitting several cars and driving on the sidewalk at times.

Police had blown the truck's tires, and the man eventually parked it, then carjacked another vehicle nearby.

As police closed in, Smith said, "Oh geez!"

After the picture broke up, the station switched to the studio and then briefly showed regular programming, a soap opera, before announcing that the helicopter had crashed.

TV viewers did not view the accident because cameras aboard both aircraft were pointed at the ground.

Fortunately, the choppers came down on a stretch of grass in front of a boarded up church at the park which is just a half block away from homes.

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Helicopter surveillance by news-teams often provides the best possible "catch-em" assistance to police, sometimes the only aid available. I shudder at all such dangerous situations since my sons often are involved in similar ones. BUT responsible police action is demanded for common security; and if one bars it for one crime, why not all such, leaving open some very dangerous events for sure. We need much more positive attention to early-age culture treatment on attitudes and understandings in education, at all levels...we paying costly price for such neglect over decades.

My prayers for the victims and sympathies to their families and friends. I think the helicopter coverage of police chases are not only not necessary, but they are morally reprehensible: Journalists and pilots risk their lives to broadcast crime scenes. This could and should be avoided. Rev. Andreas Hock

Here's yet another reason to curtail the practice of high-speed chases: along with the many dangers posed to the public when police cars in hot pursuit strike citizens or when the offenders themselves do so in the effort to evade the police--now one also has to worry about being crushed by falling helicopters. Since lives were lost in his effort to evade capture, does this now mean that "the man" can add four counts of murder to his already impressive list of wreckless driving and (?)outstanding j-walking tickets?

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