CRS responds to a Helicopter Crash on I-70

On July 23rd just before 22:30 hours, calls came into Maryland State Police and Washington County 9-1-1 reporting an emergency on Interstate 70 on South Mountain. One of the calls placed were by a Maryland State Police Officer who was on his way to work. He reported a downed helicopter on the interstate around the 37-mile marker.

Crews were quickly dispatched out from Mt.Aetna Fire, Myersville Fire & EMS, Funkstown Rescue Squad and Community Rescue Service. Dispatch gave reports of a helicopter crash in the eastbound lane near the 37-mile marker. Some crews were delayed in response due to downed power lines in the westbound lane coming from the Frederick side of the incident.

Engine 161 from Mt. Aetna arrived to find a helicopter down and on fire. Chief Terry Stouffer of Mt. Aetna Fire Co.16 arrived and quickly assumed I-70 Command. Fire & EMS survey of the area found no apparent survivors. Firefighters worked to keep the scene controlled with MSP officers until the arrival of investigators.

Fire and Police worked to mark debris with road cones keeping it undisturbed until Crime Scene investigators were able to arrive and begin their documentation of the incident. National Transportation Safety Board investigators arrived around 00:30 hours and took over the investigation at that point. Reports from witnesses said the helicopter appeared to be flying low. The helicopter then struck power lines and crashed to the ground consuming the cabin in fire making the crash not survivable.

The aircraft involved was a four passenger R-44 Helicopter. The craft and it’s crew had been at Hagerstown Regional Airport for a portion of the day giving rides during a special reception. At the end of the day, the crew delayed their departure for nearly two due to severe weather in the area. The crew of three with one passenger lifted off shortly after 10:00 hours when the pilot felt the weather had cleared enough to head back to their hanger in Frederick.

The investigation is ongoing at this point. NTSB had the aircraft transported to Hagerstown Regional Airport where the wreckage is being looked over hoping to find more clues in to what caused the fiery crash that Thursday night. All four on board were killed on impact. I-70 is a highly traveled roadway in Maryland. Luckily no one traveling the highway that night was injured in the incident.

Fire crews from Mt. Aetna and Funkstown remained on the scene well into the next morning supplying lighting for investigators and manpower for the State Medical Examiners Office. Interstate 70 was shut down both direction for almost six to seven hours until removal of the aircraft by towing crews and all electrical hazards from the downed power lines were taken care of by Allegheny Power Crews.

Emergency crews responding that night consisted of Mt. Aetna Fire Co.16, Myersville Fire & EMS Co.8 from Frederick County, Funkstown Fire Co.10, Community Rescue Co.75, Hagerstown Regional Airport Fire Co.35, Washington County Division of Fire and Emergency Services, Hagerstown & County Fire Police and Washington County Emergency Rehab Personnel.

This story provided by William King