Wednesday, June 8th, 2022
1 killed, 1 hurt in helicopter crash
By William Kincaid
GREENVILLE - A woman was killed and her husband suffered life threatening injuries in a fiery helicopter crash Tuesday morning near Greenville.
Krista Zimmer, 35, Greenville, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband, Charles Zimmer, 34, was freed from the wreckage. He was treated by emergency medical services and transported by Careflight to Miami Valley Hospital with life threatening injuries, according to a Darke County Sheriff's Office news release.
The couple lived on Hogpath Road south of Greenville, where the crash occurred, per the release.
"It is unknown at this time if the helicopter was attempting a landing or taking off at the time of the crash. The aircraft is registered to Charles Zimmer of the Hogpath Road address," the release states. "The Zimmers have been known to land and take off. from their residence which is surrounded by farm ground in a rural area of Darke County."
The sheriff's office reportedly received a 911 call at about 9:40 a.m. reporting a helicopter crash in the driveway of the Zimmer's house. The caller stated the occupants were still in the helicopter that was on fire, the release states.
"Deputies arrived on the scene to find two occupants in a two seater helicopter that was crashed and on fire," the release states. "Deputies, an off duty Greenville firefighter and bystanders worked to free one of the trapped occupants from the burning wreckage while others attempted to put the fire out until other responders could arrive."
Fire personnel then arrived on the scene and extinguished the burning helicopter.
The Darke County coroner and his chief investigator responded to the scene as well as the sheriff's office accident reconstruction team, the release states.
Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were notified of the crash. FAA personnel arrived on scene and NTSB investigators are expected to arrive this morning, the release states.
Deputies will remain on the scene pending the arrival of NTSB investigative personnel. The NTSB has identified the helicopter as an Enstrom F-28F, according to Associated Press.
The crash remains under investigation.
Also responding to the crash on Tuesday were Arcanum Rescue, New Madison Fire Department, Greville City Fire Department and Grenville Township Fire/EMS, according to the release.
