Helicopter Down in Lee; Three Taken to BMC
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| Officer Craig DeSantis was first on the scene. He told WNYT about his experience. |
The injuries were reportedly not life-threatening.
According to reports from the scene by WNYT Channel 13, the workers were doing routine inspection of power lines in an Air2 helicopter for Northeast Utilities, parent company of Western Massachusetts Electric. Air2 specializes in airborne transmission line work, according to its Web site.
The road was shut down and the Federal Aviation Administration was investigating the incident.
There were reports of a power line down; WMECO's map did not indicate any power outages in that area.
The linemen were apparently riding on the skids of the helicopter, which took off from Pittsfield Municipal Airport. According to The Berkshire Eagle, the linemen were from PAR Electrical Contractors Inc. of Missouri and were running new wires for Western Massachusetts Electric Co. Air2 is based in Maryland.
Lee Police Officer Craig DeSantis was on a traffic detail when he saw the copter crash and rushed to the scene. DeSantis unhooked an unconscious passenger and pulled him from the aircraft while the rotors and motor were still running.
"I didn't feel it was save so I wanted to get the victims out as soon as I could," he told WNYT. "I'm just doing my job."
