Seattle station ID's 2 killed in helicopter crash
SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle TV station has identified the two people killed in a news helicopter crash near the Space Needle.
The fiery wreck happened Tuesday morning as the KOMO-TV helicopter took off from the station. The chopper went down on Broad Street and hit three vehicles, starting them on fire and spewing burning fuel down the street.
The fire department says a 38-year-old man in one of the vehicles was taken to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.
Hospital spokeswoman Susan Gregg says the man suffered burns on up to 20 percent of his body and likely will require surgery.
KOMO said on the air that the pilot of the helicopter was Gary Pfitzner. The other man killed was Bill Strothman, a former longtime KOMO photographer who was working for the helicopter leasing company.
