"UPDATE" The identity of the deceased pilot is Howard Y. Esterbrook, 53 of Kapolei, HI. Family have been notified. Original release is below.
White County-Today at approximately 3:50 p.m. on CR 700 south about one quarter of a mile west of CR 150 east (that is three miles north and one and a half miles east of Brookston) White County Sheriff’s Department and Indiana State Police at the Lafayette Post received a call of a helicopter crash with injuries.
Preliminary investigation by Trooper Dexter Whitten has shown that the helicopter was assisting EC Source out of Mesa, AR put up power lines on new steel light poles when for an unknown reason the copter crashed to the ground seriously injuring the pilot. Ground crews removed the pilot from the wreckage and started CPR. Brookston/Chalmers EMT’s arrived but the pilot succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by the White County Coroner’s Office.
The National Transportation Board and the FAA have both been contacted. It is unknown how long the investigation will take. Any further questions should be directed to either the FAA or the NTSB. I will release the name of the pilot when family has been notified.
Pictures are of the crash scene.
Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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