EARLY THIS MORNING, FOUR PEOPLE WERE KILLED WHEN A MARYLAND STATE POLICE MEDICAL EVACUATION HELICOPTER CRASHED IN WALKER MILL PARK, LOCATED NEAR CAPITOL HEIGHTS.
PRIMARY INVESTIGATIONS INDICATE THAT THE CRASH OCCURED DUE TO THE HELICOPTER ENCOUNTERING BAD WEATHER, ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES. BEFORE THE CRASH, THE UNIT WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSPORTING TWO FEMALE PATIENTS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT TO PG HOSPITAL.
THE DECEASED HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS STEPHEN J. BUNKER, 59, THE PILOT; MICKEY C. LIPPY, 34, THE FLIGHT PARAMEDIC AND STATE TROOPER, TONYA MALLARD, 39, AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN FROM RESCUE SQUAD STATION 12 IN WALDORF; AND ASHLEY YOUNGER, 17, ONE OF THE VICTIMS IN THE VEHICLE CRASH.
THE OTHER VICTIM, JORDAN WELLS, 18, IS THE ONLY SURVIVOR WHO IS NOW IN CRITICAL CONDITION. AUTHORITIES ARE CALLING THE CRASH THE DEADLIEST IN THE 47- YEAR HISTORY OF THE MARYLAND STATE POLICE AVIATION UNIT.
THE TEENS WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT THAT OCCURED AROUND 10:45 P.M. LAST NIGHT AT SMALLWOOD DRIVE NEAR NEW FOREST COURT IN WALDORF, MARYLAND.
AUTHORITIES REPORT THAT TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS LOST RADIO CONTACT WITH THE HELICOPTER AROUND 12:30 A.M. THE CRASH SITE WAS NOT SPOTTED UNTIL 2 A.M. BY AN OFFICER DEEP INSIDE THE 470-ACRE WALKER MILL REGIONAL PARK.
SOURCE: THE WASHINGTON POST
