News pilot, photographer killed in 6abc helicopter crash in N.J. forest are identified
A pilot and photographer killed in a crash involving a 6ABC helicopter[1] were identified by the television station Wednesday afternoon.
The pilot was 67-year-old Monroe Smith, and the photographer was 45-year-old Christopher Dougherty, 6ABC said on its website. Both men live in Pennsylvania, Smith in Glenside and Dougherty in Oreland.
“We are devastated by the news that two of our extended 6ABC family members were lost last night when Chopper 6 went down while returning from an assignment in the Jersey Shore,” a television spokesperson said in a statement. “Our hearts break as we send our deepest condolences and prayers to their families, loved ones and everyone at US Helicopters.”
The two men, according to the station, were returning from an assignment near Galloway Township, Atlantic County. Details of the assignment were unclear Wednesday.
The helicopter was a 2013 American Eurocopter AS-350A-STAR, which 6abc leases from U.S.
Helicopters Inc., based in North Carolina.
The crash occurred shortly after 8 p.m. near Quaker Bridge Atsion Road and Mullica River Road, a section of Wharton State Forest in Washington Township.
New Jersey State Park Police located the wreckage in a wooded area a few hundred yards off Mullica River Road shortly after midnight, according to George Fedorczyk, chief of the NJ State Park Police. The site is several miles from the Atsion Mansion off Route 206.
“Know that our thoughts are with the pilots, their families and the media community,” George Fedorczyk, chief of the state park police said during a news conference Wednesday morning.
New Jersey State Park Police were called to the area about 10:50 p.m. and an officer located a debris field a few hundred yards off Mullica River Road shortly after midnight, Fedorczyk said.
New Jersey Park Police vehicles were staged outside the mansion on Wednesday. Several ventured between the woods and parking lot outside the mansion.
Federal Aviation Administration representative was on the scene about 3:15 a.m. and members of the National Transportation Safety Board were expected to lead the investigation later Tuesday, Fedorczyk said.
“Due to the remote location of the scene and the limited visibility, it was determined at that point that the investigation will be suspended until sometime after daybreak,” Fedorczyk said.
Quaker Bridge Road, Mullica River Road and Middle Road were all closed as the investigation continues, Fedorczyk said.
The news station initially did not disclose Smith’s or Dougherty’s names while families were being notified of the fatal crash.
Katherine Scott, general assignment reporter for 6ABC, said in a report[2] that the victims have a long history with the news station and have been part of the Action News team for years.
Wharton State Forest is the largest single tract of land within New Jersey’s state park system and is nestled in the heart of the Pinelands National Reserve, according to the state’s Department of Environmental Protection.
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References
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