Student killed by out-of-control helicopter as oblivious best pal takes photos
Isiah Otieno, the 23 year old son of a Kenyan minister, was a student when he was killed in this freak accident as a helicopter fell from the sky and hit him.
Shockingly, his father, former Kenyan Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno, learned about his son's death through an email.
In 2008, Isiah was studying at the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada. On May 13, he went to post a letter to his family in Nairobi.
However, as he crossed the street, a Bell 206 helicopter conducting power line inspections plummeted from the sky, crashed into him, and burst into flames, according to Nairobi Leo. Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft appeared to struggle in the air before spiralling into an explosive wreck on a quiet residential street, reports the Express.
Tragically, several people reportedly tried to shout at Isiah to move, but he was wearing earphones and may not have heard the noise of the helicopter or the cries from those nearby.
Pilot Edward Heeb, 57, and BC Hydro employees Dirk Rozenboom, 45, and Robert Lehmann, 37, also died in the crash, along with Isaiah.
Earlier this year six people were killed in another Bell helicopter tragedy in New York City.
Horrifyingly, one of the eyewitnesses to the tragedy in 2008, who took photos of it unfolding, was Isiah's best friend.
One witness, Elmer Bautz, said: "There was a pedestrian walking on the street across from me and he was just about at the back alley and I don't think he even knew what hit him." The 23-year-old was on his way to post letters to his family (Image: -)
A second witness added: "It didn't crash at a high speed. The pilot had been trying to control it, but the motor was out at that point and he fell the last 15 feet. Unfortunately, it hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk."
Devastatingly, the tragic news reached Isiah's heartbroken father, Dalmas Otieno, through an email.
Isaiah's friends used his email account to break the awful news to his dad.
The devastating loss was subsequently confirmed by Canadian authorities.
Isaiah's father had chatted to his son on the phone just an hour before he was tragically killed.
The College of the Rockies organised a memorial service to remember Isaiah.
The college's then-President and CEO, Nick Rubidge, described him as a kind, cheerful, and gentle young man who was a brilliant representative of his country.
"He had a wonderful, gentle nature and was an excellent ambassador for his nation," Rubidge said.
An investigation subsequently revealed the helicopter had suffered a sudden engine failure.
In a final heroic effort the pilot aimed for the street, to avoid any homes but took down Isiah in the process. Following the inquest, a jury put forth eight recommendations to Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board.
These encompassed more explicit regulations for helicopter operators, a mandate for dual-engine aircraft when flying over cities, and compulsory data trackers on all commercial helicopters.
After his son's tragic death, Dalmas Otieno travelled to Cranbrook, accompanied by his wife and the Kenyan High Commissioner to Canada, demanding compensation for the tragedy. The former Kenyan Public Service Minister expressed no amount of compensation could replace his son.
The engine from the helicopter was meticulously disassembled and examined by the Transportation Safety Board. Senior investigator Damien Lawson admitted that determining a cause for the accident would be a challenging task.
TSB spokesman Bill Yearwood stated that investigators were fortunate that despite the fire which engulfed the helicopter post-crash, the engine remained largely intact. Given the absence of a flight data recorder on the helicopter, information derived from the engine was vital and confirmed that the crash had been caused by engine failure.
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A politician's son was tragically killed in a horrifying accident when a helicopter plummeted from the sky, striking him as he walked down the street. Isiah Otieno, the 23 year old son of a Kenyan minister, was a student when he was killed in this freak accident as a helicopter fell from the sky and hit him. Shockingly, his father, former Kenyan Public Service Minister Dalmas Otieno, learned about his son's death through an email. In 2008, Isiah was studying at the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada. On May 13, he went to post a letter to his family in Nairobi. However, as he crossed the street, a Bell 206 helicopter conducting power line inspections plummeted from the sky, crashed into him, and burst into flames, according to Nairobi Leo. Eyewitnesses reported that the aircraft appeared to struggle in the air before spiralling into an explosive wreck on a quiet residential street, reports the Express. Tragically, several people reportedly tried to shout at Isiah to move, but he was wearing earphones and may not have heard the noise of the helicopter or the cries from those nearby. Pilot Edward Heeb, 57, and BC Hydro employees Dirk Rozenboom, 45, and Robert Lehmann, 37, also died in the crash, along with Isaiah. Earlier this year six people were killed in another Bell helicopter tragedy in New York City. Horrifyingly, one of the eyewitnesses to the tragedy in 2008, who took photos of it unfolding, was Isiah's best friend. One witness, Elmer Bautz, said: "There was a pedestrian walking on the street across from me and he was just about at the back alley and I don't think he even knew what hit him." The 23-year-old was on his way to post letters to his family (Image: -) A second witness added: "It didn't crash at a high speed. The pilot had been trying to control it, but the motor was out at that point and he fell the last 15 feet. Unfortunately, it hit a pedestrian on the sidewalk." Devastatingly, the tragic news reached Isiah's heartbroken father, Dalmas Otieno, through an email. Isaiah's friends used his email account to break the awful news to his dad. The devastating loss was subsequently confirmed by Canadian authorities. Isaiah's father had chatted to his son on the phone just an hour before he was tragically killed. The College of the Rockies organised a memorial service to remember Isaiah. The college's then-President and CEO, Nick Rubidge, described him as a kind, cheerful, and gentle young man who was a brilliant representative of his country. "He had a wonderful, gentle nature and was an excellent ambassador for his nation," Rubidge said. An investigation subsequently revealed the helicopter had suffered a sudden engine failure. In a final heroic effort the pilot aimed for the street, to avoid any homes but took down Isiah in the process. Following the inquest, a jury put forth eight recommendations to Transport Canada and the Transportation Safety Board. These encompassed more explicit regulations for helicopter operators, a mandate for dual-engine aircraft when flying over cities, and compulsory data trackers on all commercial helicopters. After his son's tragic death, Dalmas Otieno travelled to Cranbrook, accompanied by his wife and the Kenyan High Commissioner to Canada, demanding compensation for the tragedy. The former Kenyan Public Service Minister expressed no amount of compensation could replace his son. The engine from the helicopter was meticulously disassembled and examined by the Transportation Safety Board. Senior investigator Damien Lawson admitted that determining a cause for the accident would be a challenging task. TSB spokesman Bill Yearwood stated that investigators were fortunate that despite the fire which engulfed the helicopter post-crash, the engine remained largely intact. Given the absence of a flight data recorder on the helicopter, information derived from the engine was vital and confirmed that the crash had been caused by engine failure.
