Latest news with #StCharlesCounty
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Two die when helicopter strikes powerlines and crashes into a barge on the Mississippi River
Helicopter Crash Two people working on powerlines near the Mississippi River died Thursday when their helicopter hit the lines, crashed into a barge and sparked a fire that belched plumes of black smoke, officials said. The helicopter crew was near East Alton, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of St. Louis, when it careened into the barge on the Missouri side of the river. Authorities said no other injuries were reported. Adam Briggs was on the opposite shore when it all happened and filmed the crash scene. 'The helicopter was just working on these power lines, it hit the power line, blew up,' he said in the video as flames flashed through the rolling smoke. 'There was a pilot, there was a worker, the helicopter blew up and fell and crashed in that barge and it's exploding right now.' 'They're dead. They have to be dead,' said Briggs in shock. A spokesperson for the power company Ameren said a contractor and its subcontractor had been repairing and replacing tower lighting and marker balls on lines. 'Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims' families and colleagues,' Ameren said in a statement, adding that and they will cooperate with the investigation. The collision brought an immediate response from about a dozen agencies in Illinois and Missouri, said Kyle Gaines, a spokesperson for the St. Charles County Ambulance District. The nearby fire department rushed by boat to the crash site and a private tug boat helped to douse the flames, said Alton Deputy Fire Chief Matt Fischer. No one was on the barge when the helicopter smashed into it and the fire has been extinguished, the state patrol said. The river has been closed to commercial traffic. The helicopter crashed around 11 a.m. Thursday on the Mississippi River about half a mile (800 meters) downriver from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam, said Rivers Pointe Fire District Chief Rick Pender. Pender said federal agencies were on the way. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash. The NTSB said an investigator was expected to arrive on site Friday. The helicopter, the agency said, was an MD 369, which are typically smaller. In 2018, a helicopter crew stringing new powerlines crashed in Pennsylvania, killing two people and injuring the pilot. ___ Associated Press reporters Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; Beatrice Dupuy in New York City; and Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Two people killed after helicopter hits power line and crashes into barge on Mississippi River
Two people are dead after a helicopter crashed into a power line on Thursday and plummeted into a barge on the Mississippi River. The St. Charles County Police Department in Missouri confirmed to Fox News Digital the aircraft crashed into a barge on the river and caught fire along the Illinois and Missouri border near Alton, Illinois. Two people are confirmed dead, according to CCPD spokesperson Cpl. Barry Bales. The identities of the victims have not yet been released. The helicopter was owned by a company that services power lines, though the company involved has not yet been confirmed, according to Bales. The work involved the installation, replacement and maintenance of the large orange marker balls that are placed on power lines to alert aircraft to their presence, he said. No other injuries or fatalities were immediately confirmed. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
The Sun
3 days ago
- General
- The Sun
Helicopter crashes into barge killing two after hitting powerlines as burned-out wreck left on boat
TWO people have died after a helicopter crashed into a barge on the Mississippi River. The pair on board sadly passed away after their chopper hit power lines and plunged into the vessel, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Think grey smoke was seen pluming from the barge in the aftermath of the tragedy. The incident took place around Alton in St Charles County, Missouri, at around 11.05am on Thursday. The barge had been stationed close to Maple Island. "The helicopter was just working on these powerlines. The powerline blew up," said a person recording the footage as reported by The Mirror. "There was a pilot, there was a worker. It's exploding right now." The ensuing blaze was put out quickly, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol. Investigators are currently establishing if anyone was on board the barge at the time of the crash. However, it is believed that there was not, according to First Alert 4. The Illinois State Police Department has said the Lewis and Clark Bridge will be closed for an undetermined amount of time. The crash is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board. .
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
St. Charles man drowns in Mississippi River
ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. – A 64-year-old St. Charles man drowned over the weekend in the Mississippi River. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol's incident report, the drowning occurred around 3 p.m. on Saturday at Two Branch Island. The highway patrol said the man was on the back of a boat and entered the water for an unknown reason. Bystanders pulled the man from the river and performed CPR until emergency responders arrived. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now The man was rushed to Mercy Hospital St. Louis, where he was pronounced dead at 4:30 p.m. The victim was not wearing a life jacket, according to the highway patrol's report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
