Sheriff’s Copter Crash Kills 1, Hurts 4 at Lake
A turbine-powered San Bernardino County sheriff’s helicopter crashed in Lake Silverwood in the San Bernardino Mountains on Thursday, killing one deputy and injuring four other people, authorities said.
Deputy Don DeMeulle, 28, a passenger on the helicopter, was dead on arrival at San Bernardino County Medical Center, said Sgt. Mike Stodelle. The pilot, Deputy Steve Nix, 35, is in serious condition at Loma Linda University Medical Center, suffering from back and other injuries.
The initial investigation indicates that the helicopter may have struck a power line, Stodelle said.
The helicopter had left Rialto for routine desert patrol, he said. When it struck the water at 1:15 p.m., it broke apart, and debris hit Aric Halushila, 10, of Norwalk who was riding a jet ski. He suffered a compound fracture to an arm and is in good condition at Loma Linda.
Debris also struck Larry Wahlen of Green Valley and his wife, Terri, 30. Wahlen suffered an injured arm and inhaled jet fuel fumes, Stodelle said. His wife suffered a possible broken arm and a leg injury. Both were treated at Loma Linda and released.
“After impact, Jeffrey Miller, a lifeguard, and an unidentified man immediately went into the water” to rescue the pilot and passenger, Stodelle said.
Miller, 21, of Fontana inhaled and swallowed some of the fuel, but was not hospitalized, he said.
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