2 Dead After Helicopter Strikes Power Line And Crashes Into Barge On Mississippi River

Two group were killed Thursday aft nan chopper they were connected committee struck powerfulness lines crossing nan Mississippi River and collapsed onto a barge below, constabulary said.

The mishap happened astir 11 a.m. arsenic nan unit of nan chopper was conducting activity connected nan powerfulness lines that transverse nan stream successful nan area of St. Charles County, Missouri, State Patrol Cpl. Dallas Thompson told reporters.

The chopper collapsed onto a barge successful nan stream and location was a fire, but it was quickly extinguished, he said. No 1 connected nan barge was hurt.

First responders evacuated nan vicinity because nan clang had sent a powerfulness statement into nan water, but it was later recovered that nan ligament was not live, Thompson said.

The clang happened adjacent Alton, Illinois, which is crossed nan Missouri authorities statement and nan Mississippi River northbound of St. Louis, officials said.

Wallace Maier was conducting a sportfishing charter successful nan area erstwhile nan clang occurred, and he told NBC connection KSDK of St. Louis that it happened fast.

"As soon arsenic it touched it, location was conscionable an explosion. It was conscionable gone," Maier told nan station.

Utility institution Ameren said that a contractor and its subcontractor were repairing and replacing building lighting and marker balls connected transmission lines successful Madison County, Illinois, erstwhile nan mishap occurred.

"We are saddened astir today’s tragic incident. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are pinch nan victims’ families and colleagues," a institution spokesperson said successful a statement. "We will cooperate pinch nan investigation"

The National Transportation Safety Board said that it will analyse nan crash. It said nan chopper progressive was a Hughes 369D.