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2 killed as helicopter crashes into Colorado River

A yellow, two-seat helicopter crashed into the Colorado River Saturday evening, Oct. 4, 2014 not far from the Loma exit off Interstate 70. A witness confirmed two fatalities as a result of the crash. Due to the remote nature of the accident scene, another helicopter was called into service to ferry personnel back and forth from the crash site. (AP Photo/Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Christopher Tomlison) A yellow, two-seat helicopter crashed into the Colorado River Saturday evening, Oct. 4, 2014 not far from the Loma exit off Interstate 70. A witness confirmed two fatalities as a result of the crash. Due to the remote nature of the accident scene, another helicopter was called into service to ferry personnel back and forth from the crash site. (AP Photo/Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Christopher Tomlison)

By Associated Press October 5, 2014 1 min read

LOMA, Colorado (AP) – Authorities say two people are dead after a helicopter crashed into a river in western Colorado.

Mesa County chief deputy coroner Victor Yahn tells The Associated Press that the two died in Saturday’s crash, but he didn’t have any other information.

Local media reports say the chopper crashed shortly after 6 p.m. MDT into the Colorado River near Loma.

Both The Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction and Denver’s KUSA-TV report that authorities say at least two people were aboard.

Mesa County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Lisa McCammon tells the Denver Post that the helicopter took off from the Grand Junction Airport, about 20 miles southeast of the crash site.

First-responders told the Daily Sentinel that two fishermen saw the accident and pulled at least one victim from the wreckage.

FAA official Allen Kenitzer told KUSA the aircraft is as a Xenon Gyroplane.