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‘My eyes were burning’: Residents detail disturbing scene after deadly helicopter crash in Houston’s Second Ward

Residents of Houston’s Second Ward were some of the first to arrive at the scene of a devastating crash that lit up the night sky, leaving them shaken by what they encountered.

Neighbors rushed to help following the crash, only to find a scene far more disturbing than they expected. Some residents claim they found human remains scattered near the site, adding a grim dimension to the tragedy.

Darryl Andrews, who lives just a few blocks away, described the chaos he witnessed as neighbors hurried toward the crash.

“When I didn’t see anything at the door, I hit the corner and saw a bunch of neighbors running in this direction. I saw a huge explosion, just a lot of smoke and debris,” Andrews said.

As he got closer, the full extent of the horror became apparent.

“I saw a bunch of blood. It was about halfway right here, and it was maybe 200 feet to the right of where I live,” Andrews recalled. “At that point, I alerted law enforcement, and they immediately started putting up tape and telling everybody we couldn’t be there because it was biohazardous.”

Another resident, Doris Spence, said she came outside moments after hearing a loud boom.

“I came out here, and there was a lot of smoke. My throat started getting scratchy, and my eyes were burning from the fumes,” Spence said. “It felt like it was going to start raining, but it wasn’t rain. Not sure what it was, just something falling from the sky.”

Many residents expressed their relief that the crash, which took place in a residential area, did not cause even more devastation.

“Our thoughts are with the victims’ families,” one resident said. “But we are thankful it wasn’t worse.”

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash.


About the Author
Bill Barajas headshot

Reporter, proud Houstonian, U of H alumni, and lover of all the hometown sport teams.

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