HOUSTON – The identities of all four victims killed in Sunday night’s helicopter crash in Houston’s East End have been released Thursday.
On Wednesday, the family of Cesar Lerma identified him as one of the victims. He was one of three passengers onboard the National Helicopter Solutions helicopter on a Sunday night tour over the city.
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The Medical Examiner’s Office released the names of the rest of victims; Samantha Grandbouche, the pilot; Julio (Cesar) Lerma, a passenger; Dylon Lerma, a passenger; Marie Alonso, a passenger.
The ME’s Office determined the cause of death for Grandbouche was multiple blunt force injuries, and the passengers’ deaths were caused by multiple blunt force and thermal burn injuries.
What happened
According to Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz, the helicopter had taken off from Ellington Field and was headed to an unknown destination when it crashed.
Multiple videos obtained by KPRC 2 show the Robinson R44 chopper slamming into the radio tower.
The helicopter was flying along at 108 miles an hour, 600 feet above ground according to FlightAware data.
The crash killed Lerma, two family members, and the pilot.
No one on the ground was hurt from the crash and the collapse of the tower which was hit. No structures on the ground other than the tower were damaged.
The resulting fire from the crash burned about 100-200 yards of grass in the immediate area of the tower. It has since been extinguished.
The FAA, NTSB, DPS, HPD, and HFD are all investigating the crash.
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