UPDATE: One dead after helicopter goes down in Fox River in Oshkosh
OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) --
9:30 p.m.
One man has died in the crash of a helicopter in the Fox River in eastern Wisconsin after it hit power lines.
The Oshkosh Northwestern says the Winnebago County Coroner's office confirmed the death. The identity of the man was not released.
The helicopter plunged into the river on Saturday after hitting power lines and broke a propeller blade.
Authorities had to bring in special equipment to clean out downed power lines before they could search the water and bring the helicopter to the surface.
A photo of the helicopter showed its frame smashed and tail broker.
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8 p.m.
Authorities have recovered what remains of a helicopter from the Fox River in eastern Wisconsin after it crashed and disappeared underwater.
The Oshkosh Northwestern says divers returned to the water in the late afternoon Saturday and were able to recover the helicopter about 7 p.m.
It was not known how many people were onboard or what happened to them.
Witnesses said the helicopter crashed in Oshkosh after it hit power lines and broke a propeller.
Equipment had to be brought in to clear downed power lines out of the water so that divers could locate the submerged helicopter.
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5:15 p.m.
Authorities say divers have been forced to suspend their search for a helicopter that crashed in eastern Wisconsin because of high voltage power lines in the Fox river.
The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office says in a tweet that the helicopter went down into the river Saturday near the Wisconsin Street Bridge in Oshkosh, after witnesses said it hit power lines.
Winnebago County Sheriff's Capt. Lara Vendola-Messer told the Oshkosh Northwesternthat special equipment was being brought in by Wisconsin Public Service to remove the lines. She had no further details on the flight or how many people were onboard.
Witness Gary Lemiesz told the newspaper that the helicopter struck the wires and part of the propeller broke off, after which "it hit hard and sank."
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5 p.m.
Authorities say divers planned to search the Fox River in eastern Wisconsin after a helicopter crashed into the river and sank.
The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office says in a tweet that the helicopter went down into the river Saturday near the Wisconsin Street Bridge in Oshkosh, after witnesses said it hit power lines.
Gary Lemiesz, of Oshkosh, told The Oshkosh Northwestern that he watched as a dark green helicopter flew east over the Fox River before turning back and flying west. He says it struck the wires and part of the propeller broke off, after which "it hit hard and sunk."
It's unknown how many people were onboard or what happened to them.
The sheriff's department said the river is closed to boat traffic and law enforcement authorities will be helping the power company reset the lines.
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3 p.m.
OSHKOSH, Wis. (AP) — Authorities say a helicopter hit power lines and crashed into a river in eastern Wisconsin.
The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office says the helicopter crashed into the Fox River Saturday near the Wisconsin Street Bridge in Oshkosh.
Gary Lemiesz, of Oshkosh, told The Oshkosh Northwestern that he watched as a dark green helicopter flew east over the Fox River before turning back and flying west. He says it struck the wires and part of the propeller broke off, after which "it hit hard and sunk."
The Winnebago County Sheriff's Office and Oshkosh police boats are on the scene. The helicopter isn't visible in the water and it's unknown how many people were onboard or what happened to them.
Sheriff's personnel could not be immediately reached for comment.
In a tweet, Red Cross-Wisconsin says volunteers are on site to canteen for first responders at the scene of the helicopter crash in the Fox River.