Oklahoma Lawmaker Recalls Experience Surviving Helicopter Crash

An Oklahoma lawmaker said she, her daughter and two others who survived a helicopter crash were "walking miracles."

Rep. Tammy Townley, who represents the state's 48th District, which includes Carter and Garvin counties, said she and her daughter were hunting feral hogs from a helicopter Saturday afternoon. They were flying along the Red River at the Oklahoma-Texas border.

Townley said they had been airborne for about 30 minutes when they spotted a group of hogs. As they were shooting over the land where they had permission to hunt, Townley said she heard the pilot say they lost lift.

"And within less than a minute, we were down on the ground. It was that fast," Townley recalled. "I didn't have a lot of time to think about anything except the lady who was our videographer and myself, we just kept saying, 'Oh Jesus, oh Jesus, oh Jesus.' I mean, it was that fast."

The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter crashed at around 3:30 p.m. Saturday.at the banks of the Red River near De Kalb, Texas.

"When we hit, the skids buried in the mud and it twisted the helicopter around," Townley said.

Townley said she suffered a broken wrist and could not move underneath her harnesses. Her daughter, Tory, then took action.

"My daughter was the amazing one in all of this because she actually, even though her leg was underneath the helicopter, she got it out and it wasn't too badly hurt and she was fine. Anyways, she actually climbed over and got me and the other lady out," Townley said. "She was a boss. She absolutely took over the situation."

Townley said her daughter had a minor concussion. Meanwhile, the pilot and the videographer were okay.

"We're just grateful to be walking miracles," Townley said. "We are so grateful to our pilot. He took great command of the situation and he got us down safely."

The FAA said it was still investigating the crash. 

The helicopter was a Robinson R44 that was registered to Hotel Sierra Aviation in Nashville, Arkansas, according to FAA records.