Two killed in helicopter crash

Sunday, June 27th 2004, 10:55 am

By: News On 6

Investigators are still on the scene of a deadly helicopter crash in Payne County. Two people were killed including an Oklahoma City police officer. Three others were critically injured last night when the helicopter crashed into the Cimarron river near Cushing about 50 miles west of Tulsa. We're told the pilot, Sergeant Darrell Jameson of Oklahoma City and a passenger Nicholas Kniegge of Cushing died in the crash.

O-H-P says they pulled Jameson's body out of the helicopter last night, but had to wait until daylight to pull Kniegge's body out. Investigators say Jameson was hired to give rides for a birthday party when the chopper crashed into the Cimarron River. A witness tells us it was there were storms in the area last night. The witness says they say the helicopter cruising at a low altitude above the river when the pilot clipped some power lines. The other passengers Ben Han and John Cooper are at a Tulsa hospital in stable condition. Don Piccolo is in good condition at a Cushing hospital. Federal investigators removed the wreckage from the river this morning. We're told the Bell 206-B helicopter was registered to Oklahoma City-based Interstate Helicopters, Incorporated.

Investigators will be on the scene through the night to determine the cause of the crash.