3 Die In Tour Helicopter Crash In Ocean Off Kauai
Bad Weather May Have Caused Chopper Crash
POSTED: 4:21 pm HST September 23, 2005
UPDATED: 1:39 pm HST September 24, 2005
LIHUE, Hawaii -- Authorities on Kauai said three people died in the tour helicopter crash off the North Shore of Kauai.The helicopter carrying a pilot and five passengers crashed in the ocean near Haena Point Friday afternoon. A police detective said a total of five people were taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital. Sgt. Sam Sheldon said three of those -- two women and a man -- died. He said two others were treated and released.Officials said Friday that three of the people aboard the helicopter were able to swim to a reef and left the scene near the remote Na Pali Coast on their own.The Coast Guard said three men and three women were on board the helicopter owned by Heli USA Airways .State Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Ishikawa said the pilot had told authorities the helicopter had encountered wind shear just off Kee Beach Park.
Copyright 2005 by TheHawaiiChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.










