Houston Personal Injury Attorneys – Smith & Hassler

Yesterday afternoon a man and woman were killed in a helicopter crash in northeast Harris County very close to Highway 90. Christopher Yeager of Houston, 40, and his passenger Joyce Ann Ates of Midwest City, Okalahoma, 60, were in the R-22 Robinson helicopter at around 3:30 p.m. when witnesses say the helicopter went into a tailspin and then crashed to the ground. [Note that in Channel 11’s story the male victim is identified as John Yeager]. The helicopter exploded shortly after impact. Some brave and quick-thinking bystanders did what they could to try and rescue Christopher and Joyce, including using fire extinguishers that were rushed to the site by employees of a nearby pipe yard belonging to Oilfield Pipeline Company. The crash site was secured by the DPS and the NTSB will dispatch investigators to try and determine the cause of the crash. Tom Latson of the NTSB told reporters that a complete investigation of the wreckage will be done, including probably removing the wreckage of the R-22 to a location near Dallas. Latson said the helicopter involved is operated by Helicopter Services Incorporated based in Spring, Texas at Hooks Airport and was possibly out on a photography flight. Channel 13’s report indicates they contacted Helicopter Services about the incident, but a woman who worked there hung up on them.

Channel 11’s story is here. Channel 2’s story is here. Channel 13’s story is here. Houston Chronicle story.