UPDATE: AT LEAST TWO DEAD. CRASHED INTO APARTMENT BUILDING. CHOPPER TAIL APPEARS TO BE CUT. TWO CREW MEMBERS SURVIVE…
BY: 24/7 CRIME DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
UPDATE AT 5 p.m: BSO issued this statement. “Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony today announced the deaths of a Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue (BSFR) captain and an adult female civilian following the crash of a BSFR helicopter in Pompano Beach on Monday morning. Around 8:41 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 28, the flight crew was dispatched to a medical call regarding a traffic crash with injuries in North Lauderdale. The EC 135 Eurocopter was airborne when the pilot attempted to return to the Pompano Beach Airpark. The aircraft sustained an in-flight emergency and crashed into a small apartment building, east of North Dixie Highway and just south of Northeast 10th Street.
Two crew members, BSFR Pilot Daron Roche, 37, and BSFR Firefighter Paramedic Mikael “Mike” Chaguaceda, 31, managed to escape the wreckage. Roche has served with BSFR for four years, and Chaguaceda has served with BSFR for five years. Pompano Beach Fire Rescue transported the BSFR crew members and two civilians to Broward Health North hospital. According to the hospital, none of the individuals transported have life-threatening injuries and all are listed in fair condition.
BSFR Captain Terryson Jackson, 50, died in the crash. Captain Jackson served with BSFR for 19 years. An adult female who was inside the apartment at the time of the crash was pronounced deceased on scene.
“Terryson was a rock star. He was one of the best of us, one of the brightest,” Sheriff Tony said. “He bled this profession inside and out, all day long. The type of effort and commitment he had for this community – impeccable. We’re going to suffer. We’re going to hurt, but this community should know that we’re prepared to answer the next call.”
Members of the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are on scene and will investigate the circumstances of the crash. In an abundance of caution, Sheriff Tony grounded BSO’s aircraft fleet until the helicopters are re-inspected.
UPDATE AT 1:38 p.m. — BSO confirms that the Captain of the rescue helicopter and a civilian in the apartment building died as a result of the crash. Two crew members on the helicopter survived are being treated for injuries that are not considered to be life threatening. BSO issued this statement to BocaNewsNow.com.
“Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony confirmed the deaths of Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Captain Terryson Jackson and an adult female civilian resident, who both were pronounced deceased on scene. Pompano Beach Fire Rescue transported a total of four people, two Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue employees and two civilians, to Broward Health North hospital for treatment for their injuries. According to the hospital, they do not have life threatening injuries and are listed in fair condition.”
FAA and NTSB are on scene investigating.
Below are the names of the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue personnel involved in the crash:
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Captain Terryson Jackson, 50, has been with BSO for 19 years.
Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Pilot Daron Roche, 37, has been with BSO for four years.
Broward Sheriff Firefighter Paramedic Mikael “Mike” Chaguaceda (Chag-U-A-Seda), 31, been with BSO for five years.
UPDATE: As of just before 1 p.m., two people are confirmed dead and there may be as many as six injured — some of the injured and one of the deceased victims were on the ground at the time of the crash.
BROWARD COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2023 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Air Rescue has crashed in North Broward County. While initial reports indicated the chopper crashed into a school, we are now learning that the chopper crashed into a small apartment building near the intersection of Atlantic and Dixie Highway.
Florida | Broward Sheriff rescue chopper crash in Pompano Beach pic.twitter.com/GdAVmHsFQv
— Ｎｅｒｄｙ 🅰🅳🅳🅸🅲🆃 (@Nerdy_Addict) August 28, 2023
Emergency communications shared with BocaNewsNow.com indicate the chopper went down just before 9 a.m. Rescuers are reportedly extricating three victims. Their level of injury is unclear as of 9:30 a.m.
Expect the area to be blocked off to the public. This is a developing story. The helicopter was part of a Broward Sheriff’s Office aviation unit fleet.
UPDATE: 10:03 a.m. official statement from Broward Sheriff’s Office: “Motorists are advised to avoid the area of North Dixie Highway and Atlantic Boulevard in Pompano Beach as Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue respond to a helicopter crash. Dixie Highway is shutdown between Northeast Fifth Street and Northeast 10th Street. At approximately 8:46 a.m., emergency personnel responded to a call of an aircraft alert located southwest of the Pompano Beach Airpark. The helicopter involved in the crash is a BSO Fire Rescue helicopter. Pompano Beach Fire Rescue transported two people to an area hospital.”
