1 dead after helicopter crashes on Florida road

Blade from helicopter struck pickup truck

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – A person in a pickup truck was killed when a helicopter crashed onto a Florida road and one of the blades struck the truck, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said the helicopter with two occupants inside experienced engine failure around 2:21 p.m. Thursday and crashed onto 50th Street at Palm River Road in Hillsborough County. 

A Chevrolet Silverado that was traveling on 50th Street approaching Palm River Road was struck by one of the turning rotor blades of the helicopter, causing fatal injuries to a person in the truck, a news release said.

No one else was injured.

Surveillance video from Top Choice Automobile Sales, embedded below, shows the bright blue helicopter descending then skidding to a stop on the road. The video does not show the Silverado.

Florida Highway Patrol identified the victim as 72-year-old Deodat Persaud Gangapersaud.


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