Local News
Victims Identified After Three Medical Helicopter Crew Members Killed in Owenton Crash
A somber mood hangs over Kentucky following the tragic crash of a medical helicopter on Monday evening in Owen County. Three crew members lost their lives in the accident, which occurred near Kentucky Highway 22 East.
Kentucky State Police confirmed the identities of the deceased as Pilot Gale “Butch” Alleman, Flight Nurse Bethany Aicken, and Flight Paramedic James Welsh.
The Owen County coroner pronounced them dead at the scene.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the helicopter, a Bell 206, went down around 6 p.m.
According to Air Evac Lifeteam, the air medical service company operating the helicopter, the crew members were from their Grant County base (AEL 133) and were en route to pick up a patient when the crash happened.
“This is a terribly sad event, and our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of our employees,” a spokesperson for Air Evac Lifeteam expressed in a statement. “Our top priority right now is supporting the impacted families and our team members. We have deployed critical incident stress management teams to assist everyone during this difficult time.”
The spokesperson added that Air Evac Lifeteam is cooperating fully with the investigations being conducted by both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The NTSB expects investigators to arrive at the scene on Tuesday afternoon. However, they cautioned that uncovering the cause and circumstances surrounding the crash will be a lengthy process.
“A preliminary report will be issued within 30 days of the accident,” an NTSB statement explained. “This report will contain factual information gathered during the initial investigation phase.
Determining the probable cause of the crash, along with any contributing factors, will be detailed in the final report, which is expected to take 12 to 24 months to complete.”
The NTSB urged anyone with information or surveillance footage that might aid their investigation to contact them via email at witness@ntsb.gov.
The crash also caused a brief power outage for multiple Owen Electric Cooperative, Inc. customers around 6:30 p.m. Thankfully, power was restored to all affected areas just 20 minutes later by 6:50 p.m.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, S.C. — Tragedy struck early Sunday morning when a house fire claimed the lives of four family members in Gaffney, South Carolina.
Officials say the blaze broke out inside a one-story wood-frame home on East Third Street shortly before 1:40 a.m.
According to the Cherokee County Coroner’s Office, one resident, identified as Kathy Shippy, managed to escape the burning home and ran across the street to alert a neighbor and call 911.
Surveillance footage from the neighbor’s doorbell camera captured the home already fully engulfed in flames by the time the call was made.
Coroner Dennis Fowler identified the victims as:
- Willie Morris, 38
- Dakeyia Shippy, 25
- Mason Issac, 4
- Jerekry McGill, 7 months
All were residents of the home and relatives of the survivor.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire began after Morris attempted to refuel a kerosene heater inside the home, which caused the blaze to ignite suddenly and spread rapidly.
“All four victims were found on the floor of the kitchen at the rear of the house and appeared to have been trying to escape through a window when they were overcome by smoke,” the coroner’s office reported.
Autopsies are scheduled to determine the precise causes of death and assist investigators in confirming the fire’s origin.
Gaffney Fire Chief Jamie Caggiano urged the public to use extreme caution when operating space or kerosene heaters.
“Never attempt to refuel a heater indoors or while it is still hot,” Chief Caggiano said, emphasizing fire safety during colder months.
The incident remains under joint investigation by the Gaffney Fire Marshal’s Office, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Authorities described the loss as “heartbreaking” and extended condolences to the family and community members affected by the tragedy.