Two people were killed and one was critically injured when the KOMO News helicopter crashed and burned Tuesday morning on Broad Street only yards away from the Space Needle, according to KOMO News.
Emergency personnel immediately rushed to the scene, near studios used by KOMO-TV, AM, FM, as thick smoke poured over the city at the height of the morning commute.
Reported dead are: former longtime news photographer Bill Strothman and the pilot, Gary Pfitzner.
Two cars and a pickup truck on Broad Street were struck in the crash. Occupants of two vehicles were able to escape without injury, but the driver of a third vehicle was badly burned.
Witnesses said the man could be seen running from from his car with his clothing on fire, and he was extinguished by officers at the scene. He was then rushed to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition with burns over more than 50 percent of his body.
The helicopter exploded into flames on impact. Huge plumes of black smoke poured from the blazing wreckage, about 50 yards from the base of the Space Needle.
Fuel gushing from the wreckage caught fire and burned for a block from the crash scene. Secondary explosions continued for several minutes afterward.
Seattle Fire Department spokesman Kyle Moore said two people were found dead in the wreckage.
Witnesses said the helicopter crashed as it was taking off from the helipad on the roof of Fisher Plaza, across the street from the Space Needle, at about 7:40 a.m.
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