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Title: Three Killed in Crash of Florida Medical Helicopter helicopter From Time to Time: Nando's in-depth look at the 20th century

By VICKIE CHACHERE, Associated Press

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (April 25, 2000 4:04 p.m. EDT http://www.nandotimes.com) - A medical evacuation helicopter crashed Tuesday on the marshy edge of Tampa Bay, killing the three crew members aboard, officials said. No patients were aboard.

The Bayflite helicopter, which crashed shortly after noon, was from Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, said Lt. Chris Bengivengo of the St. Petersburg Fire Department. It wasn't immediately known where it was headed when it crashed.

Witnesses said the helicopter went down in pieces, possibly after clipping a transmission tower. It crashed in the Snug Harbor-Weedon Island area of mangroves and canoe trails, northeast of St. Petersburg.

Paramedic Mike Murray said he and 20 or 25 other emergency workers waded out through the tangled mangroves to get to the wreckage. They had to wade through muddy water 3 feet deep.

All three crew members were dead when they got there, he said.

It's likely some of the rescuers knew the three who were killed, Bengivengo said.

"We are kind of an extended family," he said. "I am sure there are some people back there who know these folks."

http://www.nandotimes.com/noframes/story/0,2107,500196755-500269301-501411182-0,00.html

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), April 25, 2000