Helicopter tangles with power line near Porcupine hills

Chris Davis, Pincher Creek Voice

Helicopter Crash, Porcupine Hills area
Josh Davis photo

At approximately noon today, September 19, Pincher Creek RCMP and Emergency Services from Pincher Creek and Lundbreck responded to a downed helicopter near the river just west of the Snake Trail in the Porcupine hills.  Fortis Alberta also attended the scene.

Two male occupants of the helicopter were fly fishing in the area, and on leaving the helicopter tangled with  a power line, causing  it to crash into a privately owned pasture.  The men, both reported to be from Calgary, walked away relatively unscathed.

The downed power lines sparked a fire in the field, damaging about 3 acres before being extinguished by the fire crews, assisted by local residents and farmers.  Lundbreck Fire remained on scene for the rest of the afternoon to make sure the fire was completely out.

In partnership with Transport Canada, Pincher Creek RCMP are continuing to investigate the collision.

C. Davis photo