Divers Recover Body In Franklin County Helicopter Crash
Two Other Occupants Of Aircraft Hospitalized
POSTED: 10:29 a.m. EST July 11, 2002
UPDATED: 1:55 p.m. EST July 11, 2002
BROOKVILLE, Ind. -- Divers have found the body of an Illinois man a day after the helicopter in which he was riding crashed into Brookville Reservoir, the Indiana Conservation Office said Thursday.
The body of Michael Jarski, 26, of Woodridge, Ill., was found about 11:15 a.m., the ICO said. Jarski had been missing since the helicopter crashed Wednesday afternoon in southeastern Indiana.
Authorities were working to bring the helicopter out of the water Thursday afternoon, the ICO said.
The search for Jarski had been called off at dusk Wednesday because
of the danger to the divers. The search resumed Thursday morning.
The helicopter's pilot, Steve Myler, 36, of Robinson, N.C., and
co-pilot Joseph Rukazina, 46, of Hinsdale, Ill., both survived the
4 p.m. Wednesday crash.
Myler suffered back injuries and was taken to Fayette Memorial
Hospital in Connersville. Rukazina was flown to University Hospital
in Cincinnati in critical condition, Indiana State Police Cpl. Jim
Carney said.
The helicopter was a 1963 Sikorsky model S58ET registered to
Midwest Truxton International in Burr Ridge, Ill. It had been en
route from Shelbyville, Ind., to Lebanon, Ohio, at the time of the
accident.
Investigators said the helicopter collided with
power lines. Electricity went out in the area about the time of the
crash.
The helicopter crashed in the west side of the lake near the
dam, close to an area called Wolf Creek, in about 40 feet of water.
Brookville Reservoir is the heart of a complex of state parks
and recreation areas in southeastern Indiana. The area draws
fishermen, campers and boaters from Indiana and Ohio.
The body of Michael Jarski, 26, of Woodridge, Ill., was found about 11:15 a.m., the ICO said. Jarski had been missing since the helicopter crashed Wednesday afternoon in southeastern Indiana.
Authorities were working to bring the helicopter out of the water Thursday afternoon, the ICO said.
The search for Jarski had been called off at dusk Wednesday because
of the danger to the divers. The search resumed Thursday morning.
The helicopter's pilot, Steve Myler, 36, of Robinson, N.C., and
co-pilot Joseph Rukazina, 46, of Hinsdale, Ill., both survived the
4 p.m. Wednesday crash.
Myler suffered back injuries and was taken to Fayette Memorial
Hospital in Connersville. Rukazina was flown to University Hospital
in Cincinnati in critical condition, Indiana State Police Cpl. Jim
Carney said.
The helicopter was a 1963 Sikorsky model S58ET registered to
Midwest Truxton International in Burr Ridge, Ill. It had been en
route from Shelbyville, Ind., to Lebanon, Ohio, at the time of the
accident.
Investigators said the helicopter collided with
power lines. Electricity went out in the area about the time of the
crash.
The helicopter crashed in the west side of the lake near the
dam, close to an area called Wolf Creek, in about 40 feet of water.
Brookville Reservoir is the heart of a complex of state parks
and recreation areas in southeastern Indiana. The area draws
fishermen, campers and boaters from Indiana and Ohio.
Previous Stories:
- July 11, 2002: One Presumed Dead In Franklin County Helicopter Crash
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