AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Three Texas Parks and Wildlife employees died after their helicopter crashed in a West Texas wildlife preserve, the department announced Sunday.
The group was surveying desert bighorn sheep in the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area on Saturday when the helicopter went down, according to a statement from the agency. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash, which Gov. Greg Abbott called a “tragic accident.” It killed Dewey Stockbridge, a wildlife biologist, Brandon White, a department technician, and Dr. Bob Dittmar, a veterinarian.
The helicopter's pilot, a private contractor, survived and was taken to El Paso for treatment, according to the department.
The Black Gap Wildlife Management Area is near the U.S.-Mexico border in Brewster County, some 300 miles (482 kilometres) southeast of El Paso.
The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Texas Game Wardens are investigating the crash.
Ben
Some days it takes most of the day for me to do practically nothing...
The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men. In it is contentment In it is death and all you seek (Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni)
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
Ben, did you know Dewey? I got word late yesterday afternoon. We went to school together at TAMU although he was a few years younger than me, he was undergrad while I was in grad but in the same classes at times. My little brother was playing a local golf tournament with his parents at the time of the crash. His family is from the same small town my parents live in. Hits close to home.
Great dude, he was the bighorn guy in West Texas and was living his dream. Crash happened 100 miles south of where I was driving at the time.
RIP Dewey....
- Greg
Success is found at the intersection of planning, hard work, and stubbornness.
Damn. Hate to see this. I worked with several of the Stockbridges from your small town, Greg.
Founder Ancient Order of the 1895 Winchester
"Come, shall we go and kill us venison? And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, Being native burghers of this desert city, Should in their own confines with forked heads Have their round haunches gored."
