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Elk takes down helicopter in Utah


Elk brings down helicopter. (Wasatch County Search and Rescue)
Elk brings down helicopter. (Wasatch County Search and Rescue)
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RELATED: Wasatch County search and rescue teams said they can't believe the helicopter crew managed to walk away from crash with just scratches and bruises.

WASATCH COUNTY, Utah (KUTV) - A helicopter has crashed in Wasatch County, according to the Wasatch County Sheriff's Department's Search and Rescue Facebook page.

It happened near Currant Creek Reservoir at 4:38 p.m. Monday, according to Wasatch County Sheriff's Deputy Jared Rigby.

Two people were injured but the injuries were minor.

An elk was killed, according to Tonya Kieffer, Northeast Utah conservation outreach manager for the Division of Wildlife Resources.

DWR contracted the helicopter, which was staffed with a two-man crew from Australia.

They were trying to net the elk, sedate it and fly it back to put a collar on it for further study by a biologist.

The Australian flight crew was in the process of netting a cow elk, which jumped and hit the tail rotor of the helicopter.

"This almost severed the tail rotor and ended the flight of this chopper. The 2 people aboard the chopper are okay except a few small cuts and bruises. They were both checked out by Fruitland EMS. As for the chopper not so good. Not something you see every day when an elk brings down a chopper." - Wasatch County Search and Rescue Facebook page

Wasatch County Search and Rescue responded to assist with the downed chopper.

Kieffer says they will review the incident and make any changes necessary in order to prevent it from happening again.


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