Second victim in Darke County helicopter crash dies from injuries

DARKE COUNTY — The man critically injured in a fiery Darke County helicopter crash Tuesday has died from his injuries, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.

The crash happened on Hogpath Road between U.S. 127 and state Route 49 around 9:45 a.m.

Charles Zimmer, 34, was flown from the scene to Miami Valley Hospital where he died Thursday morning. His wife, Krista Zimmer, 35, his wife, was also killed in the crash.

>> PHOTOS: Deadly helicopter crash under investigation in Darke County

The Zimmers lived at the house where the crash happened. The helicopter was registered to Charles and the Zimmers were known to take off and land from their home, which is surrounded by farmland, Whitaker said in a media release.

A 911 call obtained by News Center 7 through a public records request describes a witness’s account of the crash.

“There’s a helicopter crashed on the ground in somebody’s driveway and it’s on fire and the pilot is still laying in it,” one 911 caller told dispatchers.

The caller later told dispatchers he saw two people still inside of the helicopter and that they were unable to get out. “I’m afraid it’s going to explode,” the caller said.

Whittaker confirmed Krista was pronounced dead at the scene. Charles was rescued by deputies and bystanders, flown to Miami Valley Hospital by CareFlight medical helicopter.

“It was through, I’ll say heroic efforts, of deputies who arrived on the scene, as well as some bystanders who were working hard, they were using buckets of water from a nearby house and fire extinguishers trying to beat back the flames while they tried to get the one occupant out,” Whittaker said.

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“I’m very proud of the deputies and citizen that helped out on that situation.”

The helicopter was registered out of Darke County and the sheriff’s office is familiar with aircraft, Whittaker said.

Investigators have not determined if the helicopter was taking off or landing when it crashed and caught fire.

The crash will be investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration, and will be the job of the Darke County Sheriff’s Office to document the scene for the investigation, Whittaker said. A potential cause of the crash has not been determined and remains under investigation.

“Its a tragic event and our hearts and prayers go out to the family members who are involved in this,” Whittaker said.

News Center 7 spoke with to a friend who knew the couple about this tragic crash that caught the entire community off guard.

“Just total shock. Devastation. We’ve had other deaths in our school family too and this one was just. For a young mom with two young children and a father. It’s just a tragedy,” said Vernon Rosenbeck, the principal at St. Mary’s Elementary School.

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