Tampa,Fla. (NewsRadio WFLA)-A Plant City man is dead after a helicopter had to make an emergency landing on a Hillsborough County street after catastrophic engine failure.
Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister says both the pilot and co-pilot are highly trained and landed the Robinson R-44 helicopter, in Palm River near South 50th Street and Palm River Road.
But the rotor blades hit a telephone pole and the tip of the blade broke off, sending it flying through the windshield of a Silverado pick up truck, hitting and killing the passenger, 72 year old Deodat Gangapersaud.
The driver of the truck, Ryan Persaud who's the passenger's son, the pilot Bryon Messick, and the co-pilot Joshua Wells were not injured.
Photo credit: Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
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