Two Army helicopters crash at Washington base, four soldiers killed

Two Army helicopters crash at Washington base, four soldiers killed

SEATTLE - Two Army helicopters crashed Monday night at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in an accident that killed four soldiers, a military spokesman said late Monday.
The two-seat OH-58D Kiowa Warrior observation helicopters crashed after 8 p.m. in the southwest training area of the sprawling base near Tacoma, Wash., according the Army.
KIRO TV reported that local fire crews reached the crash sites, but there were no survivors. The victims were not immediately identified, even by unit, pending notification of relatives.
It was not immediately clear whether the aircraft collided or crashed separately.
"We don't have details on what actually occurred," base spokesman J.C. Mathews said. "That will be part of the investigation."
He was unable to say whether the wreckage of the two helicopters was found in close proximity.
The crash site is geographically closest to the civilian community of Rainier, which is south of Tacoma, Mathews said. There were no injuries on the ground, KCPQ TV reported.
There are more than 40,000 military personnel stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and with dependent family members the population is 100,000, KCPQ TV said