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Police identify helicopter, troopers in crash

Lt. H. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Burke M.M. Bates were killed in the crash

Duty Death: H. Jay Cullen and Burke M.M. Bates - [Charlottesville]

End of Service: 12/08/2017

UPDATE 8:27 p.m. (CST):

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Virginia state police said one of their agency’s helicopters crashed Saturday outside Charlottesville, killing two troopers.

Police said the helicopter was assisting law enforcement officers monitor the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville.

Police said Lt. H. Jay Cullen of Midlothian and Trooper-Pilot Burke M.M. Bates of Quinton were killed in the crash.

The crash happened just a few hours after a car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting against the white nationalist rally. One person was killed and at least two dozen were hurt.

https://twitter.com/ABC/status/896546086093021184

EARLIER:

By Police1 Staff

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. —A helicopter crashed near the site of a white nationalist rally that erupted in violence, killing two troopers.

According to NBC News, Virginia State Police say the crash happened in a wooded area and no one on the ground was injured. Police are investigating the cause of the crash.

https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/896486907881959424

Officials told the AP the crash was linked to the rally, but it was not immediately clear how.

President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences to the families of the fallen officers.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/896504109670567936

https://twitter.com/Tom_Winter/status/896497115584712704

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