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| 2 die in police helicopter crash amid violent protests in Charlottesville | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A police helicopter that was reportedly monitoring the protests and violence in Charlottesville, Virginia has crashed in a wooded area, killing two people on board. | |
| READ MORE: 1 killed, more ‘extremely’ injured after car plows into protesters at Charlottesville rally (VIDEOS) | |
| Two people died in the crash, Virginia State Police confirmed, adding that police are investigating the incident. No injuries on the ground have been reported. | Two people died in the crash, Virginia State Police confirmed, adding that police are investigating the incident. No injuries on the ground have been reported. |
| Fire units and police are at the scene. | Fire units and police are at the scene. |
| The helicopter crashed near Old Farm Road in Albemarle County, which is just outside the city. | The helicopter crashed near Old Farm Road in Albemarle County, which is just outside the city. |
| "Shortly before 5 p.m. today (Aug. 12), a helicopter crashed into a wooded area near a residence on Old Farm Road. There are two confirmed fatalities," Virginia State Police said in a statement on Facebook. | "Shortly before 5 p.m. today (Aug. 12), a helicopter crashed into a wooded area near a residence on Old Farm Road. There are two confirmed fatalities," Virginia State Police said in a statement on Facebook. |
| Witnesses CBS19 News that the helicopter went down in the woods, and that a strong smell of burning was in the air. Police have sealed off the area. | Witnesses CBS19 News that the helicopter went down in the woods, and that a strong smell of burning was in the air. Police have sealed off the area. |
| A photo on Twitter claimed to be taken at the scene shows a large fire amid the trees. Earlier, a video taken from a nearby golf course showed black smoke rising from the area. | A photo on Twitter claimed to be taken at the scene shows a large fire amid the trees. Earlier, a video taken from a nearby golf course showed black smoke rising from the area. |
| The helicopter was seen hovering at a low altitude over the houses before the crash occurred, witnesses told the Richmond Times Dispatch. | The helicopter was seen hovering at a low altitude over the houses before the crash occurred, witnesses told the Richmond Times Dispatch. |
| US President Donald Trump expressed his condolences to the families and colleagues of the police officers killed in the helicopter crash. | |
| “Deepest condolences to the families & fellow officers of the VA State Police who died today. You're all among the best this nation produces,” Trump wrote on Twitter. | |
| The incident took place amid a state of emergency in downtown Charlottesville, which was initially imposed after clashes at the “Unite the Right” rally between alt-Right protesters and counter-demonstrators. | |
| An apparent car ramming attack then took place at the rally, with a vehicle filmed plowing into the crowd at full speed. It reportedly hit at least one other vehicle before reversing rapidly away from the scene. | |
| One person was killed and at least 19 injured in the incident, which police have been handling as a homicide. |