SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — A vacationing firefighter was one of the first to reach the scene of a sightseeing helicopter crash Monday.
WBIR.com reported that John Ollberding, a 16-year veteran with the Melbourne (Ky.) Volunteer Fire Department, had been renting a cabin with his family up the road from the crash site. He was on his porch when he saw the helicopter go down.
“I heard a loud boom,” Ollberding said. “And I saw another explosion as I went down to the scene.”
He jumped in his truck, sped to the site and called 911.
“It was terrible, something I’ll never forget,” he said. “When I got there the entire chopper was engulfed. There were pieces lying around. I did see the console — there wasn’t much left of the helicopter itself.”
Since the crash, Ollberding said he’s been struggling with what he saw.
“It bothers me,” he said. “Honestly it’s all bothered me to be honest with you. Especially the young people involved. It’s what you try to prevent but sometimes there’s nothing you can do.”
All five aboard the helicopter were killed in the crash. Authorities identified those killed as pilot Jason Dahl, 38; and four passengers, Johna Morvant, 49, Peyton Rasmussen, 22, Michael Glenn Mastalez, 21, and Parker Rasmussen, 18.
The NTSB is currently investigating the crash.