Survivor Found Walking Near Scene

ANN REALTIME REPORTING 06.01.06 1250 EDT: A US Army MH-47 Chinook helicopter on a routine training mission clipped a television tower wire and went down Thursday morning in southern Georgia, according to news reports.

Four soldiers onboard the Chinook (file photo of type, above) were killed in the accident. A fifth soldier survived, and was found walking near the wreckage by a witness who responded to the scene.

A spokeswoman for Fort Rucker, AL said the helicopter was heading to the base -- which is home to the Army's helicopter training school -- when it went down just after 8:00 am. The helo had left from Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah.

It is not known whether the collision with the support wire for the 1,000-ft tower caused the mishap, or if the helicopter was in trouble before it clipped the wire, said Jenny Collins, general manager of WFXL-TV, the station that owns the tower.

Witness Angela Tyner saw the accident, and after calling 911 drove to the scene. Tyner told the Associated Press flames were coming from one of the helo's two engines, and she saw two bodies in the helicopter before she noticed the survivor, walking along a fence, with cuts on his head and hands. She tending to the soldier until the ambulance arrived.

"It was a miracle he was alive," Tyner said.

The Army did not confirm which unit the Chinook belonged to, but said the identities of the victims would not be released until 24 hours after family members had been notified. An investigation is now underway.

FMI: www.army.mil