The two Phoenix news helicopters crashed about 10 blocks from my house, at Indian School park, in my dog's favorite spot. This spot is right by the man-made lake where there are usually about 20 ducks hanging out or swimming, and a few people fishing and just hanging out. At noon in Phoenix, there are not going to be a lot of people hanging around outside in a park, so that is a lucky thing. Not sure about the ducks.
But this is the only open area for miles around. Right in between the veteran's hospital AND A SCHOOL. There is one lame, petty criminal making a getaway from police, not even a high-speed chase. Do 5 helicopters need to cover it? Do we need to see this stupid car chase stuff over and over again, so that people take these ridiculous risks and fly over heavily populated areas? It's one thing for them to take the risk, but we don't sign on for it.
My friend Joann called me after, but had heard on the news that the helicopters crashed into a park in between Indian School and Osborn. She raced home from work, went through 3 red lights, rushing to see if our houses were burning and to let the animals out, if possible, because we live on the only park in between Osborn and Indian School. So even with 5 helicopters, they could not get the information correct. She was lucky she did not hurt herself or someone else in her panic to get home.
I talked to a restaurant owner in the Melrose district today, which is about 10 blocks the other way from the accident. He was still home before it happened, and he watched the petty criminal drive by with flattened tires, get out, and steal another truck to keep going. Where were the cops then? They flattened the guy's tires and still couldn't catch him? I feel really safe now.
Don't get me wrong - I feel awful for everyone involved - the random snuffing out of life over a stupid risk - the poor families, co-workers, and friends. Imagine their last moments- just horrific, horrific. But it was completely unnecessary - they were not rescuing anyone, they were not performing a heroic feat - they were trying to beat the competition to a stupid story on a slow, hot Phoenix day. Why can't one helicopter go up and share the feed? Were they in the way of police helicopters? Why would there even be police helicopters for such a lame thing?
Argh.
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I think the crash was horrible and the way the 4 news people died is equally horrible and devastating.
I do agree with your question on how many people does it take to cover a high speed chase from the air. If one helicopter can't keep up with one car on the ground, then several helicopters are in the way. Especially since heli's are so much faster than any car on the ground.
I was just driving by Steele Park the day before the crash telling my friend from out of town what a nice park it is. Thank the universe the park was mostly empty at that time.
I've been hearing bits on the news about the police possibly trying to charge this guy with several counts of murder because he started the high speed chase which in turn started the reporters going after the story. Sorry, he didn't cause this because they cover and chase stories continually. That is the job they do. It was a cause and effect situation which could have happened at any time, with any story due to the nature of that business.
I do offer strength, hope and recovery for the family members left behind this awful tragedy.
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