Authorities are responding to a helicopter crash near Parkston.

The Parkston Police Department confirms that four people have been injured in a helicopter crash just outside of the Parkston city limits.

KORN News reports that authorities say the helicopter crashed near the Ag Land Coop fertilizer building around 10:00 AM Monday morning. Parkston Police Chief Greg Reichenberg says the helicopter is reportedly heavily damaged. The Hutchinson County Sheriff says the helicopter hit the south side of the building.

Jill Johnson of KDLT News reports that the names of the victims have not yet been released. Two of the four victims were taken to Avera Saint Benedict Health Center in Parkston and are in good condition. There's no word on where the other two victims were taken.

Portions of the battered helicopter were loaded onto two flatbed trucks and hauled out of Parkston just over three hours after the accident took place.

AgLand Cooperative General Manager Bill Pape tells KDLT, "At the time (of the crash), I was in my office. We're just gathering as much information as what we can. We're fortunate that we aren't talking to a funeral home right now."

The Argus Leader reports that the helicopter was owned by Woodley Aerial Spraying which is a crop dusting company based in Illinois. The three passengers aboard were employees of AgLand Cooperative.

 

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