The four people killed in a helicopter that crashed onto Interstate 70 in Frederick County were on their way back from Hagerstown, where they had been giving helicopter rides to children during a charity event, authorities said.
Three of the victims worked for Advanced Helicopter Concepts, and the fourth was a friend of theirs, said a spokeswoman for the National Transportation Safety Board, which is investigating the crash.
The helicopter slammed into the highway Thursday night and was fully engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived around 10:30 p.m. Witnesses saw the helicopter flying low when it hit power lines before it went down, authorities said.
Investigators are unsure of the exact cause of the crash, but poor weather might have been a factor.
– Freeman Klopott
