Samantha Grandbouche, Julio Lerma Obituary, Death – The identities of the four individuals who tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in Houston’s East End on Sunday night have been publicly released. The announcement was made on Thursday, following the identification of the victims by various sources, including the Medical Examiner’s Office.
The family of one of the victims, Cesar Lerma, confirmed his identity as one of the three passengers aboard the National Helicopter Solutions helicopter, which was on a sightseeing tour over the city at the time of the accident. The Medical Examiner’s Office also identified the other victims: pilot Samantha Grandbouche, and passengers Julio (Cesar) Lerma and Dylon Lerma, along with Marie Alonso, another passenger.
Preliminary reports from the Medical Examiner’s Office indicated that Grandbouche died from multiple blunt force injuries, while the passengers suffered fatalities due to a combination of multiple blunt force injuries and thermal burns.
### Incident Overview
Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz provided details about the helicopter’s flight trajectory. The helicopter took off from Ellington Field and was en route to an undetermined location when it suddenly crashed. Footage acquired by KPRC 2 revealed the Robinson R44 helicopter striking a radio tower during its flight. Data from FlightAware showed that the helicopter was traveling at a speed of 108 miles per hour and at an altitude of 600 feet when the incident occurred.
The crash not only claimed the lives of the four individuals on board but also resulted in significant damage to the radio tower. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among people on the ground due to the crash or the subsequent collapse of the tower. Aside from the tower, no other structures were reported damaged.
Following the crash, a fire ignited that consumed approximately 100 to 200 yards of grass in the vicinity of the tower, but firefighters have since extinguished the flames.
### Ongoing Investigations
Authorities from various agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Houston Police Department (HPD), and the Houston Fire Department (HFD), are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The loss of lives in this tragic accident has left families grieving, and the investigations aim to determine the exact causes and contributing factors that led to this unfortunate incident. As details continue to emerge, the community remains in mourning for those who lost their lives during what was meant to be an enjoyable aerial tour of the city.
In summary, the helicopter crash in Houston has been marked by profound loss, with four individuals—pilot Samantha Grandbouche and passengers Julio Lerma, Dylon Lerma, and Marie Alonso—losing their lives. The incident has garnered significant attention as investigators work diligently to piece together the events that led to this tragedy, with the hope of providing clarity and answers to the families affected.