2 troopers die in helicopter crash linked to alt-right rally

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — UPDATE 8:45 p.m.

Virginia state police said one of their agency's helicopters crashed Saturday outside Charlottesville, killing two troopers.

Police said the helicopter was assisting law enforcement officers monitor the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville.

Police said Lt. H. Jay Cullen of Midlothian and Trooper-Pilot Burke M.M. Bates of Quinton were killed in the crash.

The crash happened just a few hours after a car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting against the white nationalist rally. One person was killed and at least two dozen were hurt.

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Officials say the deaths of two people in a Virginia State Police helicopter crash near Charlottesville have been linked to a violent white nationalist rally earlier in the day.

It was not immediately clear how the crash was connected to the rally. Corinne Geller, a Virignia State Police spokeswoman, says the pilot and a passenger were killed in the crash Saturday afternoon.

The crash happened just a few hours after a car plowed into a crowd of people peacefully protesting against the white nationalist rally. One person was killed and at least two dozen were hurt.

Stay with WPXI.com and Channel 11 News at 11 p.m. as we work to find out the connection between this crash and a car plowing into a crowd earlier today.

No one on the ground was injured.

Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.

Associated Press