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Victims of helicopter crash identified


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By Don Grigas, dgrigas@mysuburbanlife.com
Downers Grove Reporter

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Downers Grove, IL -

The four people who died in a fiery helicopter crash last night in Aurora have been identified as 14-month-old Kirstian Blockinger, of Leland, IL; Dell Waugh, 69, of Carmel, IN; William Mann, 31, of Chicago and Ronald Battiato of Peotone.

Authorities released the identities of the victims at about 10:45 a.m. Thursday, following notification of family.

According to Aurora police and fire officials a medical transport helicopter based out of Bolingbrook Clow Airport crashed just before midnight on Wednesday near Eola Road and Liberty Street, killing all three crew members and a 14-month old girl being transported to a Chicago hospital.

Robb Waller, spokesman for the Aurora Police Department, said the cause of the crash is unknown at this time, and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) officials are conducting an investigation.

“At this time we have no idea why the helicopter crashed,” Waller said.

The Bell 222 helicopter was operated by Air Angels, Inc. out of Bolingbrook Clow Airport, and was transporting the girl and a crew of a pilot, co-pilot and paramedic from Valley West Community Hospital in Sandwich, IL to Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Waugh was the pilot of the helicopter, Mann the co-pilot and Battiato a paramedic.

No one else was injured in the crash, police said.

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