Deadly Salado Crash
Fort Hood Apache Crash Kills Two Near Salado, Sparks Grass Fire, Prompts Evacuations
Key Points
The crash occurred in a field near Dove Hollow Lane in the Salado area, Bell County.
Time of the crash was reported around 1:34 p.m., with some outlets later noting 1:35 p.m.
State and local responders shut down FM 2843 near the crash site as the grass fire burned, impeding traffic.
Residents along the affected area were evacuated due to the spreading grass fire.
As of reporting, the identities of the two people killed had not been released.
Two soldiers were killed when a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter from Fort Hood crashed in a field near Salado, Texas, on Friday afternoon. The crash happened around 1:34 p.m. local time and triggered a large, uncontrolled grass fire that forced nearby residents to evacuate, according to CBS News.
The Bell County Sheriff's Office confirmed both people aboard died at the scene. The helicopter came down near Dove Hollow Lane in Bell County. No homes or structures were reported hit. Authorities have not yet released the identities of the two soldiers killed, according to Fox 10.
Apache Goes Down in Bell County Field
The Apache helicopter crashed into an open field south of Salado at approximately 1:34 p.m., ABC 17 News reported. The AH-64 Apache is a twin-engine attack helicopter used widely by the U.S. Army. Fort Hood, located in central Texas, is one of the largest active-duty military installations in the country. Officials did not immediately say where the helicopter was headed or why it went down.
Fort Hood said the incident is under investigation. The Army Criminal Investigation Division is leading the military probe. Fort Hood officials said their immediate focus was securing the crash site and supporting all response efforts. No further details about the mission were released.
Grass Fire Forces Evacuations Along FM 2843
The crash sparked a fast-moving grass fire that spread through the surrounding area. Authorities shut down FM 2843 near the crash site, making the road impassable. Multiple fire departments, including Salado Fire Department and Bell County ESD 1, responded to fight the blaze, according to CBS News.
Residents along the affected stretch were told to evacuate as the fire burned. No homes or structures were reported destroyed. Texas DPS and Bell County authorities helped manage the scene. It was not immediately clear how many acres burned before crews got the fire under control.
Multi-Agency Response Coordinates on the Ground
The Bell County Sheriff's Office took the lead on local incident response. The Salado Fire Department and Bell County ESD 1 handled fire suppression on the ground. State agencies including Texas DPS also provided support, Fox 10 reported. Roads near the crash site were closed to keep civilians away from the active scene.
Fort Hood's Criminal Investigation Division is overseeing the military side of the investigation. The Army said updates would come as more details became available. The names of the two soldiers killed had not been released as of initial reporting. Authorities said next of kin must be notified before identities are made public, WLBT noted.
Fort Hood Has History of Aviation Incidents Under Review
Fort Hood, recently renamed Fort Cavazos, is home to the 1st Cavalry Division and hosts a large fleet of Army rotary-wing aircraft, including Apache attack helicopters. Military aviation crashes prompt automatic investigations by the Army Safety Center as well as criminal investigators. The cause of Friday's crash was not known as of initial reports, ABC 17 News noted.
Army officials said the investigation will look at all factors, including mechanical failure, weather, and crew performance. Central Texas saw clear conditions Friday afternoon. Investigators were expected to work the scene over the coming days. Further updates from Fort Hood were expected once the site was fully secured.
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