Crash survivor renews hope pilot alive

SANTA FE (KRQE) - The State Police officer who survived a helicopter crash in the mountains above Santa Fe has given searchers new hope that the pilot is still alive.

Officer Wesley Cox was able to walk from a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter when it landed at Christus St. Vincent hospital in Santa Fe just after noon Wednesday. He was then placed on a gurney, wheeled inside for treatment and later reported to be in serious condition.

A hospital official told KRQE News 13 Cox was in serious condition. Medics on the Blackhawk have said Cox was suffering from extreme hypothermia after walking through winter-like conditions in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.

State Police earlier had described conditions in the search area as a blizzard from a late-spring storm that began clearing as the day progressed.

Investigators interviewed Cox trying to get more information about where the helicopter went down and why. The officer had been acting as a spotter on the flight looking for the lost hiker in the area of 12,622-foot Santa Fe Baldy.

Late in the afternoon State Police Chief Faron Segotta quoted Cox as saying the helicopter piloted by Officer Andy Tingwall had successfully rescued the hiker near Lake Katherine and was lifting off when the tail rotor struck something.

The chopper spun, but Tingwall was able to regain control, leveled out and gained altitude. He then tried to land on a flat spot but came down hard sending the aircraft rolling about 100 yards downhill and ejecting all three occupants, Segotta said.

By Cox's account the female hiker, Negumi Yamamoto, died in the crash while Tingwall survived the crash. The two officers were separated but maintained contact by yellilng to each other.

Cox was able to crawl to the wreckage of the chopper and spent the night there before beginning his walk out Wednesday morning and eventually making contact with a search party. Cox told Segotta he had not had contact with Tingwall since this morning, and the chief said searchers are hoping Tingwall is still alive.

Searchers who found Cox had quoted him as saying he might be the only survivor of the crash.

In addition to hypothermia, Cox also has internal injuries, Segotta said.

As of 4:30 p.m. searchers still had not found the crash site although clouds in the area are starting to lift, Segotta added.

The search area based on a locator beacon is in the Pecos Wilderness northeast of Lake Katherine which lies below the eastern face of Santa Fe Baldy.