First Responders

Sheriff’s Office Helicopter Crashes in New Mexico, No Survivors

July 18, 2022Carl Prine
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office's Metro 2 helicopter went down outside of Las Vegas,  New Mexico, at roughly 7:20 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2022, while conducting wildfire operations, including bucket drops and providing air logistics to ground crews.  Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office photo.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office's Metro 2 helicopter went down outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico, at roughly 7:20 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, 2022, while conducting wildfire operations, including bucket drops and providing air logistics to ground crews. Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office photo.

A Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office helicopter crash in New Mexico has claimed the lives of four first responders.

The Metro 2 helicopter went down outside of Las Vegas at roughly 7:20 p.m. on Saturday, July 16, while conducting wildfire operations, including bucket drops and providing air logistics to ground crews.

Investigators believe the helicopter was returning to Albuquerque after battling the East Mesa Fire.

There were no survivors.

New Mexico crash

On July 16, 2022, at approximately 7:20 pm, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office helicopter known as Metro 2 crashed just outside of Las Vegas, New Mexico. There were no survivors. Clockwise from left: Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lt. Fred Beers, Rescue Specialist Matthew King (Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue), and Deputy Michael Levison. Coffee or Die Magazine composite.

In a prepared statement released late Sunday, sheriff’s officials identified the dead crewmen as Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lt. Fred Beers, Deputy Michael Levison, and Rescue Specialist Matthew King, a member of Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue.

The New Mexico State Police and other local, state, and federal agencies are probing the accident.

Read Next: Kodiak Rescuers Land on Island Where Bear Mauled US Navy SEAL

Carl Prine
Carl Prine

Carl Prine is a former senior editor at Coffee or Die Magazine. He has worked at Navy Times, The San Diego Union-Tribune, and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He served in the Marine Corps and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. His awards include the Joseph Galloway Award for Distinguished Reporting on the military, a first prize from Investigative Reporters & Editors, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

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