Border Patrol helicopter crashes in yard

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter crashed in a residential area during a routine patrol along the Mexican border Tuesday, killing the pilot and critically injuring another person on board.

The helicopter slammed into a yard and hit a pickup truck. No one on the ground was hurt.

The pilot and passenger, who was a Border Patrol observer monitoring the area for illegal activity, were taken by ambulance to a hospital, Senior Border Patrol Agent Patrick Berry said.

Juan Chavez, 95, said he saw the helicopter crash into the yard behind his nephew's house and ran to help with the rescue.

The chopper was broken in two pieces, and both people on board were unconscious with head injuries, Chavez said. One of the crew members regained consciousness during the rescue effort.

"We told him he was OK and to hang in with us," said Chavez, a retired colonel from the Army Air Corps.

Another witness to the crash, about 10 miles east of El Paso, said the helicopter appeared to be coming from New Mexico when it suddenly started having trouble.

"They were flying along real good, then there was a snapping, popping noise," said Wayne Weaver, 47. "You could hear a light hum, then like a thunk." Then the helicopter disappeared and he heard a "boom," Weaver said.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating.