Coroner identifies 6 people killed in helicopter crash near California-Nevada border
The San Bernardino County Coroner released the names of the six people killed in a helicopter crash near the Mojave Desert Friday evening.
Herbert O. Wigwe, 57, of Lagos, Nigeria, CEO of Access Bank was among the victms. The coroner also identified Wigwe's wife and son, Doreen Wigwe, 56, and Herbert C. Wigwe, 29.
The other victims are Blake Hansen, 22, of Moorpark, Benjamin Pettingill, 25, of Camarillo and 61-year-old Abimbola O. Ogunbanjo of Lagos, Nigeri
The helicopter crashed as the aircraft was en route from Palm Springs to Boulder City, Nevada. It happened around 10 p.m. local time, east of the 15-Freeway near Nipton, which is just west of the Nevada border. All six people on board were killed.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash and the cause is still under investigation.
Wigwe had professional ties to Nigeria, serving as a Board Member of Nigerian Mortgage Refinance Company and a member of the Advisory Board for Friends Africa.
NTSB launching go team to investigate Friday’s crash of an Airbus Helicopters EC-130 near Halloran Springs, California. Team to arrive on scene today.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) February 10, 2024