December 31, 2021
On December 30, 2021 at approximately 8:30 p.m. the
Levy County Sheriff’s Office 911 Center received a call from a witness
reporting a possible aircraft crash. Several minutes later a second call from the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) was received who reported a distress beacon in the same
general location. Deputies responded to a wooded area off of NE 60th
Lane near Wekiva Road west of the Town of Bronson and discovered the scene of a
helicopter crash.
Investigators learned a family of four; father,
mother and two children departed a private residence south west of the Town of
Bronson in a privately owned Robinson helicopter. The family was returning to
their home in Gilchrist County. The aircraft experienced an undetermined
failure causing the crash. All four passengers perished. Levy County Sheriff’s
Office Detectives are working with investigators from the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the FAA as this investigation continues.
Sheriff McCallum spoke to members of the family and
friends of the victims and expressed his deepest condolences. This is a tragedy
that has deeply affected families in Gilchrist County, Levy County and the LCSO
family, as one of our own Detectives is related to the victims.
Sheriff McCallum contacted Sheriff Schultz (Gilchrist
County Sheriff) to notify him about the crash. Sheriff Schultz and local
Pastors of the victims contacted family in Gilchrist County to deliver this
terrible news. We all grieve this loss and are praying for these families in
this time of tragedy. The family has requested privacy as they grieve their
loss.