By Scott Harper
The Georgetown Times
CONWAY, S.C. — Private funeral services were held last week for the three Omniflight workers who died in a helicopter crash in Georgetown Sept. 25.
On Sunday, their colleagues and friends got the chance to say their final goodbyes at a memorial service at Coastal Carolina University’s Conway campus.
Pilot Patrick Walters, paramedic Claxton Dove and nurse Diana Conner were killed in the accident that occurred in a wooded area on White Hall Road near the Belle Isle area.
Omniflight CEO Bob Peiser told the families and emergency workers from South and North Carolina the three had a “special calling” and the country “is better because of their service and dedication.”
Chuck Petrella, another Omniflight worker, said Walters was “a prankster” but was also the type of man who would pull over and help a total stranger change a tire.
“He was a brother and friend,” Petrella said of his Murrells Inlet colleague during the service. “His wife and kids were his life.”
Petrella also said Walters was “a great pilot” who loved to sing as he flew.
Dove was eulogized by his brothers William and Gene.
They said becoming a helicopter paramedic was the last thing they thought he would do because before he took the job he was scared of heights and of swimming.
“He is and always will be a true hero,” Gene Dove said of his brother who lived in Bladen, N.C. “He overcame his fears to do the job he loved.”
William Dove said although his brother loved his job, his love for his family was his biggest passion.
“He was always interested in his daughters and talked about (his wife) Teresa like she was still his high school sweet heart.”
Meagan Gunn spoke about her friend, Diana Conner, calling her a “trauma junkie.”
She said Conner, who lived in Florence County, had a way of knowing when something bad was about to happen and enjoyed helping people in need.
Like Walters and Dove, Conner was devoted to her family.
“She worked three jobs to support her children,” Gunn said. “Her life was an example of love.”
There was a group of emergency workers from Georgetown County in attendance Sunday.
County Battalion Chief Ryan Allen was on duty the night of the crash. He said he attended the memorial so he could show support for the three families.
The service included a flyover by a parade of medical helicopters as well as a near-landing by an Omniflight copter.
Memorial Fund
Meanwhile, a memorial fund has been established on behalf the crash victims.
Donations are being accepted by the Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center on behalf of the Carolina Lifecare Memorial Fund.
Checks can be made out to Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center and sent to:
Carolina Lifecare Memorial Fund, c/o Veterans Welcome Home and Resource Center, 4254 Stella Court, Little River, SC 29566.
Investigation continues
The helicopter’s wreckage has been removed from the crash scene and continues to be analyzed by the National Transportation Safety Board at an Atlanta facility.
A preliminary report on the cause of the crash could be released this week but it will not give an exact cause, said Peter Knudson, a spokesman for the NTSB.
“The investigator will put together a preliminary report, which will contain the factual information and the circumstances of the crash,’' Knudson said.
The helicopter left Charleston under visual flight rules, which meant it was clear enough to fly, Knudson said.
The helicopter, however, ran into patches of bad weather near Georgetown, he said. The pilot managed to around the weather before attempting to land at the Georgetown County Airport.
The pilot radioed the company dispatcher with Omniflight Inc. that they were going to divert to Georgetown, due to bad weather, Knudson said.
Reprinted with permission from The Georgetown Times