Posted by chicagomedia.org on October 17, 2008 at 12:16:51:
In Reply to: Helicopter crash: Radio tower lights at issue posted by chicagomedia.org on October 17, 2008 at 09:42:36:
Workers start tearing down Aurora radio tower
Workers in Aurora began dismantling a radio tower today that investigators believe caused a medical helicopter to crash in a nearby field Wednesday night, killing four on board.
Authorities said the helicopter likely struck a guy wire attached to the tower near Liberty Street and Eola Road in Aurora. On Friday morning, workers were unstringing the guy wires, then scaling the 749-foot tower and cutting away the top third of the structure so a helicopter could carry it away, said police spokesman Dan Ferrelli.
By dismantling the tower, authorities were hoping to alleviate concerns over its stability. Around 6 p.m. Thursday, Aurora police asked residents who lived within a 1,000-foot radius of the tower to evacuate their homes after preliminary inspections found there was a possibility it could fall over, Ferrelli said.
More than 1,000 residents were asked to evacuate, and "the majority heeded the warning and did leave," he said.
It remained unclear Friday morning when they would be allowed to return to their homes, Ferrelli said.
"It should not be an extended period of time," he said. "It all depends on what happens today."
(Chicago Tribune)