Plant City Man Killed When Helicopter Crashes In Palm River

TAMPA, FL -- A 72-year-old Plant City man has died after a small, private helicopter crashed and a spinning rotor blade struck a pickup truck he was riding in.

On April 4 at 2:21 p.m., a 2019 Robinson R-44 helicopter with two occupants suffered engine failure and crashed onto South 50th Street at Palm River Road. The pilot was Bryant Thomas Messick, 39, of Bradenton and the co-pilot was Joshua James Wells, 21, of Pinellas Park.

A Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by Ryan Anthony Persaud, 35, of Dover was traveling north on 50th Street approaching Palm River Road and was struck by one of the turning rotor blades of the helicopter. A passenger in the pickup truck, Deodat Persaud Gangapersaud of Plant City, 72, was killed.

Persaud was treated for minor injuries.

National Transport and Safety Authority and Federal Aviation Administration officials are investigating the crash.