Charlottesville Crash: 5 Things To Know About Fallen Virginia Troopers

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA — Two Virginia State Police troopers who were helping monitor Saturday's events in Charlottesville were killed Saturday when their helicopter crashed in the woods in Albemarle County.

The helicopter crashed around 4:50 p.m. The pilot, Lt. H. Jay Cullen, 48, of Midlothian, Virginia, and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates of Quinton, Virginia, both died at the scene. No one else was injured in the crash.

The troopers' deaths were two of three tied to an outbreak of violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville Saturday. The other death was a result of a car plowing into a crowd of counter-protesters. The victim was identified as Heather Heyer, a resident of Charlottesville, and dozens of others were injured. White nationalists had planned the rally to protest the city's intent to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

SEE ALSO:

• Charlottesville 'Unite The Right' Rally: Feds Investigating Deadly Car Attack, Victim Identified
  
• Violence, Fury And Flames: Charlottesville Timeline
  
• Watch: Candlelight Vigil For Heather Heyer, Victim Of Charlottesville Violence

A spokesperson for the National Transportation Safety Board told The Washington Post an initial investigation of the crash could take one to two weeks.

RAW: Workers Removing Crashed Helicopter

Here's what we know about the two Virginia State troopers:

1. They are being remembered for their fierce dedication to their work.

Cullen of Midlothian, Virginia, graduated from police academy in 1994. He joined the Virginia State Police Aviation Unit in 1999 and became commander of the unit last year.

Bates of Quinton, Virginia, graduated from the police academy in 2004. He had just transferred to the aviation unit in July from the governor’s protection detail. Bates' father Robert told The Post he joined the Virginia State Police after working as a highway patrol officer in Florida. He had distinguished himself by rescuing a kidnapped girl.

Staff that worked under Cullen could attest to his friendliness and dedication to the job. “I knew both of them, I flew with both of them. They were both just awesome guys,” he told The Post. “Some people, they just have that — they love doing what they do, and that’s the way Jay and Berke both were.”

After the accident, Virginia State Police Superintendent Col. W. Steven Flaherty, said in a statement,“Lieutenant Cullen was a highly-respected professional aviator and Trooper-Pilot Bates was a welcome addition to the Aviation Unit, after a distinguished assignment as a special agent with our Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Their deaths are a tremendous loss to our agency and the Commonwealth."

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2. They worked closely with the governor.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe said in a statement Cullen had flown him around the state during his term. Bates was part of the governor's protective unit before moving to the aviation unit.

McAuliffe said at a memorial service that Bates called him a day before the accident about sending a care package to the governor’s son, who is a Marine stationed abroad.

"Our hearts go out to their wives and children, and we stand by to support them during this difficult time. These heroes were a part of our family and we are simply heartbroken," said McAuliffe.

3. They each had two kids and were close with family.

Cullen and his wife Karen have two sons, while Bates has 11-year-old twins with his wife Amanda.

Bates' father Robert, a former Navy pilot, told The Post he helped his son learn about flying: “This is the job he always wanted, which was flying. That’s what he wanted to do all his life.”

His brother Craig told Fauquier Times, “Less than a month ago he was accepted into aviation. I talked to him the day he graduated and he was so excited.”

Cullen's father Henry told The Post his son texted him the day of the events in Charlottesville. His son was assigned to work but said he would do his job. “He said it was an absolute mess,” Henry Cullen told The Post.

4. Bates was about to celebrate his birthday with family.

Bates' family was planning to come up to Richmond from Tennessee for his 41st birthday, according to Fauquier Times.