PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The families of seven firefighters killed and three injured in the crash of a firefighting helicopter in Northern California in 2008 have reached a tentative settlement in various lawsuits.
The Oregonian newspaper reported Friday the proposed settlements in the August 5, 2008, crash of the Sikorsky S-61 helicopter in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest resulted from mediation this week by 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Edward Levy.
A lawyer for four victims said the amount of the settlements with Carson Helicopters, Columbia Helicopters and the U.S. Forest Service were still being finalized.
At least two lawsuits had sought $10 million for each victim.
The crash was considered the deadliest of its kind in U.S. history, killing nine men, including seven contract firefighters with Grayback Forestry of Merlin, Ore.
