Bellevue Man Dies In 'Copter Crash

CANMORE, Alberta - A Bellevue man and three of his relatives died in a Christmas Day helicopter crash in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Two sisters and a brother were among five people killed in the crash which aviation officials are investigating.

Authorities don't know why the French-made A-Star 350 helicopter crashed Wednesday while ferrying the four back from a sightseeing spot near Mount Charles Stewart, about 50 miles west of Calgary.

Dead are Gregory Timmons, 29, Allison Timmons, 27, Deanne Timmons, 23, all of Calgary, and Randy Carroll, 39, a relative visiting from Bellevue, Wash. Canmore pilot Mark Dickinson, 33, described as an experienced pilot with 6,000 hours of flying time, also died in the crash.

Phil Carroll, brother of Randy, issued a news release yesterday.

"To celebrate Christmas morning we took advantage of the mild weather for a family outing in the mountains - for a picnic," said Carroll, who rode in the same helicopter earlier in the day.

"Our entire family and friends are mourning this devastating tragedy."

The three Timmons siblings were described by friends as avid skiers who enjoyed mountain outings.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt. Ross McKay said it was a very clear day when the chopper went down.