Zimbabwe opposition leader Roy Bennett among 5 killed in New Mexico helicopter crash
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Roy Bennett, center, a key Zimbabwean opposition leader was killed in a helicopter crash. Another five people also died. (AP)
Key Zimbabwean opposition leader Roy Bennett was one of five people killed after a helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of New Mexico, police said Thursday.
One other person "sustained serious injuries,” New Mexico state police said in a statement. The private Huey UH-1, which had six people on board, crashed Wednesday evening about 15 miles east of Raton, located near the Colorado state line.
Bennett, 60, had been a member of the British South Africa Police and the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe. As the treasurer for the Movement for Democratic Change party, he drew the ire of ousted leader Robert Mugabe.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bennett's wife, Heather, 55, also was among the dead. They were said to be traveling to a friend's ranch.
New Mexico Police Department received a call around 6:00 p.m. from one of the victims in the crash who reportedly said three passengers were injured and three were unaccounted for at the time.
After arriving on the scene, officials immediately declared three of the individuals dead. Two other males were in critical condition. One died later on the scene and the other died en route to the hospital, a press release by the New Mexico State Police said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Andra Cobb, the only survivor, lost her father, co-pilot Paul Cobb, 67, and her longtime boyfriend Charles Ryland Burnett, 61, in the crash.
According to Andra Cobb’s mother, Martha, the helicopter was headed to Burnette’s ranch. She also said they befriended the Bennetts while traveling together on cruises.
Jamie Coleman Dodd, 57, the pilot, also died in the crash.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}“FAA will arrive [Thursday] to investigate cause of the crash. #NMSP officers still working to gain information,” police tweeted.
It’s unclear what caused the crash.
Huey helicopters are flown for individuals, businesses and government agencies.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Raton is 175 miles northeast of Albuquerque.
Fox News' Shira Bush and The Associated Press contributed to this report.