By KERA News & Wire Services
Dallas, TX – Two people are dead after a CareFlight helicopter crashed during an apparent test flight that had no patients on board.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford says the victims apparently were a pilot and mechanic when the medical helicopter crashed Wednesday afternoon during a maintenance test flight near Midlothian. That's about 25 miles southwest of Dallas.
Lunsford says the weather conditions were clear, so it's too early to tell what caused the crash.
No information was immediately available on where the helicopter took off or where it was supposed to land.
CareFlite is a nonprofit EMS service based in Grand Prairie that specializes in air transport.
Ron Kirk In Accident
Federal officials say former Dallas Mayor and United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk was involved in a car accident while in Dallas Wednesday.
Officials say no one was seriously injured. Ambassador Kirk was taken to a local hospital where he was treated and released.
Following the accident Kirk canceled his trip this week to Sapporo, Japan for the APEC meeting of Ministers Related to Trade. A deputy trade representative will lead the U.S. delegation to the meeting.
UT System announces layoffs
The University of Texas System is laying off some more employees.
UT System Chancellor Francisco G. Cigarroa announced the cuts Wednesday. He says in the current economic climate, the UT System must implement savings, wean programs that have fulfilled their purpose and look to the future.
Under the plan, 19 full-time positions will be cut, including some executive offices and positions.
The reduction is in addition to the recent transfer of the Institute for Public School Initiatives to the College of Education at UT-Austin and the recent system reorganization of its distance education and online learning office. The moves reduced 119 full-time jobs in the UT System.
The realignment of personnel and offices is effective Sept. 1 and is expected to lead to $2.2 million in recurrent savings.