James “Charles” Short and Jose “J.R.” Garcia ID’d as Two Killed in Duval County Helicopter Crash at Ranch

Duval County, Texas (October 25, 2019) – The two people who were killed in a helicopter crash Wednesday morning in Duval County, northeast of Hebbronville, have been identified James “Charles” Short,49, of Alice, Texas, and Jose “J.R.” Garcia, 39, of Realitos, Texas, according to the authorities.

The crash happened on Wednesday, October 23, over a private ranch.

Deputies said three small helicopters were being used to net deer on the ranch when two of them got too close to each other and their rotors collided. One of the helicopters crashed and the other two landed safely.

Short, who was one of the pilots, was declared dead at the scene.

Garcia, who was a passenger, was airlifted to a hospital in Alice where he later died.

A third passenger was taken to the hospital in serious condition by ambulance.

An investigation is underway.