Pilot killed in helicopter collision at Homestead

Two helicopters collided at the Homestead-Miami Speedway after the NASCAR championship, killing one pilot, authorities said.

One helicopter was taking off from the speedway's helipad shortly before 9 p.m. Sunday while another was attempting to land, said Miami-Dade Fire-Rescue Battalion Chief Richard Martin.

The other pilot died after being airlifted to a Miami hospital, a spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade Police Department said. The pilot's identification was being withheld pending family notification.

Todd Shook, 46, of Sarasota, said he saw the blades of one helicopter clip the body of the second helicopter as he was walking to his recreational vehicle parked outside the speedway.

One helicopter landed lopsided on the speedway's helipad, and the other crashed into an RV parked nearby, he said. It was not immediately clear if the RV was occupied at the time of the crash, AP reports.

A. A.