Pilot killed after helicopter crashes into Carnegie Lake in South Brunswick, New Jersey

South Brunswick, New Jersey (WABC) — One person was killed when a helicopter crashed into a lake in South Brunswick, New Jersey, Thursday afternoon.

At around 3:45 p.m., a two-seat, single-engine Robinson R22 helicopter crashed into a canal near Lake Carnegie near the Old Lincoln Highway.

South Brunswick police said the helicopter took off from Princeton Airport, about three miles from the crash site.

A captain at the Kingston Fire Station saw the helicopter flying erratically and notified dispatchers. Two other witnesses also called 911.

Because the crash site was densely wooded, it was difficult for first responders to reach the scene.

When they arrived, they found the helicopter lying in the water. The FAA said the plane was completely destroyed.

A responding police officer and firefighters went into approximately 3 feet of water and saw the pilot of the helicopter over the shoulder. The pair lifted the helicopter, pulled the pilot out of the helicopter, and dragged him to the shoreline.

He was too seriously injured to perform life-saving measures, officials said.

About three dozen first responders responded.

Emergency medical services then scoured the water for any other possible passengers or victims. They determined the pilot was the only person on board at the time of the crash.

Fortunately, no one on the ground was injured in the accident, and the surrounding trees were not damaged.

The identity of the slain has not been released.

It was not immediately clear what the helicopter was doing before it went down.

The boss of the helicopter company is on the scene.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating.

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