UPDATE:
The U.S. Army just identified the four soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Washington state on Wednesday night, and one of them is from Sanibel.
Watch to see what Sanibel community correspondent Austin Schargorodski learned about the crash:
In scene video from the crash, you can see a cloud of smoke rising from behind a mountain. Army officials said the soldiers were part of the Night Stalkers, known for night missions, and their Black Hawk helicopter went down during a training flight west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma.
One of the soldiers killed was 39-year-old Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Kraus of Sanibel. The Army said Kraus began his military career in the Marine Corps before joining the Army in 2017.
They sid he later served as a pilot flying medical evacuation missions in Germany before being selected for the Night Stalkers in 2023. Earlier this year he graduated from the Army's Aviation Maintenance Test Pilot Course, and the Army said he had a decorated career.
Army leaders praised all four, saying they embodied dedication, selflessness, and excellence. The Army said the crash is still under investigation.
