UPDATE: Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Three people were injured in a helicopter crash just east of Valley Falls in northeast Kansas Wednesday morning.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says that around 9:45 a.m., the private helicopter was checking a pipeline by Valley Falls when the pilot lost control. The helicopter then struck some trees before coming to rest in a clearing between two tree lines.

The pilot, 62-year-old Wayne Spry, of Wakarusa, KS, was taken to a Topeka hospital for treatment.

The two occupants of the helicopter, 45-year-old Jerald Senger and 32-year-old Clinton Shoemaker, both of Tonganoxie, KS, were also taken to a Topeka hospital for treatment.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Herrig said crash victims were fortunate that injuries were not more serious.

May 2, 2012

Three people were injured when a helicopter crashed in Valley Falls Wednesday morning.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, a private helicopter was inspecting pipeline when it went down on the east side of town in a wooded area.

3 people were taken to St. Francis in Topeka with non-life threatening injuries.

As of 11:24 there was no official word on what caused the crash. Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Herrig said crash victims were fortunate that injuries were not more serious.

The Kansas Highway Patrol was working the scene of the crash.