2 dead in helicopter crash in Washington state, authorities say

BLUESTEM, Wash. — Two men have died in a helicopter crash in eastern Washington state, authorities said.

Lincoln County Fire District 6 Chief Brandon Larmer told KREM-TV that the helicopter had two people on board when it crashed Wednesday afternoon.

The men who died were identified Thursday as Ryan Sandvig, 68, of Spokane, and Mark Manteuffel, 63, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, according to the Lincoln County medical examiner.

The Robinson R-44 helicopter went down near Bluestem, Washington, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. The agency, along with the Federal Aviation Administration, is investigating.