Lieutenant George Maurice Hendrix, Jr.

George Maurice Hendrix, Jr.

Lieutenant George Hendrix and Investigator Thomas Smith were killed when their Bell OH-58A helicopter crashed at Kenneth Copeland Airport.

Lieutenant Hendrix was piloting the aircraft, one of two donated to the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office by the United States military.

Witnesses stated that the helicopter had just taken off when it plummeted straight down. Bystanders pulled both deputies from the wreckage and administered CPR but were unable to save them due to intensive spinal, head, and internal injuries.

Lieutenant Hendrix was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and served with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office for six years. He had previously served with the Euless Police Department and the Shreveport (Louisiana) Police Department. He was survived by his wife and son.