Four people involved in a cycling event that was part of the build-up for the Tour de France were killed in a tragic helicopter crash in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
"The helicopter crashed with five people on board. Three people were killed, and one of the two injured people has died in hospital," police spokesman Roland Ekkers told AFP after the tragic accident.
The fifth individual that was on board the helicopter remains in a serious condition, according to the spokesman. Dutch news agency ANP reported that three of the five passengers were photographers that were covering the event that was taking place in an industrial park in the port of Rotterdam. One passenger was an employee for the Port and the other the helicopter pilot. None of the names have been released.
According to witnesses, there was no apparent reason for the crash, the helicopter just fell from the sky into the sand dunes near the port. The incident happened in front of a large group of cyclists that were taking part in the race.
The Tour de France's Grand Départ is scheduled to be an 8.9 kilometer prologue around Rotterdam this coming Saturday July 3rd.