Mother of student killed in crash arrives in U.S.
Posted at: 06/13/2009 10:37 PM
| Updated at: 06/15/2009 9:09 AM
By: Valerie Castro, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com
Megumi Yamamoto
The helicopter had just rescued the UNM student.
The graduate student was at UNM studying to get her doctorate in physics.
Her passion for the outdoors is what led to the tragic end of her life.
26-year-old Megumi Yamamoto was hiking near Lake Katherine earlier this week when state police say she got separated from her boyfriend.
A state police helicopter rescued Yamamoto on Tuesday night, but as the chopper was taking off, the weather turned for the worse and the helicopter slammed into a hillside at Santa Fe Baldy.
Yamamoto and the chopper's pilot, State Police Sergeant Andy Tingwall were killed in the crash.
Yamamoto's mother, Junko, and her aunt arrived in Albuquerque Saturday to begin dealing with the tragic news of Yamamoto's death.
Yamamoto's mother prepared a statement but soon broke down in tears. Yamamoto's aunt finished reading the heartbreaking words.
"I still don't believe what happened to my daughter," Yamamoto's aunt read through a translator, "I haven't seen her yet. I don't know any details about this accident. I just wish it had been happening in my dream-- not reality."
Yamamoto's family says they want to see where Megumi lived and meet the people who surrounded her.
Even after her long and emotional journey from Tokyo, Yamamoto says she is thankful to those who tried to save her daughter's life.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude for all people in this rescue mission," Yamamoto said.
The family says they are talking about attending Sgt. Tingwall's memorial in Santa Fe on Monday. They aren't sure yet if they will take Yamamoto's body back to Japan for a burial.
Megumi would have turned 27 next week.
UNM has offered its condolences to Yamamoto's family and friends. The school is also offering counseling to students at the university's student health center.
NTSB investigates crash Crash victims remembered Officer's funeral set UNM remembers Yamamoto Flags at half staff for chopper crash victim 
Video: News conference announcing recoveries
|
 |
Print Story |
