4 injured in Fort Carson Black Hawk helicopter crash in Douglas County

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. - Two soldiers and two crew chiefs were injured when a Black Hawk helicopter out of Fort Carson crashed in Douglas County Wednesday afternoon, a Fort Carson official told 7NEWS during a press conference.

One of the four crew members was able to use a cell phone to call for help, investigators said during the press briefing Wednesday night.

"All were alive. All had varying degrees injury. All were rescued,” said Steve Johnson with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

#NOW: @dcsheriff - teams had to hike to wreckage to get occupants. Medical #helicopters happened to be nearby.

— Marc Stewart KMGH (@MarcKMGH) September 3, 2015

The UH-60 Blackhawk is a military workhorse.

It's used to transport everything from cargo to soldiers in combat zones around the globe.

In this case, the chopper flew to Centennial Airport as part of a training flight. A timetable of the trouble is still being established.

Fort Carson spokeswoman Danni Johnson said the accident happened during a routine training mission on U.S. Forest Service land. 

"I don't know whereabouts in their training mission they were, whether they were on their way back or if they were in the middle of their training,” said Lt. Col. Jason Brown.

AirTracker7's camera showed the twisted wreckage of the black helicopter that had plowed into a forest, cutting down several aspen trees. The Black Hawk's tail was bent at a 90-degree angle.

"At least four members of our armed services are very very luck,” said Johnson. "It's good to hear you know, at least has a happy outcome."

Johnson said initial reports indicate there were four soldiers on board.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office went on to explain that the crash occurred in a remote area without any road access. Additional emergency responders made it to the area a short time after the crash.

At least two air ambulance helicopters were seen landing near the crash to investigate.

Early reports indicated the Black Hawk went down in Elbert County about 4 p.m. But at about 5 p.m. the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the Elizabeth Fire Department said the chopper came down in Douglas County, about five miles south of Devil's Head near Rampart Range Road.

The Elizabeth Fire Department responded to the reported crash about 4 p.m., but crews were initially having trouble finding it because the helicopter went down in the trees.

The cause of the accident is currently under investigation. 

All four people injured in the crash were taken to Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs for non-life threatening injuries. 

Investigators say it could take about a week to remove the mangled helicopter, a chopper known by pilots for its durability