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BRL Embrace The Adventure Columnist Woody Elliott Remembers His Friend VSP Lt. Jay Cullen

August 13, 2017

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Culler son Ryan left and Cullen at Cliffhanger 2-3 years ago by woody — Photo courtesy of Woody Elliot : VSP Helicopter Pilot Lt. H. Jay Cullen, 48, of Midlothian, Va (right) in a photo from roughly 2 years ago during the Wintergreen Cliffhanger Challenge. He's joined in the photo by his son Ryan. Lt. Cullen, lost his life Saturday afternoon - August 12, 2017 during a helicopter crash in Charlottesville.

Photo courtesy of Woody Elliot : VSP Helicopter Pilot Lt. H. Jay Cullen, 48, of Midlothian, Va (right) in a photo from roughly 2 years ago during the Wintergreen Cliffhanger Challenge. He’s joined in the photo by his son Ryan. Lt. Cullen, lost his life Saturday afternoon – August 12, 2017 during a helicopter crash in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Midlothian, Virginia

People are still processing the tragic helicopter accident in Charlottesville on Saturday when two VSP pilots were killed. The chopper they were flying went down. They had been lending air support during the protests taking place downtown. In addition to brothers and sisters in the police community mourning their loss, those in the mountain biking community are saddened at losing one of their fellow cyclists.

Above, BRL Embrace The Adventure columnist and Virginia Off Road Series Founder, Woody Elliott, remembers his friend and trail cycling enthusiast Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen. Cullen was a helicopter pilot with the Virginia State Police. He was killed on Saturday – August 12, 2017 when his police chopper crashed in Charlottesville, Virginia. Woody, reflects on his friend in this brief audio interview.

Photos courtesy Virginia State Police : At 4:51 p.m., Saturday (Aug. 12), a Virginia State Police Bell 407 helicopter crashed into a wooded area near a residence on Old Farm Road in Albemarle County. The helicopter was assisting public safety resources with the ongoing situation in Charlottesville.
The pilot, Lieutenant H. Jay Cullen, 48, of Midlothian, Va., (left) and Trooper-Pilot Berke M.M. Bates of Quinton, Va., died at the scene.

Early reports published in this LawEnforcementToday.com article cite mechanical problems as the cause of the crash. A more detailed investigation is now underway by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Lt. Cullen’s family and Trooper-Pilot Bates’ family.

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