Country music star Kenny Chesney is mourning the death of his friend, who died on Monday in a helicopter crash.
The “You Had Me from Hello” singer turned to social media to announce that his friend Maria Rodriguez was one of the victims who died in the Virgin Islands.
“Today I have to say a very goodbye to my friend Maria Rodriguez in the Virgin Islands. Maria and others died today in a helicopter accident in St. Thomas. She was a dear friend to me and to our island community”, Chesney wrote on Instagram with a series of photos of friends flying together in a helicopter.
Chesney said he had been flying with Rodriguez for more than 15 years.
KENNY CHESNEY HELPING TO BUILD ARTIFICIAL REEF IN FLORIDA TO PROTECT OCEAN ECOSYSTEMS
“We share a lot of laughs and a lot of life together. She was always the first person I saw when I landed and the last person I said goodbye to when I was leaving the island. I’m sure I’ll miss it. It is fair to say that I will never be able to go to the Virgin Islands again without feeling the loss of it. She was a big part of my life on the island, “continued the caption.
“So, goodbye, sweet friend. I’m very happy that our paths have crossed this side. See you on the other,” he concluded.
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Four died in the helicopter crash on Monday, according to the local Virgin Islands Daily News.
Kenny Chesney recently spoke about his voluntary efforts to help build an artificial reef off the coast of Florida.
(Erika Goldring / WireImage)
The accident occurred at Preserve at Botany Bay. The vehicle reports that efforts to recover a fifth victim are expected to occur.
Virgin Islands fire chief Daryl George Sr. was quoted as calling the area where the helicopter landed “bad ground”.
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Witnesses on the island said they saw the helicopter crash around 15:15. Firefighters are now working with Port Authority VI officials and the National Transportation Safety Board to determine the cause of the fatal accident.