Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus released the following statement on Friday about the death of Chief Warrant Officer 2 Daniel Prial.

Prial, 30, a Warwick native and U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduate, died on Wednesday when the military helicopter he was in crashed near Mendon in upstate New York. 

“Today, the National Guard identified those members who were tragically killed in Wednesday’s crash,” Neuhaus said. “The release of Chief Warrant Officer Prial’s name brings this tragedy home to Orange County. Members of the military put their lives on the line every day and this accident underscores the dangers and risks that they face. I’m saddened by Daniel’s death and my thoughts and prayers are with his family; we are all appreciative of his and their sacrifice.”

The New York Army National Guard UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter crashed while on a routine training mission just after 6:30 p.m. The helicopter, also known as a medical Black Hawk, was based at the Army Aviation Support Facility at the Greater Rochester International Airport. The unit trains to perform medical evacuations and the crew was conducting night vision goggle proficiency training in the area.

National Guard soldiers Chief Warrant Officer 5 Steven Skoda and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Christian Koch were also killed in the crash.

For more information, contact Justin Rodriguez, Assistant to the County Executive for Communications and Media Relations at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@orangecountygov.com.

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