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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Tourist reportedly paralyzed by crash

Advertiser Staff

A New Hampshire woman injured in Sunday's tour helicopter crash on Kaua'i suffered a spinal injury and is paralyzed from the waist down, New Hampshire television station WMUR reported on its Web site yesterday.

Judy Barton, 51, of Newport, N.H., was in serious condition at The Queen's Medical Center, a hospital spokesperson said. Her husband Douglas, 60, also was in serious condition at Queen's. He suffered a broken arm, WMUR said.

Another passenger, Dania Hansen, 60, of Los Altos, Calif., is in serious condition at Wilcox Hospital on Kaua'i.

Passenger Michael Gershon, 60, of Walnut Creek, Calif., was killed in the crash of Inter-Island Helicopters' Hughes 500.

Pilot Donald Torres was released from Wilcox on Sunday night.

Judy Barton works in downtown Newport, WMUR said.

"She's been with us for 23 years and is an absolute gem and a friend," said Bob Wilkie, president and CEO of Sugar River Savings Bank, according to the station.

Doug Barton is a machinist, the station said.

"Yesterday was an upsetting day, very upsetting," said Ken Ricketts, general manager of Latva Machine Co.