Funerals planned for helicopter crash victims

Funerals have been planned for some of the four victims of a fatal medical helicopter crash earlier this week in suburban Chicago.

An Air Angels helicopter transporting 1-year-old Kristin Blockinger of Leland struck a radio tower and crashed in Aurora. Also killed were the 69-year-old pilot, Del Waugh, paramedic Ronald Battiato and nurse William Mann.

Funeral services will be held for Battiato on Saturday afternoon in Frankfort. A service for Mann is planned for Sunday in Norridge.

Air Angels has set up a Web site for mourners to offer condolences. It is www.ourmemoryof.com/airangels.

Also on Saturday, Aurora police lifted a voluntary evacuation order surrounding a radio tower damaged in the crash. Police said that no further evacuations were expected.

On Friday, officials recommended about 1,000 people leave their homes near the tower while it was disassembled. They allowed residents to return when work stopped.

On Saturday morning authorities renewed the voluntary evacuation order while a helicopter guided damaged sections of the 734-foot tower to the ground. About 419 feet of the tower were taken down. Police say the remaining sections are stable.

Federal authorities are continuing their investigation into Wednesday night's accident