CARLISLE — A Coal Region native was killed when his small plane collided with a State Police helicopter near Carlisle.
57-year-old Dr. Paul Sokoloski of Hershey was piloting the plane that flew into a hovering state police helicopter. State police say the plane veered from the runway and struck the helicopter during a training exercise
Sokoloski was a 1987 Shamokin Area High School graduate and an emergency physician with Penn State Health. He was the plane’s only occupant.
The News Item spoke with Northumberland County Career and Technology Center Administrative Director James Catino who fondly remembered his high school classmate as a “solid pilot,” “great doctor” and “proud father.” Catino said Sokoloski was a Coal Region success,”
. Both troopers aboard survived and were hospitalized. One trooper was released from the hospital , while the other was improving. The National Transportation Safety Board and FAA are investigating.
