Emergency Helipad Damaged at Chester City Park; Cleanup Underway

Photo courtesy of Mayor Robert Poynter

CHESTER, Texas — An emergency medical helipad at Chester City Park was damaged early Friday morning after a vehicle was driven onto the restricted area, prompting concern from city officials and a call for public assistance.

According to a statement released by Chester Mayor Robert Poynter , the incident occurred between approximately 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. Friday, when a vehicle entered the helipad — an area designated strictly for emergency use.

Photos Courtesy of Mayor Robert Poynter

City officials said the helipad has been used multiple times in recent weeks for emergency medical response and will require cleanup and repairs due to the damage.

Witnesses in the area reported being awakened by loud vehicle noise during the incident. The mayor stated the vehicle involved was believed to have no exhaust system and a cattle guard bumper, and officials initially suspected the same vehicle may have been involved in a damaged road sign along U.S. Highway 287 that was knocked down overnight.

Following the incident, city officials set a deadline for the responsible party to come forward before charges were pursued, offering a reward for information leading to identification.

UPDATE: Responsible Party Comes Forward

Later Friday, Mayor Robert Poynter provided an update confirming that the individual responsible has come forward and acknowledged their involvement.

According to the mayor, the individual has accepted responsibility for cleaning and repairing the damaged helipad and was actively working to correct the damage as of Friday.

City officials emphasized that damage to public property — especially infrastructure used for emergency response — poses a serious safety concern and will not be tolerated.

Anyone with additional information related to the incident is encouraged to contact city officials.