UPDATE #2, 9:18 P.M.: The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has released more details on Tuesday's helicopter crash, saying the department was made aware of the crash at 5:13 p.m.
The helicopter was occupied by a female student pilot and a male teacher who took off from Venice Regional Airport, before making a rough emergency landing not far from there -- about a mile west of Kenisco Road in South Venice. SCSO Air-1 was able to locate the helicopter, though the area is heavily wooded and therefore difficult to reach by vehicle.
According to the sheriff's office, "Air-1 was able to land and transport a male and female to the Sarasota County Fire Department Emergency Medical Services which staged nearby."
The female student was airlifted to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with facial/head injuries, the extent of which are not clear.
The teacher was walking and taking following the accident, and was taken to Venice Bayfront Health in an ambulance.
The FAA will conduct an investigation into what caused the crash. Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Wendy Rose told ABC 7 on Tuesday night that the teacher indicated there was "some sort of failure" or "equipment trouble" with the helicopter.
UPDATE #1 5:44 P.M.: The Sarasota County Fire Department has confirmed that a private helicopter has crashed in a heavily wooded area in Lemon Bay Preserve, south of Venice Regional Airport. Two people were on board -- one of which was injured. The fire department is on the scene, but having trouble reaching the crash site because of how wooded the area is. ABC 7 has a reporter on route to the scene and we'll have further updates soon.
ORIGINAL: VENICE, Fla. -- We are receiving reports of a helicopter crash about two miles south of Venice regional Airport. According to Sarasota County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Wendy Rose, deputies are on their way to the scene now.
We will have updates on this developing story throughout the evening. Keep checking back for more...
