The pilot in yesterday’s helicopter crash off Apollo Beach has been identified as John Lawrence Ward, 60, of Davis Islands.

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputies say Ward's Robinson R-22 helicopter crashed in shallow waters off Apollo Beach around 3 p.m. yesterday, Nov. 30. The flight originated from Clearwater’s Tampa Bay Aviation. The Federal Aviation Administration has been assisting the sheriff’s office in its investigation. No cause for the crash has been determined yet.

A search for Ward was called off last night, but will resume today, a sheriff’s office media release says.

Stay with Patch for updates as they become available.

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