SEATTLE, Washington -- The two men killed in a Seattle news helicopter crash Tuesday morning have been identified as former longtime KOMO News photographer Bill Strothman and pilot Gary Pfitzner.

KOMO News reported that Strothman worked for the station for many years and earned 13 Emmy awards during his career. He was working as a freelance journalist and for the helicopter leasing company that operates the KOMO News chopper.

Pfitzner also was employed by the helicopter leasing company.

The news helicopter, which took off at 7:40 a.m. local time, dropped to the ground just after takeoff and landed on a car that burst into flames on Broad Street in the vicinity of the Space Needle, the Seattle Times reported.

The driver of a car hit, a 37-year-old man, was transported to an area hospital in critical condition after suffering burns to over 50 percent of his body.

The cause of the crash has yet to be determined.

Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said the safety of helicopter pads will be investigated.

St. Louis-based Helicopters Inc. owns the aircraft.