The 26-year-old man driving the car struck by Caron and a 25-year-old woman passenger suffered minor injuries.
The April 29,1975, image captured by United Press International photographer Hubert van Es was among the last pictures sent out of Saigon as the city fell to North Vietnamese forces, effectively ending America's controversial years-long involvement in Vietnam.
But it wasn't until some years later, as the result of investigative work by People magazine — which included examination of other photographs taken that day and some expert analysis — that it was proved conclusively that van Es had photographed Caron's helicopter.
In an August 2020 interview with the Northwest Florida Daily News, Caron recounted the circumstances surrounding the photograph. He estimated there were 15 people aboard the helicopter when it lifted off the roof of the Pittman Building, home to some of the few Americans remaining in Saigon.