A medical helicopter experienced a catastrophic in-flight emergency, resulting in a crash on a Sacramento highway on Monday evening. The incident left three crew members, including a woman who was trapped under the wreckage, in critical condition. The helicopter was returning from a patient transport mission when the accident occurred just after 7 p.m., according to Sacramento Fire Department spokesperson, Captain Justin Sylvia.
The crew, consisting of a pilot, a nurse, and a paramedic, were all transported to local hospitals. Remarkably, no one on the busy highway was injured in the crash, a fact that Captain Sylvia described as “mind-blowing.” The helicopter had crashed in the center of the highway, causing a significant disruption to traffic.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the helicopter descending rapidly, prompting drivers to slow down. One of the injured crew members was pinned under the wreckage. A small team from the fire department, with assistance from bystanders, managed to lift the aircraft enough to free her and get her into an ambulance. Captain Sylvia noted that it took the combined strength of approximately 15 people to move the aircraft.
The crash resulted in the closure of the eastbound lanes of Highway 50, as reported by Officer Mike Carrillo, a spokesperson for the Valley Division of California Highway Patrol. The helicopter was operated by REACH Air Medical, who released a statement expressing their thoughts and prayers for those affected.
The company is currently working to ascertain the details of the incident and the condition of their crew members. Images shared online showed a long line of cars backed up behind the crashed helicopter on Highway 50.
Officer Carrillo stated that the cause of the crash is still under investigation, with emergency crews and the California Highway Patrol present at the scene. Sacramento City Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan, who was on a ride-along with law enforcement responding to the crash, described seeing plumes of white smoke emanating from the wreckage. She expressed her gratitude for the daily risks taken by officers and medical pilots.