Photo: SCM Jeans / iStock Editorial / Getty Images
A medical helicopter crash on Monday evening (October 6) critically injured three crew members on Highway 50 in Sacramento, California. The REACH Air Medical Services helicopter, an Airbus H130, went down shortly after taking off from the UC Davis Medical Center around 7 p.m. The helicopter was en route to Redding when it crashed near 59th Street, according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
The helicopter carried no patients, but the pilot, a nurse, and a paramedic were on board. All three were critically injured and quickly transported to nearby hospitals. First responders and bystanders, including one who crawled under the aircraft, helped lift the helicopter to free a trapped crew member.
The crash did not involve any other vehicles, and no civilians on the freeway were injured. Sacramento Fire Department spokesperson Capt. Justin Sylvia noted that the situation could have been worse if a fire had ignited. Heavy traffic and construction on the freeway complicated emergency response efforts.
The freeway was closed for several hours following the crash, with eastbound lanes reopening around 1:20 a.m. Tuesday. REACH Air Medical Services is cooperating with investigators and has expressed its concern for the crew members involved.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).