A medical helicopter crashed on a highway in Sacramento, critically injuring three people aboard, including a woman who was pinned underneath and was rescued with the help of motorists who lifted part of the aircraft, according to officials.
The helicopter had taken a patient to a hospital and was on the way back when it experienced an in-air emergency shortly after 7 p.m. Monday, said Captain Justin Sylvia, a spokesperson for the Sacramento Fire Department. He mentioned that the helicopter crashed upside-down, resulting in a large debris field.
The pilot, nurse, and paramedic were taken to hospitals and are in critical condition. Remarkably, no one on the highway was injured despite the crash occurring in the roadway.
“It’s really mind-blowing,” Sylvia stated regarding the lack of injuries among motorists. “People reported that they saw the helicopter going down quickly, prompting all traffic to slow down.”
One individual was trapped beneath the helicopter, and a small team from the fire department, working alongside people on the highway, was able to lift the helicopter enough to free her.
“It took every ounce of all approximately 15 people to move that aircraft up just enough to get her out,” he said.
The helicopter did not catch on fire, according to Sylvia.
The crash led to the closure of the eastbound lanes of Highway 50, as reported by officer Mike Carrillo of the California Highway Patrol.
According to the REACH Air Medical, the company operating the helicopter, they are focusing on the well-being of those affected and are currently investigating the crash circumstances.
Images from the scene depict a long line of cars backed up on Highway 50, indicating the significant disruption caused by the accident. “The cause of the crash is still under investigation,” Carrillo mentioned, while emergency crews remained on the scene.
Sacramento City Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan, who was riding along with law enforcement responding to the incident, noted that there were plumes of white smoke coming from the helicopter. “It’s a really sobering experience. It makes you grateful for every day and thankful for our officers and our medical pilots,” she reflected.
