Three passengers in a medical helicopter have been in essential situation after the craft smashed into Freeway 50 in Sacramento — an influence so violent that first responders have been shocked anybody emerged alive. One passenger was ejected and landed 10 ft away from the chopper, and one other was pinned beneath the wreckage, authorities mentioned.
“I’m shocked that anybody really was speaking and awake or dwelling by way of all of this,” mentioned Sacramento Hearth Division spokesperson Capt. Justin Sylvia.
A purple REACH air ambulance helicopter crashed into the eastbound lanes of Freeway 50 simply west of 59th Road with three employees members on board at 7:08 p.m. Monday, he mentioned. Two feminine employees members and one male employees member have been transported to a hospital in essential situation.
The primary fireplace captain on scene used the assistance of about 15 bystanders to elevate a part of the helicopter off one of many victims who was trapped beneath, Sylvia mentioned. One other sufferer was rescued from a helicopter chair that was ejected through the crash.
It appeared that the helicopter augered into the grime embankment on the aspect of the freeway, tearing up weeds with its tail rotor earlier than skidding throughout 5 freeway lanes.
REACH air ambulances are used to move sufferers to hospitals, usually from rural or hard-to-reach locations. On the time of the crash, there have been no sufferers on board, and it was not instantly identified what prompted the accident.
“We’re conscious of an accident involving a REACH Air Medical helicopter on Freeway 50 in Sacramento this night and are protecting all these impacted in our ideas and prayers,” the corporate mentioned in a press release shared with The Occasions. “We’re within the strategy of figuring out the main points of this example, in addition to the situation of the REACH crew concerned, who have been all taken to space hospitals. We are going to proceed to offer info because it turns into obtainable.”
Based on flight monitoring web site FlightRader24, the helicopter had taken off from California Davis Medical Heart in Sacramento and was heading north earlier than the crash.
The incident prompted vital visitors pileups on Freeway 50. As of 8 p.m. the westbound lanes have been flowing, however the eastbound lanes will in all probability stay shut by way of the remainder of the evening, Sylvia mentioned.
A key concern is making certain that remaining gasoline on the helicopter doesn’t ignite because the Hearth Division and California Freeway Patrol examine the crash, he added.
