Three people were critically injured when a medical helicopter crashed on Highway 50 in Sacramento, California, on Monday evening, authorities said.
The helicopter, operated by REACH Air Medical Services, went down shortly after 7pm on the eastbound lanes near Howe Avenue, according to the Sacramento Fire Department. The three crew members—a pilot, a nurse and a paramedic—were taken to hospital for treatment.
Captain Justin Sylvia of the Sacramento Fire Department said the helicopter had just dropped off a patient at a nearby hospital and was returning to base when it experienced an “in-air emergency”. He described it as “mind-blowing” that no vehicles on the busy freeway were involved in the crash.
A female crew member was found trapped under the wreckage, and the other two were located on the roadway. Firefighters and around 15 bystanders lifted the aircraft to free the trapped person before additional units arrived.
REACH Air Medical Services said in a statement it was working to confirm the condition of the crew. Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty called the crash “harrowing” and said the cause remains under investigation.
The eastbound lanes of Highway 50 were closed, causing long traffic queues. One lane has since reopened at 59th Street, but motorists are advised to expect delays and use alternate routes.
