A medical helicopter crashed onto a busy highway in Sacramento, California, United States (US), on Monday, leaving three people critically injured.
The aircraft had just transported a patient to a hospital and was returning to base when it began losing altitude before crashing onto Highway 50. One of the victims was trapped under the helicopter following the impact.
A small crew from the local fire department and several bystanders on the highway worked together to lift the aircraft off the trapped woman, allowing her to be rescued and taken to an ambulance.
No motorists were injured in the incident, which Sacramento Fire Department Captain Justin Sylvia described as ‘mind-blowing’ considering the helicopter went down in the middle of the road, blocking both eastbound lanes.
He explained, ‘People reported that they basically saw the helicopter kind of going down quickly. So all the traffic slowed down.’
The pilot, nurse, and paramedic on board were all hospitalised after the crash, while the cause of the incident remains under investigation.
REACH Air Medical, the company that owns the helicopter, stated in a press release that it is ‘keeping all those impacted in our thoughts and prayers.’
The company added, ‘We are in the process of determining the details of this situation, as well as the condition of the REACH crew involved, who were all taken to area hospitals.’
Sacramento city councillor Lisa Kaplan, who was on a police ride-along responding to the crash, said plumes of white smoke were rising from the wreckage.
She commented, ‘It’s really sombering and sobering. I am up flying with sheriff pilots that do this day in and day out. And it really makes you grateful for every day and grateful for our officers and our medical pilots.’