Three passengers in a medical helicopter had been in important situation after the craft smashed into Freeway 50 in Sacramento — an impression so violent that first responders had been surprised anybody emerged alive. One passenger was ejected and landed 10 ft away from the chopper, and one other was pinned beneath the wreckage, authorities stated.
“I’m shocked that anybody really was speaking and awake or residing by all of this,” stated Sacramento Hearth Division spokesperson Capt. Justin Sylvia.
A pink REACH air ambulance helicopter crashed into the eastbound lanes of Freeway 50 simply west of 59th Avenue with three employees members on board at 7:08 p.m. Monday, he stated. Two feminine employees members and one male employees member had been transported to a hospital in important situation.
The primary hearth captain on scene used the assistance of about 15 bystanders to carry a part of the helicopter off one of many victims who was trapped beneath, Sylvia stated. One other sufferer was rescued from a helicopter chair that was ejected in the course of the crash.
It appeared that the helicopter augered into the filth embankment on the facet 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, typically 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 brought on the accident.
The incident brought on important site visitors pileups on Freeway 50. As of 8 p.m. the westbound lanes had been flowing, however the eastbound lanes will in all probability stay shut by the remainder of the evening, Sylvia stated.
A key concern is guaranteeing that remaining gasoline on the helicopter doesn’t ignite because the Hearth Division and California Freeway Patrol examine the crash, he added.
