Medical Helicopter Crash on California Freeway Leaves Three Critically Injured
- A medical helicopter crashed onto a Sacramento freeway Monday night, leaving three crew members critically injured
- Passersby and emergency responders worked together to rescue a trapped victim from beneath the wreckage
- Authorities praised the swift response and noted the absence of fire despite the presence of jet fuel
Three people were hospitalised in critical condition after a medical helicopter crashed onto a California freeway on Monday night, according to emergency officials.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:08 p.m. on eastbound U.S. Highway 50 near 59th Street in Sacramento, Officer Michael Harper of the California Highway Patrol confirmed during a press briefing. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Source: Getty Images
Sacramento Fire Department Captain Justin Sylvia told reporters that the injured included a pilot, a nurse and a paramedic, two women and one man.
One of the victims became trapped beneath the wreckage and was rescued with the help of passing motorists and passengers, who assisted firefighters in lifting part of the helicopter to free the individual.
Civilians assist in rescue after helicopter crash
Sylvia described the scene as chaotic but noted the swift and coordinated response from both emergency services and civilians.
“We’re extremely lucky that there were only three victims. It’s unfortunate they’re in critical condition, but all of our ambulances were off scene with transportation and care being performed on these victims within 20 minutes of the incident,” he said.
Only one fire engine had initially reached the crash site, prompting the fire captain to call on bystanders for assistance.
Sylvia said the helicopter had not caught fire, despite carrying jet fuel, which he described as highly flammable. “It being jet fuel that’s loaded onto these aircrafts, it would have been a very hot and intense fire,” he added.
California freeway
California’s freeway system is one of the most extensive and heavily trafficked in the United States, serving millions of commuters daily.
Key routes like U.S. Highway 50 connect major cities and regions, playing a vital role in transportation and emergency services. These freeways are engineered for high-speed travel but can become congested, especially during peak hours or incidents.
In urban centres such as Sacramento, freeways are critical lifelines for medical, commercial and public transit. Accidents or closures on these roads often lead to significant delays and require coordinated responses from law enforcement, fire departments and traffic management agencies.
Reach Air medical services confirms crash on highway 50
Reach Air Medical Services later confirmed in a statement posted to Instagram that one of its helicopters had crashed on Highway 50. The company said it was “keeping all those impacted in our thoughts and prayers.”
Aerial footage from NBC affiliate KCRA showed the red helicopter lying on its side with a smashed cockpit and debris scattered across the road. The aircraft bore a white circle with a red medical cross on its fuselage.
Local resident Brett Berkstresser told KCRA he had been in his backyard when he heard sirens “coming from what seemed to be every direction.”
He described the emergency response as overwhelming, saying, “The sirens was crazy, just the amount of the emergency services.”
Source: Getty Images
Helicopter carrying 2 people crashes
Legit.ng earlier reported that a R44 helicopter carrying two people crashed at Moorabbin Airport, Melbourne, on April 17, minutes after takeoff, leaving one occupant injured.
The incident occurred at approximately 2.30pm local time (4.30am GMT) during a training operation, with the aircraft reaching an altitude of 750 feet before coming down near the runway.
According to Independent UK, rescue teams swiftly pulled both individuals from the wreckage, with one person suffering minor injuries and taken to The Alfred hospital for further treatment.
Source: Legit.ng
