WASHINGTON: Three individuals had been in important situation after a medical helicopter crashed onto a California freeway on Monday (Oct 6), US media reported, with native authorities saying emergency crews had closed some visitors lanes.
The helicopter crashed simply after 7pm (Tuesday, 10am, Singapore time) on eastbound Freeway 50 in state capital Sacramento, with flight-tracking knowledge displaying it had lifted off from UC Davis Medical Heart simply minutes earlier than.
A pilot, nurse and paramedic had been on board and brought to the hospital after the crash in important situation, the Sacramento Fireplace Division was quoted as saying by CNN.
No affected person was on board the helicopter and no highway autos had been concerned within the crash, officers mentioned.
Footage posted on social media confirmed the helicopter hovering above a row of vehicles earlier than crashing subsequent to the median in a cloud of smoke.
Bystanders helped first responders elevate the helicopter to succeed in one individual trapped beneath, fireplace officers had been quoted as saying.
The South Sacramento California Freeway Patrol Space workplace mentioned the US-50 eastbound and two ramps onto that freeway had been “shut down with an unknown ETA to reopen”.
“Please use alternate routes and anticipate delays. Further closures and congestions doable within the space,” the workplace wrote on X on Monday night time.
The reason for the crash continues to be being investigated, with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Workplace saying that it’s helping the freeway patrol, CBS Information reported.
Sacramento councilmember Lisa Kaplan posted images displaying lengthy traces of visitors on the freeway, including that the freeway was “blocked”.
US Federal Aviation Administration data confirmed that the helicopter was registered to REACH Air Medical Companies, CNN reported.
Kirsten Gurmendi, public relations director at REACH’s mum or dad International Medical Response, mentioned the corporate was conscious of the accident and that no affected person was on board.
“We’re within the means of figuring out the small print of this example, in addition to the situation of the REACH crew concerned, who had been all taken to space hospitals,” Gurmendi advised AFP.
AFP has contacted native authorities for remark.
