The quick rundown
Short version: a medical helicopter went down on eastbound Highway 50 near 59th Street Monday night, and the three people on board — a pilot, a nurse and a paramedic — were seriously hurt and taken to hospitals. The chopper had just dropped a patient at a hospital and was heading back when an in-air emergency forced it down shortly after 7 p.m.
Who was involved
The aircraft belonged to a medical transport service called REACH. There were no cars involved in the crash, which officials described as astonishing given that the helicopter ended up in the middle of the freeway. The Sacramento Fire Department and officers on scene reported that two crew members were found in the road and one was trapped beneath the wreckage when first responders arrived.
Rescue scene — chaos and heroics
First responders and a few nearby good Samaritans jumped in to help. A fire captain along with bystanders were able to lift the aircraft enough to free the trapped crew member so emergency care could begin. All three were then transported to area hospitals with critical injuries.
Traffic, photos and video
Commuters got an up-close look: someone driving in the opposite lanes captured video of the crash, and news crews photographed the helicopter upside down across several lanes, debris everywhere. Traffic was squeezed down initially — one lane was opened near 59th Street to let people through, and authorities were able to fully reopen Highway 50 by early Tuesday morning.
Who’s investigating
The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Local and federal agencies are on it: the California Highway Patrol handled the scene, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office offered assistance, and both the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration will be involved in the probe. REACH issued a statement saying they are focused on finding out what happened and that their thoughts are with everyone affected.
A final note
It’s a startling reminder that even routine medical flights can go sideways. Officials are piecing together the timeline and the exact reason for the in-air emergency — until then, investigators will be digging through data, videos and eyewitness accounts.
About the reporter
Richard Ramos is a web producer who grew up in Sacramento and studied journalism at California State University, Sacramento.
