SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A large-scale response is underway after a medical helicopter crashed onto a freeway in Sacramento Monday evening.
The crash was reported just after 7 p.m. on eastbound Highway 50, just east of Stockton Boulevard.
Investigators say the helicopter had just taken off from UC Davis Medical Center heading to Redding when it went down near 59th Street.
REACH Air Medical services confirmed three crew members on board were hurt in the crash. They say no patients were on board.
A pilot, nurse and paramedic were taken to hospitals and were in critical condition. No one on the highway was injured, officials said, calling that “mind blowing” given that the helicopter crashed in the center of the highway.
“People reported that they basically saw the helicopter kind of going down quickly. So all the traffic slowed down,” said Captain Justin Sylvia, a spokesperson for the Sacramento Fire Department.
One of the people injured was trapped underneath the helicopter and a small crew from the fire department was able to work with people on the highway to push the aircraft off the woman to get her out and into an ambulance.
“It took every ounce of all approximately 15 people to move that aircraft up just enough to get her out,” he said.
No bystanders were hurt.
Fire officials say it’s fortunate that the fuel aboard the helicopter did not catch fire.
Federal investigators are expected to take over the crash investigation.
The CHP says the all eastbound lanes of Highway 50 will be shut down for an extended period of time.
Drivers are advised to avoid the area.
