Three people are in critical condition after a medical helicopter crashed Monday evening on Highway 50 in Sacramento, California, according to local fire officials.
The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on the eastbound lanes near 59th Street, when the helicopter suddenly went down, scattering debris across the highway. All three individuals aboard — a pilot, a nurse, and a paramedic — were injured in the crash.
Sacramento Fire Department Captain Justin Sylvia confirmed that the victims, two women and a man, were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. He described the scene as chaotic but credited nearby civilians for their quick response in helping firefighters rescue one of the victims.
“The captain immediately sequestered the help of just civilians that were standing around. They were able to lift part of that helicopter out and get that victim out,” Sylvia said, noting the teamwork that helped save a life.
Officials said there was no patient on board at the time of the crash. FAA records show the helicopter was registered to REACH Air Medical Services, which provides emergency air transport in California and other western states.
Sylvia described the crash site as having “a large debris field” and called it “extremely lucky” that no motorists or bystanders were hurt, given how busy the highway typically is during the evening.
Aerial footage from local news outlets showed the red medical helicopter lying on its side, its cockpit heavily damaged and debris scattered across several lanes of traffic.
Emergency crews and ambulances arrived at the scene within minutes after receiving reports of the crash around 7:08 p.m. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) temporarily shut down all eastbound lanes of Highway 50 as rescue and cleanup operations got underway.
CHP spokesperson Officer Michael Harper warned that the closure would last for “an extended period of time” as investigators worked to clear the wreckage and determine what caused the crash.
Authorities from the FAA, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Sacramento Police, and REACH Air Medical Services have been notified and are assisting with the investigation.
Flight data from Flightradar24 indicated the helicopter had departed from the University of California Davis Medical Center shortly before the crash and was heading north when it went down.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is expected to conduct a full investigation into the cause of the crash in the coming days.
