A medical helicopter crashed onto Highway 50 in Sacramento on Monday evening, leaving three crew members in critical condition.
The aircraft had just completed a patient drop-off at UC Davis Medical Center when it suffered what authorities described as an “in-air emergency.” It went down around 7 p.m., crash-landing in the middle of eastbound lanes near 59th Street. Fortunately, no motorists or bystander vehicles were injured in the incident.
When first responders arrived, they found one crew member trapped beneath the wreckage. In a dramatic display of community action, about 15 motorists helped emergency personnel lift the helicopter debris so firefighters could free the trapped individual. Fire Capt. Peter Vandersluis, hearing groans, called out commands to raise and hold the helicopter just long enough for the rescue to take place.
The three injured — a pilot, a nurse, and a paramedic — were all rushed to local hospitals in critical condition. Among them, one has been identified as Susie Smith, a longtime flight nurse based in Redding. Her friends and community members have expressed deep concern and have rallied behind her recovery.
Officials from the FAA and the NTSB have launched investigations into the crash to determine its cause and any contributing factors. In the meantime, the eastbound lanes of Highway 50 remained closed overnight, reopening before 2 a.m. the next day.
This remains a developing story, and more information may emerge as investigators piece together what led to this rare and harrowing event.
