A medical helicopter crashed onto a highway in the US state of California on Monday, resulting in three critical injuries, officials said. Emergency crews closed some traffic lanes.
The incident occurred just after 7 pm local time (0200 GMT Tuesday) on the eastbound Highway 50 in Sacramento. According to flight-tracking data, the helicopter had just lifted off from the UC Davis Medical Center minutes earlier.
There were no patients on board, and the injured include a pilot, a nurse, and a paramedic, officials told CNN. Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty said the three individuals are being treated in the hospital.
According to Captain Justin Sylvia, a spokesperson for the Sacramento Fire Department, a pilot, a nurse, and a paramedic were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
He called it "mind blowing" that no one on the highway was injured, given that the helicopter crashed in the center of it.
Footage circulated on social media showing the helicopter hovering over cars on the highway before crashing into a cloud of smoke.
What did the officials say?
"Please use alternate routes and expect delays. Additional closures and congestion possible in the area," the South Sacremento California Highway Patrol Area office said on X, adding that it had closed off certain routes.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The aircraft was a REACH Air Medical helicopter. Kirsten Gurmendi, the public relations director at REACH's parent company, Global Medical Response, said that they are aware of the accident.
"We are in the process of determining the details of this situation, as well as the condition of the REACH crew involved, who were all taken to area hospitals," Gurmendi said.
