Three people are fighting for their lives after a medical helicopter crashed onto Highway 50 in Sacramento, California, on Monday evening, prompting emergency lane closures and heavy traffic disruptions.
According to the Sacramento Fire Department, the helicopter—carrying a pilot, nurse, and paramedic—went down shortly after 7:00 p.m. local time, just minutes after taking off from UC Davis Medical Center. All three crew members were rushed to nearby hospitals in critical condition.
Authorities confirmed that no patients were aboard and no vehicles were struck in the crash. Eyewitness footage shared on social media captured the aircraft hovering above cars before slamming onto the median in a burst of smoke.
Bystanders reportedly helped emergency crews lift the wreckage to free one person trapped underneath. The California Highway Patrol closed eastbound lanes of US-50 and nearby ramps, warning drivers to expect major delays.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identified the helicopter as belonging to REACH Air Medical Services, a subsidiary of Global Medical Response. Company spokesperson Kirsten Gurmendi confirmed the crash and said an internal investigation is underway.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are assisting in determining the cause of the crash.
