Helicopter Crash Shuts Highway 50 in Sacramento
A REACH medical helicopter crashed onto Highway 50 in Sacramento, shutting the major freeway and sending three people aboard to a local hospital in critical condition, with video showing the aircraft did not catch fire. Bystanders — more than a dozen at the request of Sacramento Fire crews — lifted the wreckage to free a pinned nurse identified by family as Suzie Smith of Redding, and the rescue was captured on video.
Public Safety
Transportation
Accidents
📌 Key Facts
- Dramatic video shows a REACH medical helicopter falling onto Highway 50 in Sacramento; footage indicates the aircraft did not catch fire after the crash.
- Three people aboard were critically injured and remained in critical condition at a Sacramento hospital the following evening.
- More than a dozen bystanders physically lifted the crashed helicopter wreckage to free a pinned nurse after Sacramento Fire Department crews called on drivers for help.
- The pinned nurse was identified to CBS Sacramento by family as Suzie Smith of Redding.
- Video of the bystander rescue was captured by Terry De Crescenzo.
📰 Sources (3)
Bystanders describe lifting Sacramento helicopter wreckage to free pinned victim after crash landing
New information:
- Bystanders—more than a dozen people—physically lifted the crashed REACH medical helicopter to free a pinned nurse.
- The nurse aboard was identified to CBS Sacramento by family as Suzie Smith of Redding.
- Sacramento Fire Department said its crew called on drivers to help free a pinned passenger; video of the bystander rescue was captured by Terry De Crescenzo.
- Three victims from the crash remained in critical condition at a Sacramento hospital the following evening.
Dramatic video shows medical helicopter falling onto Sacramento freeway
New information:
- CBS published dramatic video footage showing the moment the medical helicopter fell onto Highway 50.
- Video/coverage confirms three people aboard were critically injured.
- The footage and reporting note the aircraft did not catch fire after the crash.