Terrifying Helicopter Crash on California Freeway Leaves Three Injured Just Feet from Drivers

Table of Contents

• Helicopter Crash Overview
• Details of the Incident
• Witness Account
• Casualties and Response
• Investigation and Aftermath

THIS is the alarming moment a helicopter descends onto a freeway just feet away from astonished drivers in California.

Three individuals aboard are in critical condition after the medical aircraft lost control and crashed onto the busy road.

A helicopter has crashed onto a highway in California Emergency teams found the helicopter overturned on the road Footage captured the chopper flying low over Highway 50 near Howe Avenue in Sacramento prior to the crash

Footage captured the helicopter flying low over Highway 50 near Howe Avenue in Sacramento.

Within moments, it began to plummet towards the ground, with large clouds of smoke visible as it crashed.

Images depict the medical helicopter upside down in the center of the road.

Shattered glass and debris are scattered across the highway as firefighters and police surround the wreckage.

Around 15 courageous bystanders rushed to the crash site to assist in rescuing victims from the wreckage, authorities reported.

Motorist Davyd Bychkoviak was driving past shortly after 7 PM local time (3 AM UK time) as the helicopter spiraled through the air.

Mr. Bychkoviak stated: “I’m still shaken. It was a close call with death.

“The helicopter crashed just inches away from me. The dust flew into my face, and I could feel the wind from the propellers in my car.

“If it had landed on the road, there would have been multiple fatalities.”

A flight tracker indicated that the Airbus H-130 had taken off from the roof of UC Davis Medical Center just minutes before the crash.

The Sacramento Fire Department and the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the helicopter went down on the eastbound lanes of Highway 50 near Howe Avenue.

They noted that it was a helicopter providing air medical services.

REACH Air Medical Services later informed ABC7 news that three of its crew members were injured in the crash.

Captain Justin Sylvia from the Sacramento Fire Department confirmed that three individuals were “transported in critical condition” to nearby hospitals.

This included two females and one male, comprising a pilot, a nurse, and a paramedic.

No patients were aboard at the time of the incident.

During a press conference, Captain Sylvia added: “There was one victim trapped beneath the helicopter… [with] the assistance of civilians who were nearby, they managed to lift part of the helicopter and rescue that victim.

“There is a significant debris field surrounding the area at this point.

“The fortunate aspect for us is that the helicopter did not catch fire.”

A police officer inspects the wreckage of the helicopter Highway 50 near 44th Street was left at a standstill following the crash