Three Killed in N.M. Medical Helicopter Crash
July 17--A Tristate Careflight helicopter that took off from Santa Fe crashed and burned early this morning on a ranch near Tucumcari, State Police said. Three people were killed, according to a St. Vincent hospital spokesman.
Hospital spokesman Arturo Delgado said a pilot and two medical personnel were killed when the helicopter crashed en route to pick up a patient. He did not know what medical emergency the helicopter was responding to or what came of the patient.
State Police contacted the ranch owner, and one of his employees searched the area and found the helicopter on rocky hillside, engulfed in flames.
The National Transportation Safety Board will be in charge of the investigation, said FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford. Lunsford said there were a pilot and two crew members on the helicopter, which was flyig to Tucumcari to pick up a patient. "The aircraft was destroyed in the accident," he said.
Careflight's director of marketing, John Cole, said the pilot, a registered nurse and a paramedic were on board and all were based at the company's Santa Fe facility at the Santa Fe County Airport. He said the company is expected to release a statement later today. "It's a bad day for us," he said.
Police were told that Careflight had lost contact with the helicopter at 2:36 a.m. shortly after it left Santa Fe.
Delgado, in a statement, offered condolences to the families of the crash victims. The full statement is below:
"We were saddened to learn this morning that a Care(Flight) helicopter from Santa Fe crashed early this morning in Guadalupe County during a flight to pick up a patient in Tucumcari. We also learned the crash was fatal to those who were onboard.
These crew members were our colleagues, our friends, and our neighbors. Our hearts, and our prayers, go out to the loved ones of these extraordinary individuals, who were committed to saving lives every single day.
CareFirst is a vital partner of CHRISTUS St. Vincent. This skilled and compassionate crew transported patients to and from our hospital on a daily basis. Countless New Mexicans are eternally grateful for their dedication, service, and immediate response during critical times.
The impact these individuals had on our community and our hospital was substantial, and their absence will be felt by all.
We offer our sincere condolences to everyone who is affected by this tragedy."
According to FAA records, the helicopter was a 2000, A109E manufactured by Agusta Westland, a joint Anglo-Italian company and it was registered to Tristate Careflight LLC headquartered in Bullhead City, Ariz.
--This is a developing story. Additional information will be added as it becomes available.
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Copyright 2014 - Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
