A medical helicopter carrying a Porterville patient to a hospital crashed amid heavy rain and fog in killing all four people aboard, officials said.
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According to the FAA the tail number of the helicopter matches that of an American Ambulance Helicopter out of Fresno. At the same time, the dispatch center also notified the Kern County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office, since the last known location from the helicopter Global Positioning System placed it in Kern County.
“We call it the SkyLife family, “American Ambulance President/CEO Todd Valeri said”.
The dead included the patient, a pilot, a flight nurse and a flight paramedic.
Before it was confirmed that the people on the helicopter had died, SJCH President and CEO Doug Duffield issued the following statement: “This evening, we received word that a Sky Life helicopter en route to San Joaquin Community Hospital did not arrive as expected”. But it wasn’t clear what role weather played in the crash.
The crew departed at 6:52 p.m. Dispatch attempted to make contact with the crew at 7:05 p.m. After several unsuccessful attempts, authorities were alerted.
He said his team is still gathering information on weather and mechanics and had nothing to say about how they have contributed to the Thursday night crash.
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The media was kept miles back from the crash site as crews drive in and out of this private property in Kern County where helicopter wreckage spans about 465 feet. Kern County sheriff’s deputies secured a road leading to the site. Valeri said that SkyLife has never had an aircraft crash since it partnered with Rogers Helicopters Inc.in 1991.
