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.
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“The tragedy that occurred is further evidence of how unsafe it is for the men and women who are out there trying to save lives”, EMS Director, Fresno County EMS Director Dan Lynch said in a press conference.
MCFARLAND, Calif. (AP) No obvious causes have presented themselves and no distress call went out from a medical helicopter that crashed and killed all four people aboard in Central California, authorities said. But it was unable reach the aircraft, Lynch said.
Debris from the SkyLife 4 helicopter was found north of the city of Bakersfield about 30 minutes after it was reported missing after taking off from an airport in Fresno, the Kern County Fire Department said.
Ray Pruitt with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office said the only way to get to the crash site is on dirt roads.
The pilot was Thomas Hampl, 49, the nurse was Marco Lopez, 42, and the paramedic was Kyle Juarez, 37, Valeri said Friday. This was the first fatal incident since the company was founded in 1991, they also said.
“They were very well liked, these individuals”, Lynch said. The name of the patient has not been released.
Local stations say there was heavy fog and winds in the area where the SkyLife helicopter was flying.
The company transports about 1,000 patients per year from airports in Fresno and Visalia.
Antczak reported from Los Angeles.
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The study urged evaluation of each flight’s risk before each mission and formal procedures for dispatch and monitoring of flights, using a dispatcher with specific aviation knowledge and experience to provide the pilot “with consistent and critical weather information, assisting in go/no go decisions, and monitoring the flight’s position”. It urged that all emergency medical service operations be conducted under the stricter requirements.
