Crew injured in Texas HEMS accident
Three crew members were injured and the patient was killed when an Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter crashed on 4 October in Wichita Falls, Texas, US.
Air Evac Lifeteam has confirmed that one of its helicopter air ambulances, based in Duncan, Oklahoma, was involved in an accident at around 01:53 hrs on 4 October, while on approach to United Regional Health Care System in Wichita Falls, Texas. The company said that the cause of the accident is unknown, but is under investigation by its own officials, adding that the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board had also been notified.
The patient onboard the helicopter died at the scene. The three crew members survived the crash, but were hospitalised suffering serious injuries. Air Evac Lifeteam officials confirmed the employees onboard the aircraft as pilot Zechariah Smith, flight nurse Leslie Stewart and flight paramedic Erasmus J. Vandercolff IV. On 8 October, the company reported that Stewart had died from injuries sustained in the accident.
In a statement, Air Evac Lifeteam said it has taken a leadership role in safety through numerous quality and improvement initiatives, including the use of night vision goggles on all of its aircraft, flight simulators for scenario-based training of pilots, a pilot risk matrix system to assess risk factors of every flight, terrain alert warning systems, satellite weather systems onboard the aircraft and the use of the HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) Weather Tool.
Daniel Sweeza, vice-president of operations for Air Evac Lifeteam, said on 4 October: “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in this accident. Our focus at this time is on providing support for the crew members, their family and friends.”
Around 150 people including volunteer fire fighters and first responders attended a prayer vigil held on 5 October in Duncan for the injured crew members.
According to a City of Wichita Falls statement, the helicopter was a Bell 206 Long Ranger III.