Three injured in medical helicopter crash on California highway

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - Three people are in critical condition after a medical helicopter crashed on a California highway Monday night.

According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the crash happened just after 7:00 p.m.

The Sacramento Fire Department says the three people injured in the crash were all on board the helicopter.

There was no patient on board, the fire department said, but there was a pilot, nurse and paramedic on board.

"The lucky portion for us, I'd say, is the fact that the helicopter did not catch on fire, because then we would have an additional problem to that. When we operate on these freeways with any type of fire risk, we don't have fire hydrants, so all that water would have to be brought in, and it being jet fuel that's loaded into these aircrafts, would have been very hot and very intense fire. So fortunately, we did not see any part of that. We're extremely lucky that there were only three victims. It's unfortunate they're in critical condition, but they all of our ambulances were off scene with transportation and care being performed on these victims within 20 minutes of the incident."

Captain Justin Sylvia, Sacramento Fire Department

Fire officials say bystanders helped to free one of the injured from the wreckage, and first responders were able to render aid quickly.

"You always think of helicopters being the helping. So you don't, you know the helping. You know you can you hear them going to and from the hospital, hopefully helping people, you know, get the care that they need. So no, you never think of them crashing and sad to hear this. But yeah, it looks like CHP and everybody there is taking care of them and and getting getting what they need."

Victoria Rodriguez Hinojosa, witness

It's not clear what caused the crash, but the NTSB and FAA will be investigating.