THIS is the terrifying moment a helicopter crashes onto a freeway just feet away from shocked drivers in California.
Three people on board are in a critical condition after the medical aircraft lost control before plunging towards the busy road and smashing into the ground.
ViralPressA helicopter has crashed onto a highway in California[/caption]
AlamyEmergency teams found the helicopter upside down on the road[/caption]
ViralPressFootage showed the chopper flying low above Highway 50 near Howe Avenue in Sacramento before it crashed[/caption]
Footage showed the chopper flying low above Highway 50 near Howe Avenue in Sacramento.
Within seconds it started plummeting towards the ground with huge plumes of smoke seen billowing across the highway as it smashed.
Pictures show the medical helicopter upside down in the middle of the road.
Smashed glass and debris can be seen strewn across the highway as firefighters and cops surround the wreckage.
Around 15 brave bystanders rushed to the crash site to help drag victims from the wreckage, authorities said.
Motorist Davyd Bychkoviak was driving past just after 7pm local time (3am UK time) as the helicopter spiralled through the air.
Mr Bychkoviak said: “I’m still shaking. It was a brush with death.
“The helicopter crashed inches away from me. The dust kicked up into my face, and I could feel the wind of the propellers in the car.
“If it had crashed on the road there would have been multiple fatalities.”
A flight tracker showed the Airbus H-130 had left from the roof of UC Davis Medical Center just minutes before the crash.
The Sacramento Fire Department and Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter went down on the eastbound lanes of Highway 50 near Howe Avenue.
They added that it was a helicopter that provides air medical services.
REACH Air Medical Services later confirmed to ABC7 news that three of its crew were hurt in the crash.
Captain Justin Sylvia, from the Sacramento Fire Department, confirmed three people were “transported in critical condition” to local hospitals.
These included two females and a male made up of a pilot, nurse and paramedic.
No patient was on board at the time of the disaster.
Speaking at a press conference today Captain Sylvia added: “There was one victim that was trapped underneath the helicopter… [with] the help of just civilians that were standing around, they were able to lift part of that helicopter out and get that victim out.
“There’s a pretty large debris field around that at this point.
“The lucky portion for us, I’d say, is the fact that the helicopter did not catch on fire.”
Avalon.redA cop inspects the wreckage of the helicopter[/caption]
AlamyHighway 50 near 44th Street was left at a standstill after the crash[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
