Categories: Local NewsTop Stories

Bystanders describe lifting wreckage of Sacramento helicopter to free victim trapped after crash landing

Three victims remained in critical condition at a Sacramento hospital Tuesday evening, a day later a medical helicopter crashed on Highway 50.

On board the REACH flight were the pilot, a paramedic and a nurse who was identified to CBS Sacramento by her family as Suzie Smith of Redding. The pilot and rescuer have not yet been identified.

The Sacramento Fire Department said that when they arrived on scene after 7 p.m., their crew asked drivers to help them lift the helicopter to free Smith, who was trapped under the wreckage.

Terry De Crescenzo captured the moment on video as her husband, Ken, and more than a dozen other bystanders ran to help.

Bystanders lifting the crashed medical helicopter on Highway 50

Therese De Crescenzo


It came after the helicopter crashed just a few feet in front of their car. No drivers or passengers on the highway were injured.

“I realized that no other cars in the area had been hit, and I wondered: How did this happen?” asked Terry, with Ken calling it a “miracle.”

The group of people are captured on video lifting the helicopter as paramedics free Smith.

“We just ran up to it and found a place to grab the helicopter and we just pushed it and lifted it as best we could, we had to lift it,” Ken said.

Another driver, Priscilla Cochran-Navarra, also ran to help. She was in the first row of cars that suddenly braked as the helicopter crashed before her eyes.

“At first a few of us tried to lift the helicopter, and at first when I felt how heavy it was, like there was no movement, it wasn’t moving at all. But when about 15 people came to do it, it seemed like the impossible became possible,” Cochran-Navarra said.

Not only that, Cochran-Navarra also says she was the first to go to Smith’s side, comforting the nurse when she was stuck and pleading for help.

“I laid down on the ground and just told him, ‘You’re alive. You’re alive. Stay still.’ I said, “You are not alone. I’m not going to leave you. You are not alone. It was just crazy. It was crazy. Sorry, I’m still playing it. She’s screaming for help, like, “Help me.” Help me,” Cochran-Navarra said through tears.

She said she was proud to see her city come together in this moment.

“It was good to see Sacramento united,” Cochran-Navarra said. “I don’t think I’ve felt this way since 9/11, you know? Back then, everyone came together. It didn’t matter what you did, who you were, who you loved, who you pray to. None of that made any difference.”

These good Samaritans say they are grateful they were in the right place at the right time to help and no one was hurt.

“My first thought was, this is amazing. And I mean it honestly, no one questioned it. Everyone was like, these are human beings who need us, and everyone just ran to help them,” Terry said.

Cochran-Navarra said her prayer is to be reunited with Smith after she hopefully makes a full recovery.

“I hope I can just, just tell her how incredibly happy I am that she’s alive and I’ll tell her I’m very grateful that I was able to help her,” Cochran-Navarra said through tears.

Source link

Daniel White

Daniel White – Breaking News Editor Delivers fast, accurate breaking news updates across all categories.

Recent Posts

Bondi is the most “reprehensible” prosecutor in the history of the United States

On Tuesday, on the program "Outfront" by CNN, Ty Cobb, former special advisor to the White House and Criticism of…

3 minutes ago

Man dies days after being charged in 1973 killing of Connecticut woman

A man indicted last month in the 1973 murder of a Connecticut woman has died while serving time for kidnapping…

6 minutes ago

Bihar elections: JDU, BJP to fight for equal seats, Chirag Paswan may get 20, says report

With the Bihar Assembly elections just months away, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is in the final stages of seat-sharing…

7 minutes ago

Indian messaging application that wants to tackle WhatsApp

Cherylann MollanBBC News, Bombay AndNeyaz FaroqueeBBC News, DelhiGetty ImagesIndia is the largest WhatsApp market and application is almost a way…

9 minutes ago

Microsoft confirms the delay in increasing the price of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in certain countries, but not in the United States or in the United Kingdom

Microsoft has delayed the controversial increase in the price of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in some countries, but not…

10 minutes ago

Captain Clutch: Aaron Judge does everything and saves the Yankees with an “incredible swing” against the Blue Jays

New York (AP) - When New York Yankees needed someone to save them on Tuesday evening, Aaron Judge practically put…

11 minutes ago