Killed in Medical Helicopter Crash in California

Four people died Thursday night after a medical helicopter crashed near Porterville, California, the Kern County Fire Department said.

The crew departed at 6:52 p.m. Dispatch attempted to make contact with the crew at 7:05 p.m. After several unsuccessful attempts, authorities were alerted.

The aircraft was a Bell 407 and was reported overdue by its owner, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Valeri says the dead include a pilot, a nurse and a paramedic. Valeri said that SkyLife has never had an aircraft crash since it partnered with Rogers Helicopters Inc.in 1991.

The names of the crew and the patient were not released Thursday night. He added: “The crew involved were wonderful people, and it is just tragic and devastating”.

According to the FAA the tail number of the helicopter matches that of an American Ambulance Helicopter out of Fresno.

American Ambulance General Manager, Todd Valeri, said the “weather conditions are always a factor” but would not confirm if they were the sole reason for the disaster.

The company transports about 1,000 patients per year from airports in Fresno and Visalia. At 10 p.m. PT, the debris field was confirmed, as well as the deaths of those on board, Lynch said.

Kern County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Bill Smallwood officials said the searchers found debris of the helicopter with no survivors.