Company: 2 dead in medical helicopter crash near Phoenix

A medical helicopter crashed in rugged terrain east of Phoenix, killing two crew members and seriously injuring a third, who was still able to use a flashlight to signal search aircraft, a sheriff said Wednesday. He said the surviving crew member tried to provide life-saving care to one of the victims. Brodsly said the identities of the crew members would be released at a later time.

Babeu says the crashed helicopter was spotted on a mountainside about two hours after it was reported missing.

The accident occurred near Apache Junction, Arizona, on Tuesday, said Christina Brodsly, spokeswoman for the company Air Methods.

More details have emerged about a helicopter crash in the Superstition Mountains near the Pinal and Gila County line.

He said the pilot also was from Gilbert and that the nurse was 38 and from Mesa.

He tells the Arizona Republic (http://bit.ly/1YfEd8f ) that the chopper went down under unknown circumstances in Pinal County, about 55 miles east of Phoenix.

“The crash site has been located in very rugged terrain and rescue operations are underway”, the Arizona Department of Public Safety said in a statement.

He said the helicopter is in a precarious situation and crews were working to stabilize the wreckage and secure the scene.

Air Methods, which owns the company operating the aircraft, said the chopper was carrying a pilot, a paramedic and a nurse. We want to continue to make sure we have all of the facts correct.