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11/22/2024 04:48:35 am

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Medical Helicopter Crashes Near Texas Hospital, 1 Dead, 3 Injured

Helicopter Crash in Texas

(Photo : Reuters)

A patient being transported via medical helicopter to a health care center in Wichita Falls was killed after the helicopter crashed near a North Texas hospital, causing serious injuries to the pilot and two medical staff on Saturday.

According to reports, the patient was being brought from Waurika, Oklahoma in a helicopter operated by Air Evac Life Team to United Regional Health Care when it crashed at around 2:00 in the morning.

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The flight nurses are said to be in serious condition and are now at the burn unit of Parkland Hospital located in Dallas. Meanwhile, the pilot is now in a stable condition.

The names of the people involved in the tragic incident were not immediately released but Jessica Brown, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Investigation, reported to the Associated Press that the patient might have been involved in a shooting in an apartment located in Waurika on Friday. 

The helicopter, a Bell 206 LongRanger III, reportedly crashed on a downtown street next to a parking lot, narrowly missing several nearby structures.

The chopper remained intact but quickly caught fire. Authorities commended the crew of the Air Evac Life Team for their heroic efforts in saving their co-worker's lives.

Investigators from both the National Transportation Safety Board as well as the Federal Aviation Administration then made their way to the scene and the cause of the accident is currently being probed into.

Air Evac Life Team, the nation's biggest independent air ambulance company, has about 2,400 employees and is a service provider to about 9 states. It currently operates at 113 bases in mostly rural locations. 

Vice president of the Air Evac housed in Missouri, Daniel Sweeza, said in a statement that their thoughts and prayers remain with the victims of the tragic accident.  

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